Review by Junkman
Photos by Criss Cain
To celebrate the recent release of her solo album Fierce Bliss, Heart singer Ann Wilson, along with her terrific band, The Amazing Dawgs, landed in Los Angeles for the first of two nights at the majestic El Rey Theatre, and I was lucky to attend. It was the fourth stop on the tour, and to say that Wilson and her band were more than warmed up and ready to rock would be an understatement. I have followed Ann Wilson’s career since the mid 1970s, and this is the absolute tightest band I have ever witnessed her playing with.
Wilson herself was also in fine form. Taking the stage in a shimmering black sequined dress and gold embroidered black jacket, she and her band launched into “Even It Up” the 1980 single from Heart, and their catalog of songs she would visit many times throughout the seventeen song set. Her vocals were spot- on, and at 71 years of age, Ann Wilson’s voice has not waned at all in comparison to many of her contemporaries in the genre of rock singers. To describe her simply: she KILLED!
“We’re out, we’re spreading our wings,” she told the audience. After speaking briefly about being locked down during the pandemic and deciding to record some music, she performed the powerful “Black Wing” the second track on Fierce Bliss while accompanying herself on flute. It was well received by the still arriving audience, and the flute again was used on the popular “Love Alive” which followed. Hearing Ann Wilson sing her hits from Heart was a treat, but her takes on other artists songs was really what blew my mind all evening.
For instance, her powerful tenor gave new life to the John Lennon ballad “Isolation.” Wilson and the band made that sad song shine, with a lively tempo supplied by drummer Sean Lane and bassist Tony Lucido. Another treat was her take on the Robin Trower classic “Bridge of Sighs,” which she described as “the bluest blues song” and she really did give it a smoky, torch song feel, courtesy of her expanded vocal range. I was very impressed that she covered “Forget Her” by the late Jeff Buckley, a song that she exclaimed, “I just had to get inside it.” And, with a very spooky delivery, she did just that.
Guitarist Tom Bukovac was most impressive. Sporting a vintage BC Rich guitar, he literally channeled original Heart guitarist Roger Fisher all evening. He nailed every nuance of Fisher’s original Heart recordings, especially the tasty tones and wizardry of the crowd-pleasing “Magic Man,” which brought out a roar from the sold-out crowd at songs end. He and guitarist and keyboardist Paul Moak supplied the backbone to the first song and single from Fierce Bliss entitled “Greed,” which Ann Wilson introduced as “One of the worst of the seven deadly sins.”
Yet another highlight of the evening was Wilson completely taking over the Who classic “Love, Reign O’er Me” that was so powerful, it actually outdid the original version in my opinion. As my friend whispered to me about halfway through: “She was BORN to sing this song!” I would have to agree. It is the perfect song to show off Ann Wilson’s powerful voice and command of a lyric. As the song soared to its eventual crashing end, the crowd stood and erupted, and the band took a short intermission. As the house lights illuminated, I observed many in the audience to be astonishingly shaking their heads and mouthing the words: “Wow!”
The second half of the set started with the perfect song. “Crazy on You,” Heart’s first big hit from 1976, with its bouncy guitar opening, put the audience in the mood, as they sang along. Wilson was clearly feeding off the energy from the crowd. She smiled and wailed as her band continued to rock. They did a fine job with the straight four-on-the-floor drive of the Steve Earle number, “The Revolution Starts Now,” which is about as timely of a song now as any out there.
Wilson proudly introduced her band members to the audience, and they rightfully got a huge applause. A nice take on Queen’s “Love Of My Life” preceded a trilogy of material from her early years in Heart. Starting with the lovely “Mistral Wind,” from 1978’s Dog & Butterfly, it spotlighted the gentle part of Wilson’s voice more than any part of the evening, and then moved into her powerful wails in the second half of the song, again led by the talents of her fabulous band.
The band then tore into “Barracuda” and the crowd ate it up. Bukovac shined brightly on this number, as the riff of this song is legendary, and his chunky guitar sound was on-point throughout. Wilson nailed it as well. It was mind-blowing, hearing her singing in the same key at 71 as she was in the early part of her career. The band then dove into the funky bass and drums opening notes of “Straight On” that brought out a huge smile on Wilson’s face, as she was flanked onstage by guitarists Bukovac and Paul Moak, letting the rhythm section take charge. Bassist Tony Lucido ran with it and took an extended solo, as drummer Sean Lane rocked his steady beat. Wilson and her band then left the stage at the songs conclusion to a delightfully loud reception from their impressed audience.
The band returned to encore with a couple of Led Zeppelin numbers. Wilson is well known to be one of the best at rocking the Zep, and the familiar mandolin intro of “Going To California” set the crowd off once again. Her vocals fit this 1971 classic perfectly. Her lovely tenor matches Robert Plant’s original wail like one’s favorite pair of jeans, and it’s neither forced or exactly the same. It’s just right.
Wilson and her band then concluded their set with a rocker. “Black Dog,” the rocking opening song on Led Zeppelin IV, pulled out all the stops. It gave each member of the band a time to show off their chops, especially drummer Sean Lane, as he did his best heavy-handed John Bonham tricks behind the drum kit.
Wilson gave it her all, and again, her powerful voice and command of it brought the song to new level. It was a great way to start a two-night stand in Los Angeles, as well as the perfect song to send the audience out satisfied, with an outstanding performance all around. Well done, Ann Wilson and company. Your talents are legendary, and it’s great to see you at your best.
