By Christopher De La Rosa

Some concerts are shows. Others are memories branded into your soul. When Heart took the stage at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, it wasn’t just a performance — it was a celebration of five decades of music, sisterhood, and pure rock & roll power.

It started behind a giant curtain, the band’s iconic logo stretched tall over the stage like a flag from another era. As the arena slowly filled, a hauntingly beautiful video montage began to play, soundtracked by Peter Gabriel’s “The Feeling Begins.” It carried us through global moments from 1973 to 2025 — a reminder of the world Heart has lived through, shaped, and soundtracked.

Then the curtain dropped.

Purple and blue lights poured over the stage, the crowd roared to life, and there they were — Ann and Nancy Wilson, side by side, stepping into the light like the legends they are. And just like that, the night exploded into “Bebe Le Strange,” kicking off a setlist that honored the past while still sounding bold, fierce, and beautifully alive.

Without missing a beat, Ann leaned into the mic and said, “Let’s not fool around, let’s just get to it.” Then came “Never” — one of my personal favorites — and the place lit up. Her voice? Still rich. Still unmistakably Ann Wilson.

Next up was the seductive pulse of “Magic Man,” featuring dueling guitar solos from Ryan Wariner and Paul Moak, who also showed off his versatility on keys. The crowd gave the first of several standing ovations that night — and every bit of it was earned.

Nancy, ever the grounded counterweight to Ann’s volcanic energy, paused to joke about the ’80s: the hair, the chaos, and somehow still owning the same jeans and T-shirts. Then came “These Dreams,” a moment of misty-eyed nostalgia that hit the arena like a warm wave.

After that, Ann took a moment to reflect — on the years, on staying true to their vision, on being one of the first women-fronted rock bands to break through in a male-dominated world. That led straight into “Little Queen,” a fierce and elegant statement of identity and resilience.

At this point, Each band member got their moment, and each earned it. Shoutouts went to the stellar lineup Paul Moak (keys/guitar/mandolin), Ryan Waters (guitar), Tony Lucio (bass), Sean T. Lane (drums), with the aforementioned shredder, Ryan Wariner And of course, the heart of Heart: Ann and Nancy Wilson

“Straight On” pulsed into a groove-heavy jam that smoothly transitioned into David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” and somehow — against all odds the mashup worked beautifully. The crowd was fully in it now, dancing, singing, shouting lyrics back to the band like lifelong friends.

Then came “Love Mistake” and a cover of Chris Thompson’s “You’re the Voice” — the audience roared every word. It was one of those unity-in-song moments that live shows are made for.

Suddenly, a single spotlight. Nancy stepped forward with her acoustic guitar and delivered the unmistakable opening to “Crazy on You.” Her signature high kick? Still as perfect as ever. When the song ended, the crowd rose to their feet again. You could feel the history in that moment.

But the emotional centerpiece of the night was what came next. Nancy shared a deeply personal story about Eddie Van Halen — how he once complimented her acoustic playing, and how, when he didn’t have a guitar on hand, she simply gave him hers. He stayed up all night playing it and called her the next morning to say thank you and play her what he created. When he passed in 2020, Nancy wrote a piece for him titled “For Eddie.” She played it solo under a heavenly beam of light that seemed to shine from above. It was stunning. Intimate. Spiritual.

The band returned to perform “Love Alive” and a gorgeous rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song.” A minor technical glitch couldn’t slow the momentum — Paul Moak stepped forward to join Ann in a beautifully improvised moment as she sang “Alone.” No matter how many times I’ve heard it, this song hits me deep. And yes, I teared up. My wife, thankfully, wiped my face without judgment. After a few guitar solos from the “Ryan’s” they played “What About Love”
The next song was titled “Sand” dedicated to Ann’s dear friend and gardener. They the play a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean” a heavy, grooving cover with explosive guitar work. And them the finale we all waited for: “Barracuda” — Nancy’s opening riff sliced through the air like a blade, every phone in the venue lit up, every voice screaming along. It was raw. It was real. It was everything a rock concert should be — not a flashback, but a reminder that Heart never went anywhere. They just keep evolving, and somehow, getting even better.

Heart didn’t just perform a concert in Cedar Park. They led a masterclass in endurance, artistry, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. In a world where music can feel fleeting, they reminded us what it means to last. To matter. To feel.

We didn’t just witness a band.
We witnessed a living legacy.

Set list

1. Bébé Le Strange
2. Never
3. Magic Man
4. These Dreams
5. Little Queen
6. Straight On / Let’s Dance (David Bowie cover tease)
7. Love Mistake
8. You’re the Voice (Chris Thompson cover)
9. Crazy on You
10. 4 Edward (Nancy Wilson solo song – tribute to Eddie Van Halen)
11. Love Alive
12. The Rain Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
13. Alone / What About Love
14. Sand
15. The Ocean (Led Zeppelin cover)
16. Barracuda