Buckingham gleefully goes his own way (Orpheum Review)

[MacMan]

http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musi...ticleid=162338

[MacMan]

Buckingham gleefully goes his own way
By Christopher John Treacy
Sunday, October 15, 2006

It’s nice to be back, said Lindsey Buckingham, strapping on his guitar Friday night at the Orpheum to launch into “Not Too Late,” the first of a half-dozen new tunes he performed from the uncharacteristically mellow “Under the Skin.”

Through a winding, propulsive guitar figure and heavily processed vocal line, Buckingham wove the story of a man facing the fear of dwindling time. It proved a startling, dramatic opener, and though the house was only half full, he didn’t seem to mind; it was obvious he’s thrilled to finally be touring on his own.

Now 57, Buckingham’s voice is a weathered but expressive whisper, yet he can still muster up a menacing howl when need be; he used the contrast to great effect throughout his set.

A pared-down version of 1981’s “Trouble” featured staccato guitar picking and portrayed tenderness absent from the original. Similarly, stripped of its production value, his one-man reading of “Go Insane” brimmed with eerie madness.

Buckingham utilized the spotlight to share revealing anecdotes about his songwriting ideas. The new “Cast Away Dreams” was born of an argument with his wife, and he offered that “Red Rover” was a glass-half-empty meditation on the end of the world, noting that his outlook has improved since writing it.

Most revealing, however, was his use of familiar Fleetwood Mac material. By doing “Second Hand News,” “Go Your Own Way,” a ferocious “Big Love” and “Never Going Back Again,” Buckingham bridged the gap between his band work and the material he’s been able to hold for his own.

During heated versions of “World Turnin’ ” and “I’m So Afraid,” it suddenly became clear just how much he’s focused the musical direction of the Mac for the past 30 years. Percussionist Taku Hirano hammered out a woodblock solo with his bare hands for the former tune, while Neal Haywood’s acoustic guitar work held down the fort so Buckingham could bare his virtuosic chops. Keyboardist Brett Tuggle provided a synth-generated marching band for their triumphant stampede through “Tusk.”

No, it wasn’t Fleetwood Mac; it was Buckingham demonstrating just how much he is latter-day Fleetwood Mac. And it was very, very good.

Lindsey Buckingham, at the Orpheum, Friday night.

[DavidMn]

Nice review. Very fair I thought.

[henryscutter]

How many articles about Lindsey have to reference GYOW Such original creative writing Oh well at least its publicity.