Best Mac venues?

[darklinensuit]

What are the best venues you've seen FM perform at?

In 1989, I saw Stevie at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. Typical outdoor place.
In 1990, I saw FM perform at some festival in Milwaukee. Squeeze opened. Outdoors again, better venue.
In 1991, I saw Stevie at the Spectrum in Philly. Loved the concert, loved the venue.
In 1994 I saw Stevie near Chicago, some outdoor place. Didn't love the venue.
In 1997 I saw FM at the new E Center in Camden. It was AWFUL. I'd NEVER go back. Traffic going in and out, visibility of the stage, arm space, you name it. Just TERRIBLE.
In 1998 I saw Stevie at the Woodlands in Houston. Not bad acoustically, but what dumb-ass designs an outdoor theater in Houston to be booked for summer tours ?
In 2001 I went back to the Woodlands to see Stevie. (What kind of a dumb-ass PAYS to go back to sweat at this venue ?)
In 2003 I saw FM at the new 1st Union Center in Philly. I liked it a lot. Parking, refreshments, everything was easy & good. I was surprised. And the acoustics there were not as bad as everybody made them out to be before I went. I'd go back there.

I'm debating spending the $ on Vegas for this tour. I think I'd like the MGM.

I envy those of you who have seen the smaller venues. Was anybody here at that Hawaiian restaurant when Stevie performed, as Mick describes in his book?

What was your favorite Mac venue?

- Jake

[gldstwmn]

Well there was Red Rocks. Two nights, the first night they filmed the Skies The Limit video and they asked us all to stay after with them so we did. Stevie came out on the stage and started telling stories, sang the opening lines to Beautiful Child, smoked onstage, said "Don't tell anyone I smoke." Then they started making up songs one of which I remember to be Don't Burn Down The Mountain. They did Tear It Up, too. It ended at about 4 in the morning and the next day we went and did it all again.
Did I mention Red Rocks?

[Moon Brother]

Well this is something that I've been rather worried about since I bought 8th row center tickets for the San Hose concert for this tour. I have never been to the Compaq Center. First of all the San Hose Compaq Center has an ice rink for hockey games which is naturally covered for concert venues, therefore I believe the Compaq center is designed more for sports events rather than great accoustical performances.

I know this now simply because everytime I tell people I'm going to see Fleetwood Mac there they tell me how bad the sound system is. Which is very discouraging. I have also been told that the Oakland Arena has the best sound system. So I am hoping that I'll be able to score great seats to that show as well to make up for it.

As for my past Stevie and Fleetwood Mac concert encounters, I have seen:

1986 ~ Stevie at the Hartford Civic Auditorium in CT
1987 ~ Fleetwood Mac at the New Haven Collisium in CT
1989 ~ Stevie at the Hartford Civic Auditorium in CT
1990 ~ Fleetwood Mac in New Haven Again!
1991 ~ Stevie at Hartford Civic Center Again!
1991 ~ Stevie at the Worchester Auditorium in Mass
1997 ~ Fleetwood Mac in Mountain View, CA
1998 ~ Stevie at the Concord Pavillion in CA
2001 ~ Stevie in Concord, CA again!
2001 ~ Stevie at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco!

All of the venues were Magick to me, but the best shows were quite simply:

1991 ~ Stevie in Worchester ~ that was the night that Stevie became very angry at us in the first few rows. You know the famous night she stopped the music and stated the very words, "Don't f--- with my people or my people will f--- with you!!!" My girlfriend and I at the time didn't know what was going on, but we had guessed that someone had threw something inappropriate up on stage and was messing with Stevie's security. It was at this point of the evening where we were allowed to rush the stage and touch Stevie and it was the first time Stevie ever saw me personally. Which is always a great feeling. That was an amazing concert, yes indeed!

1998 ~ Stevie in Concord ~ 4rth row center floor! Enough said!

