Los Angeles Forum 11/28/2014

[michelej1]

So, glad to catch up with this tour again. Minneapolis seems like it was ages ago, it could just as easily have been 6 months since I've seen them, rather than just two. Luckily, they've fared well over time.

I see Kristen take her seat with her girls. She is not on the floor. She's in a side section about 10 rows up. I'm not sure who her connection with the band is, but you'd think they could get her better seats.

Since we're all familiar with the setlist, like an old friend, I'll just describe the human moments, more than the music.

I loved seeing Christine jump and clap when she wasn't singing during The Chain. Stevie mentions that Christine has had a personal trainer since February and I suppose this is her aerobics segment of the work out.

Christine says, "Hello Los Angeles." Stevie says they've just come back from Canada, in Calgary where it was EIGHT degrees. So, you can believe they are thrilled to be back in Los Angeles. She says this is the part of the show where she welcomes Christine back and asks her where she's been, but since they've already done 26 shows this tour and that includes Calgary at 8 degrees and Christine is still here with them, it looks like she is here to stay. So, she doesn't think she has to say welcome anymore. Instead she can just say, "let's get this party started."

So, this is the first time I've had a chance to see Stevie's new Rhiannon shawl. The material that connects the feathered layers is stringy, somewhat like a spider web. With the fluff, she does seem very much like a bird in flight. It's thicker and longer than her other shawl, so when she spreads out her arms, she has quite an imposing wing span and I think it does suit the ominous tone of the song well. She comes right to the edge of the stage and towers above the audience briefly, just before the "Dreams unwind ..." part. I don't watch most of the Youtube videos, so I didn't know about the change of the ending: No you can't cry out for her.

When Christine next takes the mic she says she used to live in Los Angeles years ago and wishes she still lived here. She thanks the band for letting her return and says she loves them and "I love you."

After Everywhere, Lindsey moves to his mic and I suppose the lighting director missed his cue. The light comes on and LB says, "thank you. I wasn't going to start talking in the dark." Why not? I don't think it would be the first time.

He says it's been a long time since they've been in that building. He's polished his alliteration and now says that they will Prevail as they enter this profound, poetic and prolific cycle.

As I look at the gigantic Lindsey talking head float on the screen during IKINR, I have to wonder if Stevie has to chant to herself, "don't look back, don't look back ..." with the urgency and panic of Lot warning his family as they fled Sodom. Turning on stage to find that giant Lindsey head staring at her, murmuring "da da da da" must be the stuff of Stevie's worst nightmares.

I'm on Lindsey's side of the stage and the floor speakers block my view of almost everything. In fact, I'm not even sure that Christine HAS returned to the band. I saw scant evidence of her tonight. Still, I'll cling to glimpses. It was so wonderful to see her broad smile as she waited for Lindsey to approach her accordion. He bounded over, zooming right up to her, both beaming as they jammed.

Stevie used that time to cross the stage and wave at the other side of the audience.

As far as their harmony goes, not harmonies, but just a sense of unity among them, I think SYLM has to be the greatest song in the setlist. It's so beautiful. Lindsey seems to have a different lick to follow every line Christine sings in the verses. They both gesture towards him for his interjection at the end and then they say, "falling, falling, falling" all three together, arms raised, bringing the song to a close. It's magical and it exemplifies that hole that was there during Christine's absence.

For Seven Wonders, Stevie isn't even saying Aaron (much less Sara or Terra) this time. She's basically just saying an open-ended "aaaah aaaah aaah," while sliding an imaginary violin bow to and fro. At the end she thanks American Horror Story and the 60 million people it introduced to the song.

For Big Love Lindsey mentions that it's from TITN and the album title gets around of applause from the audience, which Lindsey doesn't acknowledge with pride, the way he did when the album Tusk got applause last tour.

Lindsey describes 1987 and says that, like him, everyone in the band put up defenses. He doesn't know if they were really necessary, but it's what they thought they had to do to get through that period. He says that since he knows the song more than most (?) he'd like to dedicate it to "Will, Lee Lee, Stella and, of course, Kristen, without whom I might still be in that other place." And yet Linds, you seat her in a section so far away that the distant glint of your wedding ring only taunts her.

Also, what does he mean that he knows this song better than most? Has he just been stumbling through all the other tunes in his repertoire, piecing together what musical remnants he can from his rapidly failing memory?

For Landslide, Stevie says that it is a dedication song and always has been since she wrote it in 1973. Because they are home, she would like to dedicate the song to her three fairy god daughters, Molly, Tessa and Ruby, because she feels like a fairy godmother. She feels like Maleficent! She says she hopes they continue to be the excellent god daughters that they are.

