Nyc, 3/11/2019

[kak125]

The emotional highlight of Monday night’s sold-out Fleetwood Mac concert at Madison Square Garden — their first New York show of the post-Lindsey Buckingham era — wasn’t even a Fleetwood Mac song.

It was “Free Fallin’,” the 1989 Tommy Petty solo hit that Stevie Nicks led as the first song of the encore in tribute to her late friend and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” collaborator. The cover was also a nod to Mike Campbell, the new Fleetwood Mac-ster and former guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Photos of Petty — some with Nicks — flashed on the video screen behind Fleetwood Mac as they all melted into one generation of rock royalty that came up together and became legends of the same era. At that moment, whatever drama that led Buckingham to be booted from Fleetwood in April 2018 didn’t seem to matter.

Another memorable moment came when Neil Finn — the former Crowded House frontman who jointed Fleetwood, along with Campbell, to replace Buckingham — did CH’s ’80s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over” with a little help from Nicks. As he strummed on acoustic guitar, Finn had the crowd singing along “Hey now, hey now.”

But there were other moments when Buckingham was clearly missed, such as when the band confronted his departure headfirst by opening with Finn leading “The Chain.” It just didn’t feel the same with Finn fronting “Go Your Own Way,” and he needed help from Christine McVie and Nicks to bring home “Don’t Stop” in the encore.

Fleetwod Mac missed more than Buckingham’s voice and presence alongside Nicks — the band missed his energy. Campbell did his best to play the role of resident guitar god. though.

The band — which will bring its “An Evening with Fleetwood Mac” tour to Prudential Center on Wednesday and back to the Garden on March 18 — tried to make up for that by dipping into their pre-Buckingham catalog: Nicks even reclaimed “Black Magic Woman,” a tune that original member Peter Green wrote wrote for Fleetwood Mac before it became a signature hit for Santana.

Indeed, the concert was even more about Nicks — ever the mystical enchantress — who inspired the bohemian looks of some women in the audience. She had to carry the show, and she knew it.

In fact, one of the biggest roars of the night came when Nicks — who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist at Barclays Center on March 29, after already being enshrined with Fleetwood Mac — did one of her signature twirls at the end of “Gypsy.”

This gypsy remains magical.

https://nypost.com/2019/03/12/stevie...mac-rocks-msg/

[Storms123]

Originally Posted by kak125

The emotional highlight of Monday night’s sold-out Fleetwood Mac concert at Madison Square Garden — their first New York show of the post-Lindsey Buckingham era — wasn’t even a Fleetwood Mac song.

It was “Free Fallin’,” the 1989 Tommy Petty solo hit that Stevie Nicks led as the first song of the encore in tribute to her late friend and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” collaborator. The cover was also a nod to Mike Campbell, the new Fleetwood Mac-ster and former guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Photos of Petty — some with Nicks — flashed on the video screen behind Fleetwood Mac as they all melted into one generation of rock royalty that came up together and became legends of the same era. At that moment, whatever drama that led Buckingham to be booted from Fleetwood in April 2018 didn’t seem to matter.

Another memorable moment came when Neil Finn — the former Crowded House frontman who jointed Fleetwood, along with Campbell, to replace Buckingham — did CH’s ’80s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over” with a little help from Nicks. As he strummed on acoustic guitar, Finn had the crowd singing along “Hey now, hey now.”

But there were other moments when Buckingham was clearly missed, such as when the band confronted his departure headfirst by opening with Finn leading “The Chain.” It just didn’t feel the same with Finn fronting “Go Your Own Way,” and he needed help from Christine McVie and Nicks to bring home “Don’t Stop” in the encore.

Fleetwod Mac missed more than Buckingham’s voice and presence alongside Nicks — the band missed his energy. Campbell did his best to play the role of resident guitar god. though.

The band — which will bring its “An Evening with Fleetwood Mac” tour to Prudential Center on Wednesday and back to the Garden on March 18 — tried to make up for that by dipping into their pre-Buckingham catalog: Nicks even reclaimed “Black Magic Woman,” a tune that original member Peter Green wrote wrote for Fleetwood Mac before it became a signature hit for Santana.