2001 ~ Stevie at the Nob Hill Masonic! It was a Christmas benefit concert for Toys for Tots on Dec 9. I paid all of $35 to get in and brought a toy. It only seated about 2500 people and I had 5th row right side of stage where the soundboard was. Stevie did certain costume changes with Kim Brakeley on our side right in the wings. It was cool. Lori Nicks was there on the soundboard overseeing the sound mix. John Mayer opened for her. What was so wild about this venue is that I lived about 20 blocks away from there. I remember it very well because I wore a crown of Holly on my head (it was that time of the season you know) which she saw and pointed to me and smiled which was strange for me considering the concert 10 years before.

!987 with Fleetwood Mac was pretty cool too! "Gold Dust Woman" will be forever etched in my memory as the best live performance song ever! Its long intro was amazing and magickal!

1991 with FM ~ I remember especially how beautiful Stevie's hair looked, done with these wonderfully long, wavey curls that wouldn't quit.

The worst show was indeed for "THE DANCE" in Mountain View. I had lawn seats, but even worse was that the band was 1 1/2 - 2 hours late in starting the show. They were worth it though!

Life, Love, and Magick~
Moon Brother

[macmar71]

I was at my first Stevie Nicks show for RAL July 1986 @ the New Haven Coliseum with very bad floor tickets but at least I had an end seat so I could hang out into the aisle.

I saw Fleetwood Mac for Tango Oct.23, 1987 @ the Hartford Civic Center where I won tickets from a radio station and they were not very good either but it was cool seeing the whole band as it was my first concert to see Christine McVie. Lindsey was my favorite so he was definitely missed.

I saw Stevie @ Lake Compounce for OSOTM and again bad seats plus this was her infamous swearing show as the facility also housed an amusement park I really wandered around at that show.

I passed on BTM show in Hartford and Stevie's Compounce show for TImespace was cancelled as the venue was going under so I did not see her then either. Stevie did not play CT for Street Angel so I once again did not see her.

I saw Lindsey at The Sting in New Britain, CT on March 25, 1993 and it was the best! Front row as it was general admission to the place. It was a fabulous place to see him. I don't know if it still is in business.

I saw Stevie for a free show on Boston Common Oct 12, 1996 and that was front row as well. Free concerts are always nice and outdoors lends to the atmosphere. The waiting is the hardest part!

I saw FWM on opening night Sept. 17, 1997 at the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford, CT for the Dance. The Meadows is a great place to see a concert so I recommend it a lot. I was in 13th row and it was nice.


I saw Stevie the next year May 1998 for the Enchanted Tour at the Meadows and third row this time. Great sound and atmosphere.

I saw Stevie for TISL @ Tweeter in Mansfield, Ma. and it was nice and reminded me of the Meadows but to me the Meadows is the best.

I recently was at the Worcester Centrum for both Mac shows, May 27 & 28 and both nights were awesome visually but night two was better in sound quality from where I sat.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by macmar71

I recently was at the Worcester Centrum for both Mac shows, May 27 & 28 and both nights were awesome visually but night two was better in sound quality from where I sat.

I'm so jealous you got to two nights in the same city. How cool!

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by Moon Brother

1991 ~ Stevie in Worchester ~ that was the night that Stevie became very angry at us in the first few rows. You know the famous night she stopped the music and stated the very words, "Don't f--- with my people or my people will f--- with you!!!" My girlfriend and I at the time didn't know what was going on, but we had guessed that someone had threw something inappropriate up on stage and was messing with Stevie's security. It was at this point of the evening where we were allowed to rush the stage and touch Stevie and it was the first time Stevie ever saw me personally. Which is always a great feeling. That was an amazing concert, yes indeed!

I've read that quote so many times over the years, and I always thought she was telling the security people not to mess with her fans.
Thanks for explaining.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
Well there was Red Rocks. Two nights, the first night they filmed the Skies The Limit video and they asked us all to stay after with them so we did. Stevie came out on the stage and started telling stories, sang the opening lines to Beautiful Child, smoked onstage, said "Don't tell anyone I smoke." Then they started making up songs one of which I remember to be Don't Burn Down The Mountain. They did Tear It Up, too. It ended at about 4 in the morning and the next day we went and did it all again.
Did I mention Red Rocks?

