Eagle Records [Release date 25.11.16] CD/DVD/Bluray

Call me Mr. Cynical.  Heart announced their first UK dates since 2004 and we all waited in eager anticipation.  Come the actual tour, we saw them in Manchester and noted the criminally short one hour set which failed to do justice to their 40 year-plus legacy.

Lo and behold, one of the key dates was the band’s first ever gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall and accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.  One can’t help thinking that this gig was the raison d’etre, the incentive, and the axis around which this rare (and short) UK tour turned.  It was of course going to be filmed for a future release…

The setlist is almost identical to the show they took to the provinces, with the addition of ‘Mashallah!’ but without the two extra Zeppelin tributes (although some might say this is a blessing).  You can’t help thinking that – for this tour – they rehearsed the numbers that would go well in an orchestral situation.

It would help explain a lot of things and, if true, would be a monumental exercise in marketing opportunism rather than real payback to their loyal fanbase.  Unfortunately the interviews on the DVD don’t enlighten us about motives although Nancy Wilson opines:  “Worth it for the thrill, worth it for the history”.  Worth it for the, er, money?

Length of set is something I raised with Bad Company’s Simon Kirke recently as they also were – in Simon’s words – possibly short of a few songs.  However he thought that for many audiences a two hour set is too much.  It would be if you are an indifferent participant, with a stash of greatest hits compilations crammed in the rear loader of your Beemer.  If you know your ‘Bad Animals’ from your ‘Brigade’ you will want your pound of flesh.  Heart may never tour again this side of the pond.

It’s not as if Heart are light on live albums/DVDs and in the past we’ve had very respectable releases in the shape of ‘Fanatic Live’ (2014) and, before that, ‘Alive In Seattle’, in 2003.  Moreover, twenty years ago ‘The Road Home’ featured a string quartet (and four of the songs feature on Live At The Albert Hall).

The only brave thing about the UK tour was that they played half of the new album ‘Beautiful Broken’ (although with only two truly ‘new’ songs) and, of course, there’s the novelty playing with a British orchestra.  This works well for the big set-pieces like ‘What About Love’ , ‘These Dreams’ and ‘Alone’ and  the Zeppelin-esque ‘I Jump’.  Did London get the best gig?  You decide, but I would suggest the provincial amongst us might feel a little short-changed.  ***1/2

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Gig review (Manchester, 30 June)
Album review (Beautiful Broken)

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 6 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 8 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---