Fleetwood Mac in Glasgow, Thursday 22nd October 09
October 24, 2009 — matildagretchen
My first thoughts when I saw them – they looked OLD, Lindsay in particular. Now, I know they ARE old, but I just mean compared to 5 years ago I could see a tiredness about them. Not that that’s a criticism at all, they still played an amazing show that would shame most of the younger bands out there. I just thought, “oh ****, they might not do this again, it might be taking too much out of them”. But as the show went on, they managed to find even more energy, and seemed to really be enjoying themselves.
Stevie was beautiful in her goth frocks (I counted 4 costume changes, all similar dresses with slight variations on the sequin/lace adornments), and I had hair envy – her mane always seemed to be freshly brushed, with not a lock out of place. I hope I have hair like that at her age – blue rinses are for losers! (sorry grannies).
Highlights of the show for me were -
Landslide – I defy anyone to hear Stevie sing this live and not fall in love with her and want to hug her and hold her hand and sniff her hair.
Second Hand News – It was raucous, full of electricity and classic Fleetwood Mac.
Tusk – It was a wee bit tamer than I’ve heard/seen it before, but I still adore it, and Mick Fleetwood always entrances me with his faces when he’s playing this song!
Go Your Own Way – This got the biggest reception from the crowd, it was magical to hear the whole room singing it.
Stand Back – What can I say? It’s just heavenly, it’s so quintessentially Stevie, and I had goosebumps watching her sing her heart out.
Stevie and Lindsay seemed to have a good rapport, facing each other lots to sing. I’m not a Lindsay fan (Team Stevie!), but he deserves enormous credit for the effort he puts into playing. Big Love was fantastic as usual, and he soaked up the adulation in a very charming way (egotistical git that he is)! John stared at his guitar the whole time, and didn’t say a word to the audience, but I loved him for it – John’s John, he just wants to go on stage, get the bloody thing over and done with then bugger off fishing, and he’s quite right! He’s earned the right to do so, putting up with all the drama for so many years! Mick looked like he was having a ball the entire time, and those faces! They crack me up every time.
Stevie dedicated Landslide to a bird handler called Jamie, whom she had met earlier that day. She told us about her stay in Turnberry near Troon, and how meeting Jamie and his marvellous birds had been a real highlight of all her travels. That was lovely. Stevie didn’t hit the high notes in her songs, but as I said with John and his ’let’s just get on with it’ bass playing – quite right! Why the hell should she? She’s sung the songs for years, they still sound absolutely wonderful coming from her, if she doesn’t want to why the hell should she? Just to appease the critics? Most people her age are hanging about coffee mornings and mooching round supermarkets for bargains. If she wants to sing her songs in sold out stadiums a wee bit differently to how she has in the past, just ****ing enjoy it and stop moaning!
I’ve just realised how ageist I sound in this post. I’d just like it to be known that I love the oldies, I just like my oldies to be more like Stevie “I’m so rock’n'roll I lost my septum decades ago” Nicks and less like Cliff “colostomy bag-tastic” Richard.
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One Response to “Fleetwood Mac in Glasgow, Thursday 22nd October 09”
Vivienne Stefani Says:
October 24, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Ah the hair-sniffing we all dream about…! Love your review. I, too, want to belt the people who complain about Stevie’s range dropping. Eff that, already! No one sounds like they did 30 years ago 30 years later. Some critics hold her to a ridiculous standard.
I saw them in Los Angeles and enjoyed myself silly. My only criticism of the concert is the rehearsed comments they say at every show verbatim. I wish they’d just talk to us spontaneously, like it’s real life instead of a manufactured production. But that detail aside, the music and their effort was fantastic. Glad to hear the performance excellence continues overseas.
Cheers, Vivienne your Twitter friend