Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick: Rock Hall Three For All

Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick
White River Amphitheatre, Seattle, WA
08.26.16

There’s no choice but to rock with the classic lineup of Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Cheap Trick, and Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre is more packed than usual. The entire pit area – usually open general admission – has assigned seating for the aptly named “Rock Hall Three For All.” The stage itself has a long catwalk extending out into the crowd through several rows, and a giant LED video backdrop and side screens that provide a varied backdrop of imagery throughout each set.

Cheap Trick opens the festivities with a big “Hello there,” to an already pretty full crowd. This well-known band has been around 43 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Front man Robin Zander is impressive to watch as he commands the crowd’s attention and Guitarist Rick Nielsen never seems to slow down, constantly moving across the stage with a new and/or custom “Hamer” guitar that has become his trademark. Yes indeed, he brings out the famous 5-neck guitar. The band rounded is out by longtime bassist Tom Petersson and current drummer Daxx Nielsen as they crank through all the classics.

Hard to imagine CT opening a show, but all three artist’s sets seem about equal and “opening” is just a formality of the line up. The big highlight and surprise comes from a special appearance by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. He joins the band for “Surrender” and “Goodnight,” and brings the energy level up a few notches.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is the band I have been looking forward to seeing. Opening with “Bad Reputation” and right into the Runaway’s hit “Cherry Bomb,” Jett and her band rock through so many of their radio hits. Great set overall as they perform song after song that have made her a household name. “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” “Crimson & Clover,” and “I Hate Myself For Loving You” still have the angst and fire that made them classics.

As the lights dim and the fog rolls across the stage, the anticipation is growing rabid. Heart is the clear headliner for this hometown show. Opening with “Wild Child” and “Magic Man,” the unmistakable vocals of Ann Wilson cut through and send chills down the spine. There is no one that sounds like her. Her sister Nancy Wilson takes on vocals for the hit song “These Dreams” and continues into new song “Two” from their recently released album Beautiful Broken.

Notable highlights come from “Love Hurts” with all the members of CT on stage and Zander and Ann trading vocals. You can tell there is a mutual respect and love for each other. McCready, with one of Rick Nielsen’s checkerboard Explorers, comes out to a massive reaction to play “Crazy on You.” McCready is so much fun to see interacting with all the band members on stage. Front and center with Ann, and then trading riffs with Nancy.

Heart is a band that has had so much success with big arena rock songs. Time just flew by as they closed the show with “Immigrant Song,” and “Stairway to Heaven” was just the icing on the incredible performances witnessed.

Heart Set List

Wild Child
Magic Man
What About Love
Even It Up
These Dreams (Nancy Wilson on Lead Vocals)
Two (Nancy Wilson on Lead Vocals)
Love Hurts (With Cheap Trick)
Kick It Out
Beautiful Broken
Alone
Crazy On You ((With Mike McCready of Pearl Jam)
Barracuda

Encore

Immigrant Song
Stairway To Heaven

Joan Jett Set List

Bad Reputation
Cherry Bomb
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)
TMI
You Drive Me Wild
Light Of Day
Soulmates to Strangers
Love Is Pain
Fake Friends
Any Weather
I Love Rock ‘n Roll
Crimson & Clover
I Hate Myself For Loving You
Everyday People

Cheap Trick Set List

Hello There
Big Eyes
Stiff Competition
Taxman, Mr. Thief
She Said She Said (Beatles Cover)
Need Your Love
No Direction Home
I’m Waiting For The Man (Tom Petersson on Lead Vocals)
The Flame
I Want You to Want Me
Dream Police
Surrender (With Mike McCready of Pearl Jam)
Goodnight (With Mike McCready of Pearl Jam)