At the end of the song, Stevie says, "Did you see that magical sky? Thank you."

For Over My Head, Christine says that it was written just after this extraordinary, gifted young couple, Stevie and Lindsey, came into their lives. Huh? Extraordinary. Sounds like things started off promising, but then went swiftly downhill. Sad.

Over My Head really feels like a duet in parts, because for the chorus, Stevie and Christine sing directly to one another and it's really sweet.

Without Mick and Lindsey jumping in, the Gypsy introduction lacks the humor and charm of the Without You intro and I think it causes the audience to lose focus, because it's less personal. Neale goes over and chats with the back up singers. He mimics their swaying motion and then he steps up to the mic and holds up his hand doing one of those, "Stop in the Name of Love" gestures. He's worked out quite a bit of choreography for himself.

Stevie is saying how she made money with Fritz and since she was still being supported by her parents, she got to spend it, which is how she ended up at the Velvet Underground store. She says that she's surprised that her mother didn't make her save the money, since that's how her mom was. Anyway, she used to tell herself that one day they would be big rock stars.

When I hear Little Lies on the radio, it's frothier than I would like as a representation of the band. But live, the guitar finale makes it rock quite a bit.

On Gold Dust Woman, I like how Stevie and Lindsey have coordinated moves for the "did she make you cry, make you break down, shatter your illusions of love," part. They move their heads at the same time and when Lindsey steps back from his mic, Stevie steps back at hers too, in synch.

For the part she described as a "crack head dance" I'm reminded of her Tom Petty appearance and how great it was when she was dancing under the strobe light, which gave a cool, mechanical stop/start quality to her movements. In a way, she has captured that movement in GDW, her body jerking back and forth, as if jolted. Struck by a bolt of electricity.

"You did this to me. You wish you could do it. But you can't do it. You just can't do it." Mick gives her a standing ovation from behind his drum kit.

I know some of you have said that Lindsey never improvises on ISA anymore, but to me, he's playing it a little differently than he was a couple of months ago. I'm not saying the guitar changes are better or worse, but they're different. When he gets to the part where he jumps in the air, he does it three times and Christine smiles at each leap.

At the end, he swings the guitar like a baseball bat and some people in the audience shout for him to "break it." Oh, there have been times in the past where he would have.

After the encore, Stevie and Lindsey walk out together, but I can only see the tops of their heads.

At the end of the show, when Stevie says that Christine called her up in October and asked what she would think of Christine returning to the group, the voice she uses in imitation of Christine is rather high. It sounds like Minnie Mouse with a british accent. But it's amusing. She says that the audience's universal consciousness brought Christine back, but if it had been left up to many of us, she would have returned 15 years ago. I don't think it took this long for our collective conscience to get the message out.

Mick comes out with his two daughters and Stevie hugs them as she exits.

All in all, an epic show. Usually, even in a great setlist, there are songs that create a bit of a lull. People have named songs that drop the momentum this tour in their reviews, but for me there's a high point in every single one, taking me to the heights of fandom, before falling, falling, falling.

Michele

[Ulpian]

What a lovely review. Thank you.

[michelej1]

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[chiliD]

I was there! We should've arranged ahead of time to meet for a soda or something....or just arranged to meet just for the sake of meeting in person. Oh, well. (as Peter Green would say)

Only floor monitors at the front of the stage were in front of Lindsey...what LOOKED from audience side like monitors in front of Stevie were, in fact, monitor screens that scrolled the song lyrics, they were testing them about 2 hrs before showtime (saw those since I got there early and wandered around the inside of the Forum, since it was the first time I'd been there since the remodel, I walked around a bit).

For as much as I've been the unofficial "Curmudgeon of the Ledge", I enjoyed the show. Got a bit teary when Chris sang the first line of "You Make Loving Fun", it's been so long...and I certainly had waterworks during "Songbird". I could related to J. McVie's comment in the "Coming Home" documentary when he said that he would cry during "Songbird" quite often. For me, the highlight was "Little Lies".

It was the 10th time I'd seen Fleetwood Mac at the Forum...first time since the final show of the Behind The Mask tour in '90. It marked somewhere about the 90th Fleetwood Mac related show (combining band & all members solo shows, too) I've seen. (lost track of the actual count...somewhere close to 70 Fleetwood Mac shows)

[michelej1]

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[nicole21290]

Oh, Michele. I've so missed your reviews since the last time around. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Particular kudos for the amusing family mentions and for the Lot/S&G stuff. Not often we get biblical references round this place, lol.