I bet Red Rocks is an amazing venue.

At the same time, and no offense, I can't stand the Skies the Limit video. One of the band's worst, IMO. (Except the part YOU'RE in, of course. )

And don't tell anyone about the smoking? Who was she kidding? In those days she sounded like she gargled a bonfire every night. Some secret!

- Jake

[BlueGrass]

Here I go...

Hartford, CT - Kicking off The Dance
It was awesome...I remember them doing Second Hand News and Farmer's Daughter since I was only 11.

Madison Square Garden, NY - The Dance Thanksgiving
Wow, this was crazy. I remember the intro Chain drums and it kinda freaked me out. I also remember Lindsey reading his Sardonic World poem and dedicating it to his family which was in the crowd. We left during GYOW.

Hartford, CT - Enchanted

Woodstock NY - Stevie

Hartford, CT - TISL

Uniondale, NY - SYW

Worcester, MA - SYW



About Lindsey playing The Sting; I live like 10 minutes away from it I wish I had gone but I would have only been 7 years old.

[David]

I think the coolest, most oddball place I ever saw Fleetwood Mac play was the Konocti Harbor Spa & Resort. This was in 1994. The club was right on the waterfront (a big lake) & prime rib buffet was served. When you finished dinner, you turned your chair toward the stage ... & there was Fleetwood Mac! During the concert, waitresses came around to collect our plates.

It was all ... very unusual.

The worst place I ever saw Fleetwood Mac, as far as I can remember, was the acreage that became Glen Helen Regional Park out in Devore in San Bernardino. This was for the US Festival in 1982. It was very hot & there was practically no shade (unless you scooted inside one of these muggy, musty tents set up to show off Apple technology). It was horrible. It smelled like beer & vomit everywhere at this enormous outdoor festival.

Luckily, Fleetwood Mac didn't play until after sunset & until a few hundred thousand people left. (It was the Labor Day weekend & many people just wanted to get home.)

I've seen Fleetwood Mac at the Hollywood Bowl each time they played, & I really love that venue. It's special; it's more than just an amphitheatre. I think people are nostalgic about it because many of us Los Angeles residents spent some time there with our parents & friends, watching the fireworks ("Tchaik at the Bowl" every year) & picnicking.

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I bet Red Rocks is an amazing venue.

At the same time, and no offense, I can't stand the Skies the Limit video. One of the band's worst, IMO. (Except the part YOU'RE in, of course. )

And don't tell anyone about the smoking? Who was she kidding? In those days she sounded like she gargled a bonfire every night. Some secret!

- Jake

Yes, I am the extremely stupefied and sunburned woman about 10 rows back in my late 80's neon colors complete with a neon blue and white polka dot tank top. Fleetwood tried to throw his drumsticks to me, cripes I must have looked like a target but he missed and so did I. I think we both might have been drinking. Day two was only worse. Skies holds a dear place in my heart only because I was there and someday I wish they'd release the whole show because they filmed the whole thing. I'm not holding my breath though.
As for the smoking she was dead serious. It was cute the way she said it. She was also sipping something through a plastic bendy straw from a plastic cup. She had the gloves on, of course and regaled us with stories of her ancestors who live in Cripple Creek and came here in a covered wagon and fought with the Indians on the way.
It was quite an evening.

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by David
I think the coolest, most oddball place I ever saw Fleetwood Mac play was the Konocti Harbor Spa & Resort. This was in 1994. The club was right on the waterfront (a big lake) & prime rib buffet was served. When you finished dinner, you turned your chair toward the stage ... & there was Fleetwood Mac! During the concert, waitresses came around to collect our plates.

It was all ... very unusual.

Maybe someone should present this idea to the fan club...

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by David
I think the coolest, most oddball place I ever saw Fleetwood Mac play was the Konocti Harbor Spa & Resort. This was in 1994. The club was right on the waterfront (a big lake) & prime rib buffet was served. When you finished dinner, you turned your chair toward the stage ... & there was Fleetwood Mac! During the concert, waitresses came around to collect our plates.

