Summerfest Review
Rain can't ruin this night at Summerfest
Katjusa Cisar
77square.com
By the time Heart got onstage, chilly gusts of rain swept against the band and swirled around sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, the only two constant members of the group since its start in the early '70s.
They were unperturbed by the wetness. Ann Wilson toweled off occasionally before facing the mic again to sing.
Heart sounded great, too. They burned through a mean Led Zeppelin cover and a cover of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' "You Wreck Me," which took a short detour into the Beatles' "Polythene Pam," before getting into originals like "Alone."
More here.
Sand dedicated to Michael Jackson
6/28/09
Heart still kickin’ it out at Riverside
By Angela Holmes
The Gazette
RIVERSIDE – Kicking off Riverside Casino and Golf Resort’s summer outdoor concert series, Heart came out blazing Friday night with their signature song, “Barracuda.”
Dressed in black, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson dominated the stage from the outset – Nancy with her battery of acoustic and electric guitars and Ann with her voice.
Going through the archives, Heart pulled out “Never” from 1985’s self-titled album. The group hasn’t performed “Never” live much since the big-hair 1980s but it was a favorite among the crowd ranging from young girls to people who jammed to Heart in the ‘70s.
The crowd mellowed during “Love Alive” from 1977’s “Little Queen” and “Mistral Wind” from “Dog and Butterfly” which Ann said is “celebrating its 30th birthday this year.”
Although the Wilsons’ talent and stage presence are still very much intact, they curiously dotted their hour-and-a-half concert with covers by Led Zeppelin, The Who and an ill-fated version of Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me” sung by Nancy. After nearly 35 of recording, they certainly have plenty of their own songs to choose from rather than playing covers.
Ann’s powerhouse voice was showcased in Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and The Who’s “Love, Reign O’er Me” but she was the most brilliant in the stripped-down version of Heart’s “Alone.”
“Sand,” slated for Heart’s new album to be released in early 2010, was dedicated to Michael Jackson who unexpectedly died Thursday. “Sand’ appeared on 1997’s “Whirlygig” album by the Lovemongers, the Wilson sisters’ side band.
It was a warm, yet lovely night for an outdoor concert, yet the set-up was a bit awkward with the majority of the lawn seats actually on paved parking lot nearly level with the stage, rather than on a hill. But the 3,800 people in the crowd didn’t seem to mind too much. They witnessed one of the greatest singers in the business still in prime form.
Found on the Frumpfighter blog.
Ann Wilson Iowa City Press Interview
6/26/09
Veterans of rock
Heart kicks off Riverside Casino's Summer Concert Series
Deanna Howard
Iowa City Press-Citizen
In addition to an active touring schedule, the band is hard at work on a new album scheduled to be released early next year.
"We are just having the time of our lives," lead singer Ann Wilson said in a phone interview. "The music sounds great."
The band kicks off Riverside Casino's summer concert series at 8 p.m. Friday.
Tickets are $35 and $65. Gates open at 7 p.m. Lawn chairs are welcome, though coolers are not allowed.
The casino's other outdoor concerts are Merle Haggard with Trailer Choir at 8 p.m. July 10 and Styx at 8 p.m. Aug. 29. The outdoor seating area can hold 5,000 people.
Angie Mabeus, Riverside Casino's entertainment coordinator, said she expects a packed house for Heart.
"Heart hasn't been around here for a while," Mabeus said. "It's a pretty big deal for Riverside, Iowa."
Among Heart's biggest hits are "Magic Man," "Crazy on You," "Barracuda," "Alone," "What About Love" and "These Dreams."
The band's multi-million selling album, "Dog & Butterfly" is celebrating its 30th year.
Wilson has been hailed by a number of critics as one of rock's best female vocalists of all time.
The new album, Heart's 13th, is being produced by Ben Mink, who produced Wilson's 2007 solo album, "Hope & Glory."
Heart's road to success hasn't always been easy. Both Ann Wilson and her sister, Nancy, a guitarist, have been heavily criticized by the media.
