DAVID TAYLOR | Go Venue Magazine

On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Heart made their triumphant return to Omaha, nearly ten years since their last appearance. It was a welcome return as they played at Baxter Arena.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick kicked off the night. They actually have history with Baxter Arena as they were the first artist to play at the arena when it opened in 2015. I understand that the band’s youthful energy has slowly decreased, but they still know how to rock out. Robin Zander really knows how to take care of his voice; he sounded great. Rick Nielsen, who doesn’t have that frantic energy he used to have, still can rip on a guitar. I always love his various guitars he plays on stage, including his one that is shaped like him and his Sgt. Pepper’s one. Even bassist Tom Petersen had a nice bass solo. Cheap Trick has so much in common with Heart that it makes so much sense they were the right fit to open for them: both got huge in the 1970s with their own brand of hard rock music and evolved into the 1980s by evolving their sound and still cranking out hits. I am so glad Cheap Trick is still going out there and playing live.

Finally, the Omaha crowd was ready for Heart. Ann and Nancy Wilson are pioneers of female-fronted rock bands. For them to still be doing this for over fifty years is incredible. Ann, despite her recent health struggles, sounded amazing. And Nancy still has that youthful energy she brings as Ann’s younger sister, just crushing it on guitar. Add an amazing backing band, and you have a set full of incredible artistry and musicianship. In addition to their own material, they played three Led Zeppelin songs, “Going to California”, “The Rain Song”, and “The Ocean”. They are the best Led Zeppelin cover band, and it is not even close. On this same night, December 2, in 2012, they performed “Stairway to Heaven” at the Kennedy Center Honors in front of them, and even Robert Plant said this was the best version of the song he had ever heard.

I loved that they mixed “Alone” and “What About Love” together; they did it so beautifully. And during “Straight On”, they threw in some of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”. This band knows how to have some fun with their arrangements. Heart still performing at the top of their level is astonishing and awe-inspiring. I can’t believe how well they sounded. This was definitely in my top 3 favorite concerts of the year. Go see Heart if you have not!

Heart Cheap Trick All images © David Taylor

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