Nothing seems to soothe my rock and roll soul more than live music. Add to that, watching a literal hero of mine sing the songs responsible for awakening my musical spirit so many years ago, was a perfect reminder of just who the hell I am. I look to Ann Wilson as if she’s my rockstar fairy godmother – a magical being who consistently gifts me inspiration. Hearing her voice saturate the intimate Pantages Theatre Tuesday night not only ate away my deepest worries, it doused me with an incredible amount of ambition.
I started listening to Heart most memorably when I turned 15. I started relying on Heart, however, only about five months after that. At the time, the heartbreak that hit after my first break-up seemed so unbearable I didn’t think anything could get me through. Songs like Heart’s Love Alive especially helped me refocus and press on. I was revived by the feeling that song gave me, and I can’t explain how nice it was to have something that was solely mine during time. The music of Heart transformed my hurt to excitement as I quickly consumed the Wilson sisters’ entire catalog. My mom topped that off by graciously surprising me with second row tickets to see them live in concert for my 16th birthday just one year later. Heart allowed me to bond with myself, and learning how to do that at such a young age is something I feel very grateful for.
Every time I listen to a Heart song, I’m reminded of a time and place where I was forced to figure things out. Watching Ann Wilson perform the songs that have meant so much to me for such a long time was a deep-rooted extension of that. She kicked the night off perfectly with one of my favorites, Even it Up. I have to apologize for ditching Kathy and Jeff, the sweet KQ listeners I met seated next to me, in order to move to the back of the venue so my concert-sister Cassie and I could dance. I mean, watching her sing that song sitting down was just not going to cut it!
Ann’s band Tripsitter was an amazing force to witness. They have such a hippie vibe, mostly due to Ann’s lyrics, yet they are heavy and hard-hitting in their conduction. I loved hearing new music I hadn’t heard before. It was different and fresh with one exception: the overwhelming familiarity of Ann Wilson’s voice. My favorite new tunes were Greed and Rusty Robots. Their lyrics seem to tell the tales of the wild world we live in and how it feels coping with all its quirks.
My small bladder and I are a big fan of intermissions and I was very relived this show had one. I didn’t want to miss one second of this opener-less spectacle. Magic Man has been my go-to karaoke since I started the sport, and I had such fun air-guitaring along to Ann’s hot lead guitar player Ryan Wariner. Their performance of Barracuda obviously kicked so much ass, but it was Ann’s acoustic version of Alone that brought Cassie and I to tears. It’s her voice, man! The sound is completely memorizing if not borderline abnormal. Ann Wilson’s well known connection with Led Zeppelin had me expecting at least one song, but luckily she graced us with two: Immigrant Song and Going to California. Her rendition of Bowie’s Let’s Dance fused with Heart’s beloved Straight On (a song I’d never have the balls to sing) had a few more people in the crowd jump out of their seats and join us in our groovy trance-dance. I do wish I could have heard her sing What About Love but there is always next time. Maybe even Nancy will join her.
I feel so happy I got to see Ann Wilson perform live. She is effortlessly impressive, and I wonder if she knows just how much she means to dreamers like me. Ann Wilson’s music has always had a healing effect on my heart, and I don’t think it’s an accident that it came into my life when it did. She has truly made me the person I am today. It was so special celebrating the legacy of Ann Wilson in such a charming space, and it’s cool to know that her and I share such a deep passion for rock and roll music – the powerful evening proved that.