It was all ... very unusual.

That sounds like a casino show! As a teenager I saw Buddy Hacket, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, ad Frankie Avalon as the waitstaff cleared dishes. (It was a reunion tour --- I'm not THAT old.)

I didn't know FM toured in '94. Was this already the Mason & Bramlett lineup that toured with Benatar? I know Street Angel was that year.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by BlueGrass


Madison Square Garden, NY - The Dance Thanksgiving
Wow, this was crazy. I remember the intro Chain drums and it kinda freaked me out. I also remember Lindsey reading his Sardonic World poem and dedicating it to his family which was in the crowd. We left during GYOW.

Before Christy reads this & throws her computer out the window, please explain carefully why you left during a Lindsey encore.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
Yes, I am the extremely stupefied and sunburned woman about 10 rows back in my late 80's neon colors complete with a neon blue and white polka dot tank top. Fleetwood tried to throw his drumsticks to me, cripes I must have looked like a target but he missed and so did I. I think we both might have been drinking.
It was quite an evening.

Please don't tell us you were FLIRTING with Mick...or more? !

- Jake

[GardenStateGirlie]

Camden, NJ--E (now TWEETER) Centre---Enchanted Tour 98'---crappy venue---good time. Got really mad when we saw friends of my moms come down off the lawn because they were having a little "lawn lottery" where some people get to go front row in the pit. They waved and said HI GIRLS!!!! Yea. That was lame. Sound isn't so great. Seating isn't so great. I was pretty damn young at the time and it was my first Stevie concert ever (my mom is NOT a concert person unless it's Rod Stewart, Kenny G, Phil Collins, or Billy Joel). The place was pretty empty when we arrived. I saw Lenny Castro talking to some friends down towards the front. I ran up to him, gave him a letter to give to Stevie from me (I was all kinds of artistic back then and drew her some stuff or something) and he signed my tourbook. Later that night, stood by the gate, Frank Simes signed my book. It was an awesome night. If Fleetwood Mac goes there, my desperation of a Fleetwood Mac fix will take me. I need me some MAC.

Woodstock, NY--A Day In The Garden--Stevie Nicks 98'--Little old me being pushed into a metal barricade FRONT AND CENTER for Miss Stephanie Lynn Nicks. Holy hell. BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!!! AMAZING SHOW, AMAZING ATMOSPHERE! (well, despite the incoherent drunkards behind me who kept yelling for Don Henley to sing the song about "CORNFIELDS" and the rain but Stevie was so cute about everything) Last show of the Enchanted tour. Wouldn't trade that experience for the world.

Washington, DC--MCI Center--Fleetwood Mac 03'--Okay, this venue could have sucked. I really don't recall. I had awesome seats and it was my first Fleetwood Mac show EVER--I was there with my best friend and my best boy and we had a BALL. And for crying out loud, I got to see them do DESTINY RULES!!

Atlantic City, NJ--Boardwalk Hall--Fleetwood Mac 03'-- Despite what people have said, I absolutely fell in love with this venue. My seats rocked the house and it was a small enough venue so that it felt incredibly intimate. I really liked the atmosphere in the place (but not the old hag behind me pulling on my belt buckle and telling me to sit down...riiight...for $300, that was NOT happening). Only thing I didn't like was the fact that many non-Fleetwood Mac fans were comped tickets and wanted for everyone to sit down and were incredibly close to the front. I made my way to the center section row 12 and was hoisted on a chair by two boys behind me (who were standing as were two girls a few rows in front of me) and sang Goodbye Baby back to Stevie and Lindsey..they were like, right there...AMAZING.

Philadelphia, PA--FU Center--Fleetwood Mac 03'--Second time i'd ever been to the venue (was there once previously for a figure skating thingy). Amazing place. Really liked it a lot. Excellent pit seats...the sections weren't as big as I thought they'd be and I was pretty close with an excellent view of Janet disrobing Lindsey with her eyes (LOL! YAY JANET!!!). Last Fleetwood Mac concert as of now so yea, depression set in on the final note. Only reason why I may have not liked that venue...lol