Heart cruised onto the stage Thursday night at CN Centre on their Red Velvet Car tour, and the energy didn't stop until the last echoing note faded away.
From the very first blast of music, the audience just knew it was going to be a great show. Ann Wilson is a commanding force when she approaches the microphone with confidence.
Nancy Wilson, the other half of the sister duo, added her guitar riffs after slipping onto the stage with the rest of the band so unobtrusively, you think she might be the sound-check girl.
Nancy was dressed very un-rocker like in a hockey jersey that engulfed her diminutive frame and left room enough for her to perform unbelievable scissor kicks - one high enough to reach well over her head without missing a note on her guitar.
These ladies started the band in the early '70s and their energy is still unbelievable. Ann had a take-charge attitude that told everyone she was steering this musical vehicle and we all knew we were in for something special.
From their classics Heartless, Crazy On You, These Dreams, Desire Walks On, Barracuda, Magic Man to new soon-to-be classics WTF, Red Velvet Car, Hey You the rock 'n' roll was pitch perfect and remains "undigitized" as Nancy accurately said of her sister's amazingly powerful voice.
When Ann wasn't playing the guitar she was so into the music she would play air guitar and catch the head-banging beat with rest of her band. Just to see these two ladies so into the show was an invitation to the audience to climb right in and enjoy the ride.
There was a lot of enthusiasm in the crowd and one young fan made the heart-shape with her hands that got Ann pointing and laughing in acknowledgment.
It was a sweet moment to see the joy on the little girl's face when she realized she made a connection with the entertainer.
Nearing the end of their performance, the sisters took time out to say a few kind words about each other, an indication of the great affection they enjoy and the respect they have for the other's talent.
Carmen Townsend a little girl from Cape Breton opened the show with chops that could be heard throughout her set and wowed many in the audience. You have to know a little bit about music and care to listen to the tone and inflection in her unique voice to really appreciate the talent Townsend brought to the stage.
Her presence alone had people's attention and then when the red-headed angelic looking lady let 'er rip, it was truly a thing of beauty with her voice resonating throughout the CN Centre in waves of melodic sound.
Whether you were there for the vocal talent or the skill with the guitar the audience left the centre full of enthusiasm of a night well rocked.
