Oregonian, The (Portland, OR), December 18, 1987
Section: Arts And Entertainment
DURABLE FLEETWOOD MAC BRINGS IN NEW BLOOD, KEEPS EVOLVING
STUART TOMLINSON - of the Oregonian Staff
Through all the years of breakups and letdowns, hits and clunkers, Fleetwood Mac continues to endure.
For 10,744 fans who attended the band's concert Thursday night in Memorial Coliseum, the reason -- on the surface at least -- seems to be Mick Fleetwood's uncanny ability to bring new blood into the group. After the departure of singer/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham earlier this year, Fleetwood hired seasoned rock veterans Rick Vito and Billy Burnette to take up the slack. Both added their own special touches to a solid set of old and new Mac tunes Thursday.
Playing beneath a butterfly lighting system that flapped its wings (no kidding) during the slower and more soulful numbers, the band moved easily from early blues tunes (``Rattlesnake Shake'' and ``Another Woman'') to lilting pop-rock (``Over My Head,'' ``World Turning'' and ``Dreams'') to doses of straight rock (``Oh Well'' and ``Isn't It Midnight?'').
Stevie Nicks, sounding subdued and never really reaching the high notes, still managed a heartfelt and plaintive version of ``Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?'' Dressed in a trademark lacy dress with flowing garlands, Nicks also warbled her way effectively through ``Gold Dust Woman'' and ``Dreams.''
Since its formation as a blues-rock act in 1967 by Peter Green, and supported thereafter by the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass (both former Bluesbreakers with John Mayall), the band has always taken chances. Not many groups make the transition from blues act to major pop stars with as much style and old-fashioned pluck.
Vito hit the mark time and again with commanding guitar leads on ``Another Woman'' (a tune from the first Fleetwood Mac album, which he dedicated to Green) and cry-and-sing slide guitar runs on ``Rattlesnake Shake.''
Burnette, the son of '50s and '60s rocker Dorsey Burnette and a solo rocker in his own right, gave what would have been Buckingham's lead vocals a rough edge without the pretentious eccentricity that characterized Buckingham's quirky and multirhythmic tunes.
As for the old-time regulars, Christine McVie added several of her polished songs to the heap, including stand-up versions of ``Little Lies'' and ``Isn't It Midnight?'' from the band's most recent LP, ``Tango in the Night.
Mick Fleetwood's 10-minute drum and percussion solo in the middle of ``World Turning,'' helped along by an African drummer wearing a large, horned headdress, took a turn from the ordinary when he started playing a wired vest. The vest, with various effects built into the lining, including the sound of breaking glass, sneezes, car horns and standard drums, added a spacey, wild-eyed and primal feel to one of the better coliseum shows this year.
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