Please excuse the cell phone photos as the band did not allow professional photography gear.
I’ve been a fan of Heart for as long as I can remember. I love rocking my mom’s original Dreamboat Annie vinyl, and their songs are always in rotation when I’m at a jukebox. I finally had the opportunity to see the band at Ravinia Festival, and the performance gave me goosebumps. Ann Wilson’s vocals and Nancy Wilson’s guitar playing delivered chills as the legendary first sisters of rock and roll wowed a multi-generational crowd in a display of resilience and enduring artistry.
Joined by a six-piece backing band, the Wilsons kicked things off in the ‘80s with the bluesy “Bébé le Strange” followed by the power ballad “Never.” They ventured into Dreamboat Annie territory with their breakout hit “Magic Man,” bringing the crowd to their feet the first of many times.
Looking regal in a velvet jacket bedazzled in crystals and sporting a short white bob, Ann sang from her chair center stage. Meanwhile, Nancy switched between electric and acoustic guitar, shredding from every corner of the stage with knee-high purple boots and pink streaks in her blonde hair. Nancy dedicated “These Dreams” to her granddaughter who was attending at her first rock show.
Nancy launched into the iconic acoustic guitar work that kicks off “Crazy On You.” The electrifying anthem showcased Ann’s vocal ferocity, altered in the five decades since the song was recorded but still wailing at 75 years old.
The blistering “Barracuda” ended the show squarely in the ‘70s. The hit still gets the blood pumping and has fans on their feet. The Wilson sisters have never been for the faint of heart.
Read the full concert review at Third Coast Review.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger,’ and she has contributed to several travel guidebooks. Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