Indeed, the concert was even more about Nicks — ever the mystical enchantress — who inspired the bohemian looks of some women in the audience. She had to carry the show, and she knew it.

In fact, one of the biggest roars of the night came when Nicks — who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist at Barclays Center on March 29, after already being enshrined with Fleetwood Mac — did one of her signature twirls at the end of “Gypsy.”

This gypsy remains magical.

https://nypost.com/2019/03/12/stevie...mac-rocks-msg/

They really are Stevie’s backing band now. I am not saying that to stir the pot but the review essentially says it

[jeets2000]

Originally Posted by kak125

The emotional highlight of Monday night’s sold-out Fleetwood Mac concert at Madison Square Garden — their first New York show of the post-Lindsey Buckingham era — wasn’t even a Fleetwood Mac song.

It was “Free Fallin’,” the 1989 Tommy Petty solo hit that Stevie Nicks led as the first song of the encore in tribute to her late friend and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” collaborator.

...

Another memorable moment came when Neil Finn — the former Crowded House frontman who jointed Fleetwood, along with Campbell, to replace Buckingham — did CH’s ’80s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over” with a little help from Nicks. As he strummed on acoustic guitar, Finn had the crowd singing along “Hey now, hey now.”

Obviously this is a chicken-egg thing, but this strikes me as the kind of review that would have driven Lindsey up the wall. It's a Fleetwood Mac show, and two of the biggest "highlights" from the night are of other peoples' work. I can't figure out why it doesn't bother anyone else in the band, frankly...

Newsday quoted Mick before the MSG show as saying: “We’re also blessed that the audiences have been beyond stellar and have come on this journey with the band on a level that’s beyond anything that we could have imagined. … But you can understand that going out at the beginning of this excursion, there was a lot at stake — a lot of musical integrity. We were just really incredibly fortunate we found two very talented gentlemen that fit incredibly well with the band and have a musical, fantastic story to tell in their own right.”

All I can think is, what integrity? You fired your songwriter/guitarist/producer, and now you're playing Tom Petty and Crowded House songs. I guess all the money is worth it.

[aleuzzi]

Once again, a review in which Fleetwood and the McVies aren't even considered--or are considered nonentities by the lack of mention.

Fun times.

[elle]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Once again, a review in which Fleetwood and the McVies aren't even considered--or are considered nonentities by the lack of mention.

Fun times.

yeah, it's very interesting.

pre-scripted reviews sent to reviewers by band's publicists addressed most band members, and were saying:

• Stevie is a rock queen, oh so young, oh so beautiful, moves and sings better than ever
• Mick is oh so vital and his 10 minute drum solo is the highlight of the show
• Christine cannot sing anymore
• new guys are better than Buck and the whole band is refreshed and re-energized
• usually not real mention of John
• the band is happy happy happy - and, oh so happy!

you can kinda see where the wind is blowing from - Stevie, Mick, "new band" - great, Christine - sucks, John - no mention. which makes it even more funny how Chris is playing band's game when Stevie and Mick seem to be throwing her under the bus.

these recent east coast reviews (Atlanta, DC, AC, NYC) have obviously thrown that script into the trash bin and seem pretty matter-of-fact. they generally describe the show as

• flat and just ok
• missing Buck and his energy
• set around Nicks as show's centerpiece
• new guys are ok but outta place
• don't generally mention Mick, John or Christine - guess not much change from previous tours in their performances.

both kinds of reviews seem to focus on 2 covers as being the highlights of the FM show and note how weird is that.

Caveat: i've only seen reviews that mention LB.

[Storms123]

Originally Posted by elle

yeah, it's very interesting.

pre-scripted reviews sent to reviewers by band's publicists addressed most band members, and were saying:

• Stevie is a rock queen, oh so young, oh so beautiful, moves and sings better than ever
• Mick is oh so vital and his 10 minute drum solo is the highlight of the show
• Christine cannot sing anymore
• new guys are better than Buck and the whole band is refreshed and re-energized
• usually not real mention of John
• the band is happy happy happy - and, oh so happy!

you can kinda see where the wind is blowing from - Stevie, Mick, "new band" - great, Christine - sucks, John - no mention. which makes it even more funny how Chris is playing band's game when Stevie and Mick seem to be throwing her under the bus.

these recent east coast reviews (Atlanta, DC, AC, NYC) have obviously thrown that script into the trash bin and seem pretty matter-of-fact. they generally describe the show as

• flat and just ok
• missing Buck and his energy
• set around Nicks as show's centerpiece
• new guys are ok but outta place
• don't generally mention Mick, John or Christine - guess not much change from previous tours in their performances.

both kinds of reviews seem to focus on 2 covers as being the highlights of the FM show and note how weird is that.