Ann Wilson has struggled publicly with her weight. Looking back, however, she said she thinks she and her sister had it better than today's young pop/rock stars, whose every move seems to be scrutinized.
"We had a little bit more freedom," Wilson said.
Her advice for those in the spotlight is "to not take it personally."
"The only way to get through it is to remain strong and keep your eye on your own ball," Wilson said.
Wilson and her sister also have struggled to maintain complete creative control of the band, blazing a path for other female artists to follow.
"It's never been easy," Wilson said. "If you have creative control of everything, and the stuff you don't produce does not do well, then other people want you to look elsewhere for your material. That has happened to us.
"It's a constant struggle, but I think it is worth it. It is really important to have people around you who get that."
New Album/Dog & Butterfly
We're getting older the world's getting colderFor the life of me I don't know the reason why
Maybe it's livin' making us give in
Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide
We're balanced together ocean upon the sky
Maybe it's livin' making us give in
Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide
We're balanced together ocean upon the sky
Here is a nice little summation of what Heart is up to, besides being on tour.
Nancy Wilson has revealed that she and sister Ann have recorded basic tracks for three songs to be included on their upcoming album.
Additionally, the Heart sisters said they have about eight more written that they "really like."
Nancy said the effort will be released at some point this year. The sisters have also created a children's book based on their 1978 album, Dog & Butterfly, that should be in bookstores in late 2009.
A CD will accompany the release, featuring updated versions of the title track and "Dreamboat Annie."This from 100 FM The Pike.
So besides the new album, which is supposed to have a new version of the Lovemongers song Sand, we will be getting new versions of Dog & Butterfly and Dreamboat Annie. Looks like this is going to be a great year for Heart!
Video is from Heart Alive in Seattle. Read more...
New Tour Dates Added
6/24/09
Heart Management just released three new tour dates for September. Special guests include Tonic and Alana Grace.
9/4 - Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC. Tickets on sale Friday, June 26.
9/6 - Heart with special guest Tonic - Uptown Amphitheatre at The Music Factory, Charlotte, NC. Tickets on sale Friday, June 26.
9/8 - Heart with special guest Alana Grace - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN. Tickets on sale Friday, June 26 at noon. A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74.
Want better seats? Join the Heart Fan Club!
Album and Book News
6/23/09
Heart Readies New Album, Children's Book
Gary Graff
Billboard.com
A new album and a children's book based on an old album are on Heart's docket for the balance of the year.
Guitarist Nancy Wilson tells Billboard.com that she and sister Ann have been in and out of the studio during the past few months with producer Ben Mink working on Heart's first set of new material since 2004's "Jupiter's Darling." "We've done a lot of writing and we've been in the studio a couple times so far between some of the touring stuff we're doing," Wilson says. "We've got about eight songs that we really like, and we've recorded three basic (tracks) that work so far. I know it will be out this coming year, but I can't give you any more specific time frame than that."
Wilson adds that recording has been done so far in Los Angeles and in various hotel rooms during the group's tours. She also expects to log some studio time in Seattle. Song titles so far include "Hey You" and "Closer," and Wilson says the recording process has been organic. "We're recording with just a real woodshed, small acoustic element, people playing together at the same time and (in) the same room -- like what they used to call a hootenanny," explains Wilson, who hopes to debut some of the new songs live this summer. "There's no ProTools feel to it at all. We're just sitting around playing guitars together and going for a performance that is on the spot."
Heart is also planning for a fourth quarter release of a storybook inspired by its 1978 album "Dog & Butterfly," which will come with a CD that includes new versions of the title song and "Dreamboat Annie" Heart will record with Mink. "We always wanted to do a children's book of some form or another," Wilson says. "Ann pretty much did the writing, and I kind of was her editor. She made the initial drawings of the dog and I did the butterfly. She drew the characters, mostly, and I painted them. And then we had an artist come in and kind of fill in some of the other designs 'cause we're kind of busy right now. It looks really good. It's really simple."
Heart has tour dates booked into September, including nine dates opening for Journey.
