Nancy (left) and Ann (right) Wilson took the Midland by storm at the Inaugural Rock the Ribbon that benefited the Susan G. Komen Greater Kansas City chapter. (Graphic property of the Susan G. Komen Greater Kansas City)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Hundreds of people gathered at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland to commemorate the Susan G. Komen Greater Kansas City’s inaugural Rock the Ribbon concert.
This special event celebrated the strength and survivorship of Kansas City’s breast cancer survivors.
Headlining the concert was four-time Grammy nominated rock group Heart. For 42 years, the Seattle-based band sold over 35 million records worldwide and received numerous accolades including having albums drop onto the Billboard charts in four different decades (1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2010s). The group reached numerous milestones this decade as Ann and Nancy Wilson paid homage to Led Zeppelin at the Kennedy Center Honors (2012) and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18, 2013.
The current line-up of Heart: sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, drummer Ben Smith, bass guitarist Dan Rothchild, guitarist Craig Bartock and keyboardist Chris Joyner successfully entertained the audience with a rousing set that perfectly showcased the group’s diverse genres they mastered over their long journey in the recording industry.
Lead vocalist Ann Wilson proved that age was just a number as she belted out, some of the band’s greatest hits including “Crazy on You,” “Barracuda” and an acoustic “Alone” that brought the house down. Meanwhile, Nancy Wilson proved why she is one of the greatest guitarists in the music industry with both her impeccable riffs on “Crazy on You” and her softer side when she led the band on “These Dreams.”
In addition to several Heart staples, the group also paid homage to the Godfather of Soul (“Get Up Offa That Thing”), Led Zeppelin and longtime friend, the late Stone Temple Pilots founder Scott Weiland, who passed away in his sleep this past Thursday.
Final thoughts & grade: Ann’s incredible vocal acrobatics combined with Nancy’s superb musicianship and their impeccable harmonies brought the Midland audience to its feet for their outstanding set. For a first timer seeing Heart, the group did not disappoint and I hope that they return to Kansas City in the future for a much longer set. A