Caveat: i've only seen reviews that mention LB.

More and more of the recent reviews are mentioning LB more

[Storms123]

Originally Posted by Storms123

More and more of the recent reviews are mentioning LB more

And if you look online at the article, it’s titled “Fleetwood Mac’s MSG concert needed Lindsey Buckingham”

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by elle

yeah, it's very interesting.

pre-scripted reviews sent to reviewers by band's publicists addressed most band members, and were saying:

• Stevie is a rock queen, oh so young, oh so beautiful, moves and sings better than ever
• Mick is oh so vital and his 10 minute drum solo is the highlight of the show
• Christine cannot sing anymore
• new guys are better than Buck and the whole band is refreshed and re-energized
• usually not real mention of John
• the band is happy happy happy - and, oh so happy!

you can kinda see where the wind is blowing from - Stevie, Mick, "new band" - great, Christine - sucks, John - no mention. which makes it even more funny how Chris is playing band's game when Stevie and Mick seem to be throwing her under the bus.

I don't believe Fleetwood Mac (or their publicists) is sending out pre-scripted reviews saying Christine cannot sing anymore.

[jmn3]

When a significant amount of reviews call out Tom Petty and Crowded House covers as the highlight of the show, there’s a problem with the bands thinking and approach to this tour. In this case THE emotional highlight was Free Fallin’? For a band like Fleetwood Mac, the emotional highlight being a cover song is simply embarrassing.

[Feather Blade]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I don't believe Fleetwood Mac (or their publicists) is sending out pre-scripted reviews saying Christine cannot sing anymore.

Agree. And as far as John goes, he has never been mentioned particularly prominently except as part of comments about the rhythm section of Mick and John being the ever present strong backbone of the band. (and he seems to like it that way) Happy? Anyone with eyes who attended the shows can see they seem to be happy. Christine and Mike having a ball playing off each other seems a particular highlight. I've seen reviews saying Mick was a bundle of energy and a fun, vital part of the show, but I haven't seen anyone saying the drum solo was a highlight.

[StevieandChris]

I attended with three friends and had a great time. My friends like Lindsey more than I do and were sad he was not part of the lineup but they LOVED the show and did not regret any money spent. I think Stevie’s highlight was Black Magic Woman and I thought Christine did a fantastic Little Lies. My only slight disappointment was not hearing Silver Springs which is my favorite FM song.

[StevieandChris]

Originally Posted by elle

yeah, it's very interesting.

pre-scripted reviews sent to reviewers by band's publicists addressed most band members, and were saying:

• Stevie is a rock queen, oh so young, oh so beautiful, moves and sings better than ever
• Mick is oh so vital and his 10 minute drum solo is the highlight of the show
• Christine cannot sing anymore
• new guys are better than Buck and the whole band is refreshed and re-energized
• usually not real mention of John
• the band is happy happy happy - and, oh so happy!

you can kinda see where the wind is blowing from - Stevie, Mick, "new band" - great, Christine - sucks, John - no mention. which makes it even more funny how Chris is playing band's game when Stevie and Mick seem to be throwing her under the bus.

these recent east coast reviews (Atlanta, DC, AC, NYC) have obviously thrown that script into the trash bin and seem pretty matter-of-fact. they generally describe the show as

• flat and just ok
• missing Buck and his energy
• set around Nicks as show's centerpiece
• new guys are ok but outta place
• don't generally mention Mick, John or Christine - guess not much change from previous tours in their performances.

both kinds of reviews seem to focus on 2 covers as being the highlights of the FM show and note how weird is that.

Caveat: i've only seen reviews that mention LB.

YAWN. Keep telling yourself that only negative reviews are being honest and all positive reviews reviews are scripted. I guess whatever helps.