"Old Fans"

[PenguinHead]

I have always been perplexed when the band (mostly Stevie) has publically stated that they play all their old songs most often because the "older fans want to hear them."

It is directly opposite of what long-time fans really want...we've heard and seen those songs played a million times. We want them to progress, shake it up and be confident in playing new material!!

After thinking about it, I think I know what Stevie means.
When she is referring to "old fans," I think she's addressing the people who may have been fans in the band's heyday, but haven't really followed the band and their music since then. Since that's all they're familiar with, that is what they will want to hear. Essentially they are suspended in 1977. As such, so is much of the band's set list.

There is a big distinction between old fans and lifelong fans. They really should give more consideration to the lifelong fans...we are the ones who have and will continue to support them, regardless of their lack of chart hits or waning mass popularity.

This is my musing for the day.

[dissention]

I agree, but I think it's more than that.

Stevie doesn't want to step outside her safety-zone and perform some great, old songs, which is a shame. So what if it alienates *some* of the audience, it isn't like the band needs any more money. They're all richer than a lot of musicians, especially Stevie and Lindsey.

It's all quite disappointing that they can't do more to spice up their performances instead of phoning them in every night. That's my major gripe with this tour.

[sodascouts]

I think Stevie also likes all the excited cheering that goes on whenever the opening notes of classics like "Rhiannon" and "Dreams" come on. She needs that kind of crowd participation, I believe, to feel good about herself.

[Hippocampus]

I think it's more a case of the band not taking into account fans getting jadded with bootlegs. Let's face it, if we're tired of hearing the "same old songs", isn't it our fault ? I really think the vast majority of concert-goers, who gets to see Fleetwood Mac live once every few years, is quite happy with the setlist as it is. Too bad for the rest of us...

[sulamith]

Last night in Atlanta was not "phoned in" at all. Yes, it was the same setlist, but there were lyric changes, and what seemed like a few arrangement differences.

Mostly, Stevie's voice was phenomenal last night. There were times when it seemed to just transcend.....
She was going very high, like on NGBA... albeit she can't belt out the high notes, she sings softly into the mic very high, and then she abruptly changes key... very difficult to do....

Jason, Help me out, here! You said you had seen vocally lazy performances from Stevie in the past, but that last night was anything BUT! Right?

Her voice exercises are really making a difference. She sounds just wonderful!

And no more "planting herself like an oak tree" in front of her mic stand. Our gypsy is back.

All of the band seemed very much in the moment. No, not "phoned in" at ALL.

-Sharon

[darklinensuit]

Stevie has always prided herself on living in the past. She is reluctant to push aside her older children for new ones. Twenty years from now on the band's umpteenth reunion she will be "dusting off" forgotten songs and saying things like "Not Make Believe is a great old song."

- Jake

[macmar71]

I love the classics and it is nice to hear some of those greats but I am one who wants the obscure, the rare, the quirky stuff and I know that it will probably never be but I can "dream".......