Love the pictures too! Thanks as always. Molly (nee Fishkin) and her husband posted a few things on her Instagram re. the show as well which were nice.

http://onwiththeshow-bn.tumblr.com/post/103875861369/fleetwood-mac-inglewood-ca-11-28-c-asher

Also, please never let a member of One Direction attend their concert again; sifting through the twitter mentions was hell tonight, as Elle will no doubt attest to. :lol:

[michelej1]

I was there! We should've arranged ahead of time to meet for a soda or something....or just arranged to meet just for the sake of meeting in person. Oh, well. (as Peter Green would say)



Wow! Wish I'd known you were going. It was a terrific show.

I think SYLM moved me the most, but it made me teary-eyed when the quartet performed it in Christine's absence too.

My goodness, it feels like 20 years since I've been to the forum.

Michele

[michelej1]

Also, please never let a member of One Direction attend their concert again; sifting through the twitter mentions was hell tonight, as Elle will no doubt attest to. :lol:

Oh, thanks for telling us about Molly Fishkin's instagram.

With all of the celebs that will be seeing them in Los Angeles, I'm sure social media is putting on a concert all of its own. So, if it was bad for One Direction to be there, we better hope that Taylor Swift never shows up.

Too bad you can't refine a twitter search so that you can get all the FM mentions that don't include Harry Styles. :laugh:

Michele

[michelej1]

You know when Stevie dedicated Landslide to Molly (and Mick's two daughters) I thought she meant Molly McVie, but now I see she probably meant her "fairy goddaughter" Molly Fishkin.

Michele

[michelej1]

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[WelshWitchPMD]

Great review and photos Michele! I was actually supposed to go but I had too many things going on at home so I had to cancel my trip.
I'm saddened to hear that I missed a Harry Styles sighting. I can imagine the social media ruckus that a Kardashian sighting might have incurred. Maybe at tonight's show?

Anyway inquiring minds would like to know if any young girls were let up to the stage in front of Lindsey?

[Macfan4life]

Thanks for the review
Sounds like another fantastic show!

[jbrownsjr]

Fantastic review. I was there, too. I loved Christine's dancing. She sounded amazing and looked fantastic. Stevie's voice is so much better. Wow!!

"Great to be playin LA, it's been a few years since we've been on the road and a lot of people were wondering what happened to us. Well we're here to show that, we just refuse to go away so!" Lindsey LA Forum 1982 (32 years ago)

[michelej1]

What a lovely review. Thank you.

Thanks. I just hope you share your thoughts after Manchester. This has been so long in coming!

Michele

[michelej1]

Anyway inquiring minds would like to know if any young girls were let up to the stage in front of Lindsey?

Hard to say. It was kind of crazy. When the lights went down (at 8:15) a guard told us to come up to the stage. It was like he knew we had to get there fast. But he also told another guard that she should put her chair in the aisle, to block people from beyond the first row from coming up. That chair didn't do much good, though and the guard eventually disappeared with her chair.

At the start of the show some people (yes some of them were young girls) who were not in the front row did come up to the stage, but I didn't see security ushering them up. I don't know how they got there.

About a half hour in, this bossy guard came and told those people who had come up from the back they had to leave. Then, he asked to see my ticket and even though it was first row, he told me to sit down too. Well, no way. I actually love to sit down, if you keep people from standing in front of me, but I'm not going to sit while my front row view is blocked. Then, the guard who told us to go up to the stage in the first place, 30 minutes earlier, came and intervened and the other one didn't bother us anymore.

Eventually, towards the end of the show everyone started coming up, anyway.

Michele

[michelej1]

"Great to be playin LA, it's been a few years since we've been on the road and a lot of people were wondering what happened to us. Well we're here to show that, we just refuse to go away so!" Lindsey LA Forum 1982 (32 years ago)

What a great Lindsey quote. I love it. Michele

[michelej1]

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[Lisa W]

[QUOTE=jbrownsjr;1154861]Fantastic review. I was there, too. I loved Christine's dancing. She sounded amazing and looked fantastic. Stevie's voice is so much better. Wow!!

I also appreciate the terrific, comprehensive review and photos. I was there last night and seated off the side of the stage on Christine's side. I saw her dancing and was so amused! Stevie was the highlight for me because her voice sounded closer to her younger self than I have heard in years!! I noticed this during Dreams and Sisters of the Moon was the best I've heard since its been back in the set.