Examiner.com article
Rock Hall Should Have A Heart
Mike Raymond
Examiner.com
As I was flipping through the tv channels the other night, I came across a 2002 Heart concert. This is a band I have not heard from or thought about in quite some time.
As the rock hits rolled off one after another-- “Barracuda”, “Magic Man”, “Crazy on You”, “How Can I Refuse?”, “Heartless”, “Dog and Butterfly”, “Straight On”, “These Dreams”, etc, it occurred to me that this is a band that should be heavily considered for the Rock Hall of Fame.
What other female led rock bands could be considered a bigger influence than Heart?
Then I wondered how many female-fronted rock bands are even in the Hall of Fame? I could only find three…. The Pretenders--led by Akron, Ohio’s Chrissie Hynde, Blondie and Jefferson Airplane--fronted by Grace Slick. Individually there’s Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Patti Smith and Madonna. I’m not getting into the 60’s girl groups since there are quite a few.
But, I think Heart is in an entirely new category here. Sisters who helped lead a rock band not only to FM radio hits, but could tone it down when needed on acoustic songs. While the other female fronted rock bands are legitimate in their own right, only Hynde plays an instrument. That’s a big difference in my book. Though Ann is largely considered the singer, the credits show that her and Nancy both play guitar, bass, keyboards, flute and much more.
Watching the Wilson sisters perform “Dog and Butterfly” on stage, just the two of them with acoustic guitars is Hall of Fame worthy in itself. Granted, there would not be Heart without the other musicians in the band, most notably Howard Leese who co-produced many of the albums in the 70’s and 80’s, but the “heart” of Heart is the Wilson sisters.
They’ve showed dynamic versatility in their music from their 70’s Led Zeppelin riffs to the 80’s pop. Their song catalog spans from Rush-like epics “Mistral Wind” to the often-covered ballad “Alone”.
Ann Wilson just turned 59 years old and still hits the big notes from 30 years ago. They are touring this Summer with Journey on a few dates, so check them out while you can.
In a male dominated rock world, its time for the Wilson sisters to get their due.
Nancy Wilson Chicago Sun Interview
6/19/09
Summerfest's annual music, food fest offers taste of razzle-dazzle
BY BOBBY REED
Chicago Sun Times
Milwaukee's annual music festival, now in its 42nd year, has evolved into a gargantuan event that still manages to be fan-friendly. It features an eclectic music lineup, low ticket prices, plenty of parking and 45 food vendors in a pleasant setting right on Lake Michigan.
Classic rock fans can sing along to hits like "Barracuda," "Magic Man" and "Alone" when Heart appears on June 29 at 9 p.m. on the M&I stage.
The band's core members remain sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Ann is the lead singer on the vast majority of Heart's songs, but the 1986 hit "These Dreams" featured a lead vocal by Nancy. The song was composed by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page.
"In that part of the '80s, we were expected to do outside material, songs we didn't write ourselves," Nancy said from her home in Los Angeles. "We heard this amazing demo of 'These Dreams,' and I just fell head over heels in love with it. I knew I wanted to sing it. So we recorded a nice version of it. But then our management company said, 'No, no, no. It's too confusing. Nancy shouldn't be singing lead. She's just the blond chick that plays guitar.' I had to really fight for that song, and it turned out to be the first No. 1 single we ever had."
Along with the Summerfest gig, Heart will play at the Naperville Ribfest on July 2. Read more here.
Guitar Hero Competition
Think you're a gamer? Prove your skills at the county fair
BY BILL ENGLE
STAFF WRITER
Richmond, Indiana radio station G1013 is staging a video game tournament at the Wayne County 4-H Fair as a fundraiser for the city's Fourth of July Fireworks show.
The tournament will feature three categories: a retro game tournament, Wrestle Mania 2 tourney and Guitar Hero 3 tourney.
Guitar competition contestants will perform to "Barracuda" by Heart and the high score wins a Guitar Hero guitar controller autographed by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.
Play N Trade, a video game store in Richmond, has partnered with G1013 in staging the contest. Read more here.
