Fleetwood Mac spreads some fresh gold dust at Little Caesars
DETROIT -- Whether or not you believe the rumors about Stevie Nicks being a witch, she and the rest of Fleetwood Mac cast a spell on the crowded house Tuesday night, Oct. 30, at Little Caesar’s Arena during the group’s 50th Anniversary Tour Tuesday, Oct. 30th.
This time it was with a new incarnation of the band, currently embroiled in a public dispute with dismissed member Lindsey Buckingham -- veterans Nicks, Christine McVie, ex-husband John McVie and Mick Fleetwood joined by Mike Campbell from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and Split Enz/Crowded House alumnus Neil Finn.
Despite a slightly older audience that remained seated for most of the show, the band came on strong, frontloading its 22-song, two-hour and 15-minute set with hits such as “The Chain,” “Dreams,” “Say You Love Me” and “Second Hand News.” Two backing vocalists, a second keyboardist, a third guitarist and a percussionist put the grand total on stage at 11. With simple fabric draping and a giant video screen as its backdrop, the band relied mostly on different lighting transitions (giant lightbulbs, draped chandeliers) and video montages for effect. The Brady Bunch-esque split screen that showed each band member during the opening was also a nice touch.
Anyone who was curious if Finn was a good choice to join the band got their answer early . His vocal work and guitar playing quickly put to rest any question about his ability, and some of his higher range even sounded uncannily like Buckingham – especially later in the night during “Monday Morning.” He blended with both Nicks and Christine McVie for some excellent vocal dynamics and touched the fans with a version of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” that had cell phone lights blinking and people singing along throughout the arena.
Often understated and sometimes overlooked, the double-barreled secret weapon of Christine McVie’s keyboard finesse and beautiful vocals were even more prominent in Buckingham’s absence. She took the lead on “Little Lies” and “You Make Loving Fun” and came front and (almost) center for “Everywhere,” showing off not only her talent, but the posture and energy of a woman half her age (75). Unlike the quiet McVie who returned to the stage somewhat reluctantly in 2014, this songbird was in her element;, even trading licks and riffing with guitarist Campbell during an excellent rendition of “Black Magic Woman,” one of several songs played from the group’s earliest days as a late 60s blues-rock outfit.
In a band whose previous guitarist was known for showing off and making sure all eyes were on him during every solo, Campbell was exactly the opposite. His laid back, casual appearance made it easy to forget what an incredible talent he is. His mastery of the intricate guitar parts was so understated that it seemed at times effortless. Far from being over-indulgent, Campbell seamlessly fit into the band while adding his own flair and signature style to songs such as “Say You Love Me” and a ripping, bluesy version of “Oh Well” on which he also sang lead. He even brought along a Marxophone to add a little something extra to “Gypsy.”
A bit of self-indulgence came during “World Turning” when Mick Fleetwood launched into a drum solo which lasted over 10 minutes. It could have been a display of Fleetwood’s technical and creative skill, but with the exception of the short time he played off of the other percussionist and when he stepped to the front of the stage with his talking hand drum, the solo was a repetitive call and response with the audience that dragged out the middle of the show. It was a welcome relief when the rest of the band returned to sing the final chorus.
One would have expected to see a few more scarves and top hats in the crowd so close to Halloween, but the Nicks contingent made a strong showing, as did the lady herself. Dressed in her signature flowing black skirts, chunky boots and shawls, Nicks commanded center stage to proclaim, “Welcome, Detroit! This is show number 13 of our tour – right before Halloween! We are really happy to share it with you.” She delivered on fan favorites “Rhiannon,” “Landslide” and an extended version of “Gold Dust Woman” that allowed time for twirling and vamping across the stage before Nicks “disappeared” in a shimmer of gold dust. Her voice was pure Stevie – that familiar throaty, raspy tone her fans know and love.
And while early in the night she seemed a bit strained during a couple of tunes, her harmonies and duets were all spot-on. She particularly shined during an emotional encore rendition of “Free Fallin’” while images of the late Tom Petty (with Nicks, Campbell and other members of The Heartbreakers) flashed on the video screen.
It was a night for looking back and moving forward, with deep cuts such as “Isn’t It Midnight” and “Tell Me All The Things You Do” mixed in with the singalong hits. McVie and Nicks closed the night out with a poignant duet of “All Over Again,” a song McVie introduced as “about change, about the future and the hope that we can celebrate all of it.” The band’s legacy is secure, and no matter which way it goes it’s clear Fleetwood Mac doesn’t plan to stop any time soon.
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