It was also exciting for me to be seeing them again at the Forum. This was the site of my very first concert back in December 1979, which was of course, FM. I was wondering if the "starry sky" lighting that was installed during the Forum renovation would be used. When it came on during Landslide, it was perfect timing and a really lovely moment. So thrilled that I could be there!

[elle]

love love love when you go to the show and share your reviews with us Michele! :] thanks so much for sharing your pics too (you caught some great moments and expressions!!) plus love all the little humorous bits in your review! :)

I see Kristen take her seat with her girls. She is not on the floor. She's in a side section about 10 rows up. I'm not sure who her connection with the band is, but you'd think they could get her better seats.
Lindsey describes 1987 and says that, like him, everyone in the band put up defenses. He doesn't know if they were really necessary, but it's what they thought they had to do to get through that period. He says that since he knows the song more than most (?) he'd like to dedicate it to "Will, Lee Lee, Stella and, of course, Kristen, without whom I might still be in that other place." And yet Linds, you seat her in a section so far away that the distant glint of your wedding ring only taunts her.
seems those are the comped seats for the band this tour. somebody posted on IG their DC seats and thanked Kristen for getting them; nodmod won the reward trip from the UK from Mick and his seats in DC were in that same section. sounds like this was similar section in LA. and somebody tweeted Harry Styles pic in the audience and he seemed seated in that same section; i assume he also had comped Mick seats.

I'm on Lindsey's side of the stage and the floor speakers block my view of almost everything. In fact, I'm not even sure that Christine HAS returned to the band. I saw scant evidence of her tonight. Still, I'll cling to glimpses. It was so wonderful to see her broad smile as she waited for Lindsey to approach her accordion. He bounded over, zooming right up to her, both beaming as they jammed.
i know! it's a great seat for Lindsey interactions and one of my 2 favorite places on the last tour when i was perfectly happy to see nothing else on the stage but Lindsey. but this tour, i was there twice, and middle would be preferred for me; if i do go to that 2nd DC show i'd love to be sidestage on Chris side to see all Linds-Chris interactions. like Lisa's seat:
I also appreciate the terrific, comprehensive review and photos. I was there last night and seated off the side of the stage on Christine's side. I saw her dancing and was so amused!
we need pics from you Lisa!! Linds-Chris accordion interactions, and all Linds-Chris hugs should be great from that side!!

Also, please never let a member of One Direction attend their concert again; sifting through the twitter mentions was hell tonight, as Elle will no doubt attest to. :lol:
Too bad you can't refine a twitter search so that you can get all the FM mentions that don't include Harry Styles. :laugh:
i know! we were commiserating during the show last night, it was ridiculous! after a while all that was coming up in the FM search was that pic of him with Micks's kids and their friends plus the one of him and Mick's assistant, as various 1D fan sites from all over the globe were catching up on him being there. FM was getting tons of tween fans from all over the globe claiming how they always loved them last night.

For as much as I've been the unofficial "Curmudgeon of the Ledge", I enjoyed the show. Got a bit teary when Chris sang the first line of "You Make Loving Fun", it's been so long...and I certainly had waterworks during "Songbird". I could related to J. McVie's comment in the "Coming Home" documentary when he said that he would cry during "Songbird" quite often. For me, the highlight was "Little Lies".

It was the 10th time I'd seen Fleetwood Mac at the Forum...first time since the final show of the Behind The Mask tour in '90. It marked somewhere about the 90th Fleetwood Mac related show (combining band & all members solo shows, too) I've seen. (lost track of the actual count...somewhere close to 70 Fleetwood Mac shows)
glad you made it to the show and had a great time - and told us about it! with you, Michele, and jbrownsr at the show, some of my favorite TL peeps were there! :cool:
Fantastic review. I was there, too. I loved Christine's dancing. She sounded amazing and looked fantastic. Stevie's voice is so much better. Wow!!