Heart & Journey to play Louisville, KY
On Friday, Aug. 21, the second night of the Kentucky State Fair, rock royalty Journey and Heart will perform at Freedom Hall.
Date: August 21, 2009
Venue: Freedom Hall
Place: Louisville, KY
Tickets, at $50 and $55, go on sale Monday, June 22, at 10 p.m. Tickets are available at Freedom Hall and Kentucky International Convention Center ticket offices and all TicketMaster outlets.
Happy Birthday Ann Wilson!
Ann Dustin Wilson (born June 19, 1950 in San Diego, California)Happy Birthday to the Ultimate Rock Goddess! From the Heart Monger Blog.
Allison Iraheta to sing Barracuda on Tour?
6/13/09
Rumor has it that American Idol 3rd runner up Allison Iraheta might be singing Heart's Barracuda on the American Idol tour this summer. The drummer for the American Idol tour, Aaron Spears, sent a pic on Twitter of some sheet music to Barracuda. Read more here.
Ann Wilson Concert Photo
6/12/09
Looking at the outfit I would guess this was sometime in 2004 on the Jupiters Darling tour. Ann Wilson = Rock Goddess.
Heart and Snuggies?
6/8/09
Motley Sue from the Heart boards shared this peek behind the scenes. It seems that the bosses had to call a meeting.
Ann Wilson Sketch
6/7/09
Photo Courtesy of Carole McClellanThis is a sketch that Ann did in the 1970's. Clothing designer Carole McClellan worked with Ann on her stage outfits. See the blog entry with more information about Carole here.
Heart in Clarkston, MI
6/6/09
HEARTTO PERFORM AT DTE ENERGY MUSIC THEATRE
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
One of the most successful and beloved acts in rock music history, Heart, led by Ann and Nancy Wilson, will perform at DTE Energy Music Theatre on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Heart keeps doing what brings them honors as well as awards and press raves: creating rock music in concert and on record that marks the band as living classic, as good as ever. Winning 2008’s Top Package honors in Billboard’s Touring Awards and being nominated for Most Creative Tour Package in Pollstar’s Concert Industry Awards for their tour with Journey and Cheap Trick, Heart continues to tour in 2009. “If you've never seen Heart play live, then frankly you haven't seen the best that rock ’n’ roll has to offer,” notes the St. Petersburg Times, praising the band’s show as “brilliant.”
The Wilson sisters have also begun work on a new studio album with producer Ben Mink, who produced Ann Wilson’s 2007 album Hope & Glory as well as records by k.d. lang, Barenaked Ladies and Geddy Lee. Plans call for an early 2010 release. Heart’s last album in 2004, Jupiter’s Darling, re-released by the band last year, was hailed as “easily the band’s finest moment in over 20 years” by All Music Guide. Entertainment Weekly declared that “the hit-making sister act of Ann and Nancy Wilson is back with a vengeance.”
The prestigious ASCAP Founders Award saluted the Wilsons as songwriters who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators and musical innovators who possess a unique style of songwriting genius that will enrich generations to come. To wit, Heart’s songs continue to be featured in numerous TV shows and on American Idol, and three of the band’s numbers are now in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games.
This year is also the 30th anniversary of Heart’s multimillion selling hit album Dog & Butterfly with hit singles “Straight On” and “Dog & Butterfly.” Other Heart singles include “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Never,” “These Dreams,” “Nothin’ At All” and “Alone.” Special merchandise and the publication of a Dog & Butterfly children’s book written and illustrated by Ann and Nancy Wilson will mark the occasion.
Tickets at $42 and $25 pavilion and $10 lawn are on sale now at Palacenet.com, The Palace and DTE Energy Music Theatre Box Offices and all Ticketmaster locations. Read more...
New Shows Added
6/1/09
Heart has added more shows to the summer schedule. *updated*
July 7th - Amarillo Civic Center, Amarillo TX
August 25 - Heart &, Journey - Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
August 31 - Heart & Journey - Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
September 13 - Heart & Journey - Chevrolet Theater, Wallingford, CT
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