MANSFIELD - The three groups don't appear to have much in common except hitting the big time in the 1970s, but the music blended smoothly together nonetheless. Classic rock does that trick.

Heart, Cheap Trick and Journey all took the stage Tuesday night at the Comcast Center.

With its energetic power pop, Journey headlined, and continues to be a delight live despite lead singer Steve Perry having left in the late '90s.

The band has been going through lead singers like the New England weather since. Perry-look-alike Steve Augeri had filled that role from 1998 until recent years, when Jeff Scott Solo took over, and now it is Arnel Pineda, who did a superb job. Pineda, 40, from the Phillipines, has had a successful musical career in Asia for the past 25 years.

After "Only the Young" and "Stone In Love," "Ask the Lonely" was as moving as usual, followed by "Wheel in the Sky" and "Lights." Opening the ballad "Open Arms" was a long piano introduction by keyboardist Jonathan Cain, the most versatile musician in the group who also plays guitar and harmonica.

"Escape," the title track off the No. 1 album from 1981, the soft "Faithfully," "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Separate Ways" closed the set.

For the encore, it was the jumpy "Any Way You Want It" off 1980's "Departure."

The band has a new three CD and DVD package out, "Revelation," that contains 11 new songs written by guitarist and ex-Santana member Neal Schon and Cain. Among the new songs played were "Change For The Better" and "After All These Years."

Heart, sandwiched between the other groups, easily stole the entire show, with Ann Wilson's powerful voice and her younger sister Nancy kicking on guitar, and their driving mix of ballads and rockers.

Opening with "Wild Child" and "Magic Man" off the debut 1976 "Dreamboat Annie," Nancy Wilson switched to acoustic guitar and harmonica on "Never."

Following "Straight on to You," the pace slowed, with Nancy Wilson playing mandolin and singing the sweet "These Dreams" from the group's comeback No. 1 album from 1985.

Ann Wilson, who has her first solo album out of mostly cover songs, "Hope & Glory," really stretched her vocals on the slow-fast ballad "Alone" and an intense and lengthy cover of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me."

After the rocking "Barracuda," the encore showcased a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Going to California" and Nancy Wilson's stellar acoustic intro on "Crazy on You." The Wilsons are from California.

Opening was Cheap Trick, which stuck mostly to their hits. The melody-filled "If You Want My Love" (You Got It) from 1982 has a Beatles sound that inspired the band.

"I Want You to Want Me," which went Top 10 as a live version in 1979 when it was recorded in Japan, ended up being a clap-along with the audience.

It was a mostly acoustic version of the beautiful ballad, "The Flame," a comeback hit for the band in 1988 that was their only No. 1 single.

The popular "Surrender" off 1978's "Heaven Tonight" was easily the highlight. "Dream Police" wrapped the set up.

Guitarist/vocalist Rick Nielsen put on his usual dazzling show, switching guitars like Madonna and Cher change wardrobes. Nielsen has quite the collection, ranging from a square yellow one to a five-neck piece.

With its unconventional rock band looks, the group pretty much invented the combination of Beatle-like melody, punk music, guitar exploits and parody. Cheap Trick did the theme song for Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."