The Wilson Sisters Bring Heart and Some Soul to Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Etess Arena 5/31/2025
by Julia Hill
On Saturday night, Heart’s spring/summer U.S. ‘Royal Flush’ tour kicked off at the Hard Rock Etess Arena in Atlantic City. Descending the escalators, the venue’s lobby was buzzing with concert attendees spanning every generation: old, young, couples, and families, all there to see the legendary rock band. An eclectic mix of songs, from Joni Mitchell to Muse, played through the speakers to welcome the audience as they found their seats. About twenty minutes after 8:00, the house lights dimmed, and it was showtime.
A projected mosaic of historical and cultural moments played against the stage curtains, spanning from Heart’s conception as a band through the 80s, the 2000s, and up to 2024. Cheers rang out from the crowd as visuals of Muhammad Ali, Star Wars, All in the Family, and John Lennon went by, but when a brief clip of Elon Musk appeared, a notable outcry of protest could be heard. One could say Heart has their finger on the pulse of the people. The montage perfectly demonstrated the longevity and endurance of Ann and Nancy Wilson as two fierce frontwomen who have cemented their names in history by cultivating a decades-spanning career. As the curtains dropped, the gritty opening of “Bebe Le Strange” ripped through the arena, marking 2025 as theirs to claim.
After her battle with cancer in 2024 and a fall that landed her in a wheelchair, Ann Wilson was center stage, dressed in glittering all-black, seated regally in a chair that she occasionally rose from for some of their heavier, energetic tracks, as she sang with power and vibrato. Beside her, of course, was Nancy Wilson with her pink-streaked hair, knee-high purple boots, and guitar in hand. Current band members also include Paul Moak (lead and rhythm guitar, keyboard, mandolin, and backing vocals), Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar), Ryan Waters (lead and rhythm guitar), Tony Lucido (bass), and Sean Lane (drums and bike). The Wilson sisters and their band packed a punch of pure rock n ’ roll as they played iconic songs like “Magic Man,” “Crazy On You,” and “Love Mistake.” They did not hold back when it came to volume and had it cranked the whole night, bass vibrating the arena floor and in your chest just as a rock concert should. Their cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean” was a remarkable rendition that garnered a massive reaction from the crowd, Ann’s vocals hitting hard.
The laid-back, acoustic songs sprinkled throughout the set created a beautiful balance of vibrancy and soul, highlighting the timeless quality of Heart. Midway through the show, Nancy graced the stage, solo in the spotlight, to perform an acoustic instrumental piece entitled “4 Edward” — a sentimental and loving homage to the great Eddie Van Halen. Following the emotional tribute to Eddie, the rest of the band shared the stage once again to play “Sand,” a moving song about loss and the passage of time. The musicianship of Heart was exceptional, the members fully in sync with one another as a collective, serving the music, while also allowing for their diverse skills to shine. Moak, Wariner, and Waters showcased their craftsmanship with mystifying guitar solos that stunned the audience, and Lane struck a sonically layered and mind-bending bike routine. However, it can not be overstated that Nancy and Ann hold the key to Heart. They humbly thanked the onlookers, expressing their gratitude to perform together with deep sincerity, and closed out the night after two hours with their song “Barracuda.” No other rock band puts on a show like Heart, and the Wilson sisters know it, making them an unshakable force on the stage, and they will continue by bringing the ‘Royal Flush’ tour across the entire country until August as they loop back around to the East Coast to finish out the trek in Pennsylvania and New York.
A projected mosaic of historical and cultural moments played against the stage curtains, spanning from Heart’s conception as a band through the 80s, the 2000s, and up to 2024. Cheers rang out from the crowd as visuals of Muhammad Ali, Star Wars, All in the Family, and John Lennon went by, but when a brief clip of Elon Musk appeared, a notable outcry of protest could be heard. One could say Heart has their finger on the pulse of the people. The montage perfectly demonstrated the longevity and endurance of Ann and Nancy Wilson as two fierce frontwomen who have cemented their names in history by cultivating a decades-spanning career. As the curtains dropped, the gritty opening of “Bebe Le Strange” ripped through the arena, marking 2025 as theirs to claim.
After her battle with cancer in 2024 and a fall that landed her in a wheelchair, Ann Wilson was center stage, dressed in glittering all-black, seated regally in a chair that she occasionally rose from for some of their heavier, energetic tracks, as she sang with power and vibrato. Beside her, of course, was Nancy Wilson with her pink-streaked hair, knee-high purple boots, and guitar in hand. Current band members also include Paul Moak (lead and rhythm guitar, keyboard, mandolin, and backing vocals), Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar), Ryan Waters (lead and rhythm guitar), Tony Lucido (bass), and Sean Lane (drums and bike). The Wilson sisters and their band packed a punch of pure rock n ’ roll as they played iconic songs like “Magic Man,” “Crazy On You,” and “Love Mistake.” They did not hold back when it came to volume and had it cranked the whole night, bass vibrating the arena floor and in your chest just as a rock concert should. Their cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean” was a remarkable rendition that garnered a massive reaction from the crowd, Ann’s vocals hitting hard.
The laid-back, acoustic songs sprinkled throughout the set created a beautiful balance of vibrancy and soul, highlighting the timeless quality of Heart. Midway through the show, Nancy graced the stage, solo in the spotlight, to perform an acoustic instrumental piece entitled “4 Edward” — a sentimental and loving homage to the great Eddie Van Halen. Following the emotional tribute to Eddie, the rest of the band shared the stage once again to play “Sand,” a moving song about loss and the passage of time. The musicianship of Heart was exceptional, the members fully in sync with one another as a collective, serving the music, while also allowing for their diverse skills to shine. Moak, Wariner, and Waters showcased their craftsmanship with mystifying guitar solos that stunned the audience, and Lane struck a sonically layered and mind-bending bike routine. However, it can not be overstated that Nancy and Ann hold the key to Heart. They humbly thanked the onlookers, expressing their gratitude to perform together with deep sincerity, and closed out the night after two hours with their song “Barracuda.” No other rock band puts on a show like Heart, and the Wilson sisters know it, making them an unshakable force on the stage, and they will continue by bringing the ‘Royal Flush’ tour across the entire country until August as they loop back around to the East Coast to finish out the trek in Pennsylvania and New York.
