Albany Times Union (NY), August 31, 1989
OPENING ACT LIVELIER THAN STEVIE NICKS
Martin Moynihan Staff writer
SARATOGA SPRINGS
If it's red, this must be "Rooms on Fire." Turquoise with mutton sleeves and black lace, it's "Two Kinds of Love." Black with silver applique, it's the famous "Stand Back."
With two drummers, two keyboardists, two guitarists, two backup singers and a truckload of fashion shawls, singer Stevie Nicks brought her show into town Tuesday night.
Blessed with an intriguing voice despite a not-notably great range, the former Fleetwood Mac lead singer steered her concert, which included a costume change between virtually every song, away from her impressive list of hits.
Instead, the 41-year-old Nicks worked her husky voice around the aforementioned cuts from her "Other Side of the Mirror" album. She did not perform such Fleetwood Mac hits as "Rhiannon" or "Sara," nor some of her solo hits such as "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around."
The amphitheater of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was less than filled, and a fickle rain kept the lawn crowd thin. But crowds rose to the occasional rousing song in what otherwise was as much a fashion parade as a rock music show. "Stand Back" drew a standing ovation, as did "The Edge of 17."
Opening act the Hooters from Philadelphia offered a livelier set than the headliner. Their act showed off the band's musical versatility and willingness to do different things.
Songs about love dominated, of course, with blues and Cajun blending with driving rock.
The band's 45-minute set included hits "And We Danced" and "All You Zombies," probably the highlight of the set.
It was the Philadelphia band's debut at SPAC. They ended the set with a keyboardist Rob Hyman shouting, "Thank you Syracuse. I mean Saratoga." Doesn't matter. They'll be welcome the next time.
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