REVIEW: Nancy Wilson, Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop (Epic)
- Bill Holmes
John Hiatt was reborn in this intimate setting over a decade ago, a performance which led to the classic Bring The Family record that finally brought him commercial success and widespread critical raves. No such metamorphosis is going to occur to Nancy Wilson as a result of this record, but then again she's already got a well documented history with Heart. Instead, this record is a signpost in her career - a true treat for her fans, and a notice to skeptics that her talents don't require a stack of Marshall amps.
Opening without introduction, the familiar lines of "Even It Out" kick in, until the first verse is launched by her strong vocal. Playful and emotive, she sounds as good as her sister did on the original. She follows that with a solid rendition of "Kathy's Song", which reminded me how long it has been since Paul Simon wrote simple, poignant, classic songs. Switching to mandolin, she then introduces "Half Moon", her first original on the record. Nancy plays the mandolin as well as the guitar, but every acoustic mandolin song by either Wilson sister sounds remarkably like Led Zeppelin's "Battle Of Evermore" (which the sisters covered on the Singles soundtrack with their side project, The Lovemongers). Of her other originals, "Ground Zero" had the most appeal to me - a dark, brooding Richard Thompson feel that seemed further removed from the usual Heart material.
I don't need to hear another version of "In Your Eyes" - every acoustic troubadour does that one, thanks - but her pipes shine on Joni Mitchell's "A Case Of You", and a less bombastic version of "These Dreams" is a plus. (Although it seems to follow the Heart blueprint, "Dreams" is a cover - Bernie Taupin and Martin Page wrote the song.)
The sound of the record is crystal clear, as if she were in your living room. Wilson clearly enjoys her performance, giggling on occasion and joking about the missing campfire. For those who get lost in such atmosphere, Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop is a pleasant way to spend the evening. Of course, "Kumbaya" is optional.
