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[michelej1]

Mac revives the past

Just like old times as Fleetwood Mac rocks GM Place

The Province, May 17, 2009
http://www.theprovince.com/Entertain...748/story.html

Grade: B+

Fleetwood Mac is using this tour, Fleetwood Mac Unleashed, to survey its own legacy since the mid '70s.

So let's do the same.

In one of the many improbabilities of a long career, Rumours was the best LP of 1977 -- or it was the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks?

Rumours arrived with a continuing soap opera and a wealth of hit singles. Bollocks, on the other hand, glued the Sex Pistols in a time. Rumours was the very thing Bollocks was against, but if over time Bollocks can be appreciated for some good rock 'n' roll, Rumours' songs have each taken on a special meaning and the album has come to symbolize survival.

Mick Fleetwood and his fellow co-founder, John McVie, knew how to roll with the punches and their new recruits, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, took note.

Now, between Nicks and Buckingham, they have made their own lore.

This tour celebrates that lore. Apart from two video screens, a few swirling scrims and six additional singers or musicians, the four have mounted a simple production in which the songs are the real stars.

There are 23 of them in all in a two-and-a-half-hour show. Of these, only one -- "Oh Well" -- harks to the old Fleetwood Mac and only two come from the solo careers of Buckingham or Nicks.

Fleetwood is an animated eccentric, McVie the anchor, Nicks still the sensitive waif, Buckingham a stage-stalking guitar hero. Some of the songs are bigger stars than others.

"Rhiannon," for instance, got the first loud applause. But Nicks' "Sara" was watery and didn't have the same impact.

Buckingham's solo "Big Love" stood out for his urgent playing, but his "Go Insane" wasn't as well known or as well received. "Go Your Own Way" and "I'm So Afraid" burned with intensity. Nicks' "Gold Dust Woman" was steeped in mood.

Over the years, the four original members of the longest-lasting edition of Fleetwood Mac now have intuitive understanding of themselves and their songs.

She may be retired from the band now, but Christine McVie wrote "Don't Stop."

It seems too late now.

[bikerchic]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

It's obvious she's sick. Just watch Gold Dust Woman, she doesn't even do the Put Your Kingdom UP FOR SALLLEEEE thing shes been doing. The only plus is I think that the wail after the second chorus is actually way better with her sick voice. The Vancuver wail is my favorite of the whole tour.

and the "dragon" is really good too.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by StandbackStevie

Stevie Nicks sounds fine on that video clip everyone wants perfection its a concert have a blast and enjoy the shows while it lasts. We are lucky that our favorite band is still touring and playing i enjoy the moment of the concert and being in there presence is a total honor to me to see this legendary band perform and I can't wait for the Wednesday June 17th Show when they return to Mohegan Sun for another show it will be awesome

Good for you! I'm sure you will have a great time.
But in all the 35 or so years of being a fan, going to plenty of shows and listening to every live performance I could get my hands on, I have never heard her voice crack like that. What we have here is a mere difference of opinion.

[wheart]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

It's obvious she's sick. Just watch Gold Dust Woman, she doesn't even do the Put Your Kingdom UP FOR SALLLEEEE thing shes been doing. The only plus is I think that the wail after the second chorus is actually way better with her sick voice. The Vancuver wail is my favorite of the whole tour.

And that Stand Back second verse was something else. That was Rock a Little esque confusion and I loved it. Just trading cocaine for illness.

But despite those few positive moments, I really hope this tour ends June 20th for all of their sakes. And then if the deal they made about them needing to enjoy this tour in orded to make an album is true I don't think there's any way in hell Stevie's gonna say she enjoyed this so an album seems VERY unlikely. So I think plan B should be Stevie relaxes and heads into the studio in the fall to make a new album or do that rarities solo tour with her own band at her own pace, she could spread 35 dates over 3 months playing 2-3 nights a week. And Lindsey can do a more extensive version of his GOS tour, I sure want to see that tour again.

I'm so with you here. I really hope the tour doesn't go on much further. IMO the Soundstage release put a little spark back into Stevie regarding her solo career and I think that's what she'd rather be focused on right now. But, whatever the reason, she's clearly not enjoying this tour. And I for one don't want another FM record. I like Lindsey and Stevie's solo work far more.

[Moz]

I just listened to that clip of Storms, and it sounds fine to me. I kind of even like the voice cracking - it makes the song more emotional and gives it personality.

[BTFLCHLD]

gdw


(easy on vocals)