I actually wrote this short review a week ago and apparently didn't post. Fucking dumb ass, I am. So here it is.
A week ago my buddy Nazz and I went to the Heart and Cheap Trick double bill at Rogers Place. I had no intention of going to this show as I am not a fan of Heart but would like to have seen Cheap Trick again, but wasn't going to pay for tickets. Well, as luck would have it. An old friend of mine happened to have tickets and wasn't able to make it to the show, so offered the tickets to me. Thank you so much Trina if you happen to see this.
So this would be my second time attending a Heart concert. The first time being in August 1990 when the Black Crowes opened for them. I went to that show as I am a big fan of The Crowes. After seeing the opening band my buddy Hurl and I left with no regrets.
Thirty-five years later here I am again going to a Heart concert where I really only want to see the opening band, this time being Cheap Trick. Only this time, I ended up staying for some of Heart. I've just never been a fan of the band. Ya, they put out some classic rock back in the day, but hearing it so often on classic rock radio, I just got really sick of them and they just never really did anything for me.
This Heart tour was previously supposed to happen a year ago but was postponed after lead singer Ann Wilson's recovery from cancer. Ann is performing this tour in a wheelchair after taking a spill a few weeks before the tour started busting up her elbow. So her arm is in a sling and from what I have read Ann just thought it would be safer to perform in a wheelchair.
I have to admit, I was surprised how well she can still sing even from a wheelchair. And sister Nancy Wilson is still rocking it. I was surprised that the band needed four guitarists though, weird. My buddy Nazz and I only stayed for about half the show, what we heard was alright, some old songs such as "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Let's Dance" a Bowie cover, "Dreamboat Annie" and a Zeppelin cover "Going To California" and then that was enough for both of us.
Heart.
With Cheap Trick opening we made sure to be there early as we didn't want to miss any of their opening set. This would be my third time seeing Cheap Trick in concert. I saw Cheap Trick just a few years ago opening for Rod Stewart, and have to say I think they sounded way better this time around.
Good thing we got there early as the first song they did was "Dream Police" which really surprised me as that is probably their biggest song. Who starts a set with there biggest song, Cheap Trick, that's who. Lead vocalist Robin Zander still sounds good, looking older as they all are, hell I think Robin, guitarist Rick Neilson and bassist Tom Petersson are all in their mid 70's now.
I thought their setlist was good, playing such hits as "Lookout", "I Know What I Want", "I Want You To Want Me", "Surrender" and "The Flame" a song I can't stand, that was the only bad song for me, and then closed out their opening set with "Goodnight". All and all a great set and a lot of fun. Good times!!!
A big thank you to my buddy Nazz for the t-shirt too.
T-shirt front.
T-shirt back.
