Heart & Cheap Trick Surrender Up Classic Rock Jams At Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena (SHOW REVIEW)

For the first time in about five years, classic rock stalwarts Heart made their long-anticipated return to the Metro Detroit area. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers brought along Cheap Trick for the opening slot at the Little Caesars Arena stop of their Royal Flush Tour 2024. Here are five moments that stood out from the show: 

Early Arrivers “Surrender” to Cheap Trick’s Rocking Anthems

Cheap Trick heralded the onslaught of riffs to come with the driving guitars of set opener “Hello There.” But it was the back half of the set that got the crowd fired up and on their feet as the Rockers rattled off three of their huge hits in a row. Lead vocalist Robin Zander teased the start of the sequence by declaring emphatically to the audience, “I want you to want me” – evoking the spoken vocal inflection immortalized in the live recording of “I Want You to Want Me” found on their live album At Budokan. On this track, the audience grooved to the driving drum beat, skittering guitar solo, and Zander-led call-and-response. 

Flashing red and blue lights and sirens announced the arrival of “Dream Police,” and this standout sequence ended with the rollicking riffs and resonant chants of “Surrender.” Cheap Trick brought the set full circle with “Goodnight,” with guitarist Rick Nielsen delivering some final licks on his iconic five-neck guitar. 

Eclectic Opening

Throughout their set, Heart took listeners on a journey through their decades as a band – showcasing their eclectic sounds along the way. This wide array of styles was evident from the get-go with their opening sequence of songs. The rollicking rocker “Bébé le Strange” kicked off the festivities with its chunky bassline and sturdy drumbeat, while also giving the first taste of the layered vocals between sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. Ann Wilson’s soaring vocals shined bright on the next track, the power pop anthem “Never.” The divergent three-song opening sequence wrapped up with the twangy acoustic guitar and psychedelic visuals of “Love Alive.” 

Solo Showcases

In between songs, Ann Wilson noted that while Heart was on hiatus, the sisters each had time to work on solo projects and meet new musicians. The set memorably provided each sister the opportunity to shine a light on their solo work. Ann Wilson took the lead on the bluesy, slow-tempo rocker “This Is Now,” a showcase for her pristine vocals and soulful croons. 

Later in the set, Nancy Wilson dove into the backstory of her track “4 Edward” – the titular Edward in the title being Eddie Van Halen. Nancy Wilson recalled encouraging Van Halen to use the acoustic guitar – and the very next morning, Van Halen called up Wilson to showcase a new bit he had just written. (“I wish I could remember it, but this is about as close as it gets,” Wilson remarked.) The instrumental track that followed showcased Wilson’s intricate finger-picking on acoustic guitar, with a bit of outlaw country twang. As the track ended, Wilson blew a kiss and pointed to the sky. 

Grooving Through the Middle of the Set 

The middle of the set featured plenty of crowd-pleasing moments, as well. The audience bobbed to the grooving intro of “Straight On,” led by Ann Wilson’s fierce vocals, as well a bouncy bass breakdown. The track effortlessly melted into a spirited cover of David Bowie’s iconic hit “Let’s Dance.” 

The crowd also cheered wildly from the start of the twangy acoustic guitar intro that heralded the start of “Crazy on You,” which was a prominent example of how enthralling the melding of acoustic and electric guitar sounds could be when intertwined within their tracks. 

Rocking Finish

Heart finished their set strong, with more sonic variety. The grungy acoustic guitar intro of “Mistral Wind” gave way to a heavy metal breakdown, complete with crushing riffs and a slamming drum beat – arguably the heaviest track of the evening. The interplay between “Alone” and “What About Love” provided another powerful vocal showcase for Ann Wilson, especially on the latter part’s power pop ballad. Two of the band’s biggest hits helped put a bow on the evening, with the driving guitar riffs of “Magic Man” and “Barracuda” keeping the crowd pumped up till the end.