Lovemongers Put Heart In Ste. Michelle

As one of the most commercially successful bands of the past two decades, Heart will likely never go back to the club circuit. Leaders Ann and Nancy Wilson can go back, however, with the Lovemongers.

The Lovemongers are the Wilson sisters and two longtime friends, Frank Cox and lyric-writing partner Susan Ennis. They are emphatically a club band, with dozens of shows in places like the Backstage, Parker's, and the New Melody Tavern. Of course, there have been shows at places as large as the 5th Avenue Theatre and the Opera House, and tomorrow, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville.

What the foursome brings to these stages is an unself-conscious blend of acoustic Heart tunes, some new material, and an array of cover tunes, including Led Zepplin's "Battle of Evermore" (recorded for the movie soundtrack "Singles") and the B-52's "Love Shack." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Nancy Wilson gave no indication that that matters.

"We get to do whatever we want, so it's kind of translated into a process of confidence-building," Wilson said by telephone a couple days ago. "Being in the smaller clubs has totally put us back in touch with why we got into music in the first place."

Wilson said the Lovemongers have a repertoire of about 50 songs, which allows them to juggle their set list at will. "The setting really dictates a lot about the set," she said, describing an outdoor show and a club date as two different species. As for cover versions, they must be "well-known but not overplayed. . . . We're our own worst judges as for what's cool enough."

The Lovemongers formed early last year, just after Heart finished its "Brigade" tour. They were asked to do a Paramount show benefiting the "Bring the Troops Home for Peace" organization. "We got together to do one show, and then all these offers kept coming in," Wilson said.

A show at the Backstage last fall broadcast live on KMTT and taped for radio play reportedly reached 750,000 listeners. "It was really exciting - the Lovemongers call each other and go, `We're on the radio!' It's like it was back in the beginning" of Heart, Wilson said.

Wilson said that the Lovemongers will continue to exist after Heart finishes recording its next album and goes on tour. Wilson said they will likely go into the studio as soon as Heart is finished and "put it in the can - just have it there for whenever we want." She enthused over recording at the Wilson sisters' own studio, Bad Animals, saying that "not having to be in L.A. with the music industry breathing down your back is extra-cool for us."