Globe and Mail (Canada), July 29, 1978
BYLINE: Alan Niester; GAM
DATELINE: Buffalo NY
A CROWD in excess of 55,000 people jammed Buffalo's Rich Stadium late
yesterday afternoon and evening for the so-called Rock World IV
Celebration Jam which starred major pop acts, Pablo Cruise, Bob Welch,
Foreigner and, the headliners, Fleetwood Mac.
Although there were no major uprisings such as when a group of rowdies
stormed the stage after a Rolling Stones concert here on July 4, security
forces expressed surprise at the number of isolated incidents of drug
overdose and drunkenness. As one security person noted we expected an
older crowd, but we got the whole bag. There's a lot of kids here for an
all-day party.
As they did at the recent Beach Boys concert at Exhibition Stadium,
Pablo Cruise got things off to a powerful start by playing a short (35
minutes) but spunky set made up mostly of slightly extended numbers from
their recent album. They were well received by that portion of the
audience which was already inside the stadium.
Bob Welch, who followed, was also impressive. Any cynics who suggested
that Welch's inclusion on the bill might have been arranged because of
his recent membership in, and current close association with Fleetwood
Mac, would have been at least partially dissuaded by his band's powerful
brand of hard rock. While his recent hits, Sentimental Lady and Ebony
Eyes, might otherwise characterize him as a soft-core popper, Welch
delivered a series of powerful and aggressive numbers well suited to the
holiday atmosphere of the crowd.
Foreigner picked up the tempo even more. The six-piece, half English,
half American power outfit came on as excessively macho from the moment
they jumped on the stage. With vocalist Lou Gramm doing a studied
incarnation of Paul Rogers and lead guitarist Mick Jones spinning off
some long and intricate guitar lines, Foreigner resembled nothing less
than a latter-day Free. Moving through a sizzling bass-heavy set which
included stellar versions of Hot Blooded, Cold as Ice (stretched out into
a superb 20-minute jam) and Feels Like the First Time, Foreigner got the
audience up and boogieing on at least four occasions and were well
deserving of the dynamic encore they received.
But however strong the three opening acts were, Fleetwood Mac's
appearance was a superb climax. Accompanied by a massive light show that
required additional generators to help boost the stadium's capacity, the
band act was nothing short of sensational.
Leading off with solid versions of Monday Morning and The Chain, they
displayed the ability that would carry them through the rest of the set
and which has kept them close to the top of the charts - precision vocal
blends from Chris McVie and Stevie Nicks, a chunky bottom from the rhythm
section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, and more than adequate guitar
lines from Lindsey Buckingham.
The set's highlights are almost too numerous to mention, but the
following must be noted: Stevie Nicks' provocative nymphet voice on
Dream, the band's instrumental strength on the classic Oh Well, and
definitely Stevie Nicks' whirling dervish ballet on the band's sultry
Rhiannon.
All told, a rewarding day of music from beginning to end, and an
example of concert packaging that puts recent Toronto concerts far back
in the shade.
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