Live At McCabes' Guitar Shop
Considering her status as a driving force behind the worldwide success ofHeart, it's surprising to see the caution with which guitarist-vocalist Nancy Wilson has approached her bow as a solo performer. Most bands spin off solo careers as often as--indeed, perhaps more often than--they change their shirts. But Wilson is old school and Heart has always gotten her best stuff. Just so,Live at McCabescomes off as a loose and low-key showcase for Wilson's new material, as well as a chance to show off her interpretive skills. The 13-song all-acoustic program is highlighted by well-chosen covers such asPaul Simon's "Kathy's Song,"Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," andJoni Mitchell's "A Case of You." Wilson also takes on three Heart classics--"Even It Up," "Angels," and "These Dreams"--while new songs such as the mandolin-driven "Half Moon" and the gorgeous "Everything" stand comfortably alongside her best stuff. "All we need is a campfire," Wilson quips at one point, an appropriate summation of this intimate, unpretentious, classy set.--Daniel Durchholz