"Great to be playin LA, it's been a few years since we've been on the road and a lot of people were wondering what happened to us. Well we're here to show that, we just refuse to go away so!" Lindsey LA Forum 1982 (32 years ago)
did you get that good-zoom camera? i need pics from your side too, same as from Lisa! :nod:

[elle]

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love this first one!! :xoxo:
and, so nice to again have the obligatory Lindsey-making-faces-to-the-audience-during-drum-solo pic again too! :thumbsup:

[jkmaletic]

Great, detailed review Michele! In fact, I'm going to print it out to put in my scrapbook. :thumbsup:

I was there. This time, my seats were not on the floor - I was about midway up, Christine's side. Definitely different experience from being down front on the floor, but it was still a great time. My additions:

The revamped Forum is a really nice venue. The seats are comfy, roomy and so are the aisles. Nice staff, from what I encountered. I noticed that the security down front seemed pretty tight. Does not surprise me that they were strict down there with who goes up front. I kind of get that for this tour though, because some people paid A LOT of money for their seats down there.
When Stevie mentioned the pretty lights after Landslide she was talking about the starry lighting effect the Forum had on their entire ceiling during the song. It was really cool. (Michele, you may not have looked back to see it, because it was behind and above where you were.)
Christine's addition was noticeable immediately. I had never seen FM with her before, so it was a treat. They all seemed in good spirits. The highlight for me was YMLF, GDW (AWESOME), and SHN. I have to say though, I do not like how Lindsey's doing NGBA. I don't mind the slowed down version, but this year it seems even slower, and the whispery voice he does is silly, IMO.

My next show is San Diego (my hometown) on Tuesday. My seats are a little better - not on floor but side stage closer to the stage. It's the same venue I proposed to my wife at on stage last year at Mick's Meet and Greet. So, it'll be an anniversary of sorts. :D

~ Jamie

[elle]

I was there. This time, my seats were not on the floor - I was about midway up, Christine's side. Definitely different experience from being down front on the floor, but it was still a great time.

glad you went! :thumbsup:

pictures please?

[jkmaletic]

love this first one!! :xoxo:
and, so nice to again have the obligatory Lindsey-making-faces-to-the-audience-during-drum-solo pic again too! :thumbsup:

That's very similar to the face he made at me last year right before the show. Cracked me up.

[jkmaletic]

glad you went! :thumbsup:

pictures please?


Nothing worthy enough to post. Maybe I'll get better ones on Tuesday.

[SpyNote]

I've been watching the Forum videos. Stevie obviously sings "Gypsy" differently on stage these days, but it's always funny to hear the crowd sing it like the studio version. At every single show, you can hear them sing, "Ohhhhh and it lights up the night." :laugh:

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[michelej1]

The revamped Forum is a really nice venue. The seats are comfy, roomy and so are the aisles.

The seats looked good. They seemed padded with deep cushioning.

Nice staff, from what I encountered. I noticed that the security down front seemed pretty tight. Does not surprise me that they were strict down there with who goes up front. I kind of get that for this tour though, because some people paid A LOT of money for their seats down there.
When Stevie mentioned the pretty lights after Landslide she was talking about the starry lighting effect the Forum had on their entire ceiling during the song. It was really cool.

You're right. I didn't see it, but I knew she must be talking about an effect that I'd missed.

I have to say though, I do not like how Lindsey's doing NGBA. I don't mind the slowed down version, but this year it seems even slower, and the whispery voice he does is silly, IMO.

Yes, I know. When he says "oooh yeah" I wonder if he thinks that's sexy.

My next show is San Diego (my hometown) on Tuesday. My seats are a little better - not on floor but side stage closer to the stage. It's the same venue I proposed to my wife at on stage last year at Mick's Meet and Greet. So, it'll be an anniversary of sorts. :D



That will be great for you to go back. Everyone seemed to be standing last night, so I don't think the people on the floor could see very much if they were even 5 rows back. It's great to be at the stage, but otherwise, it's better to be elevated, I think.

Michele

[michelej1]

It was also exciting for me to be seeing them again at the Forum. This was the site of my very first concert back in December 1979, which was of course, FM. I was wondering if the "starry sky" lighting that was installed during the Forum renovation would be used. When it came on during Landslide, it was perfect timing and a really lovely moment. So thrilled that I could be there!

I remember seeing The Jacksons at the Forum. I think three times. It was one of my first trips to Los Angeles, before I moved here.

Reading that quote from Lindsey that it is 32 years old now, I wonder what his younger self would think knowing that he'd be on the same stage, with those same people, in the same positions decades later, taking one more group bow.

It's so special.

Michele

[michelej1]

i know! it's a great seat for Lindsey interactions and one of my 2 favorite places on the last tour when i was perfectly happy to see nothing else on the stage but Lindsey. but this tour, i was there twice, and middle would be preferred for me; if i do go to that 2nd DC show i'd love to be sidestage on Chris side to see all Linds-Chris interactions. like Lisa's seat:


And I guess if I had made a dodge for it, I could have shot to the middle, but I was trying to play by the rules and only stood in front of my seat, which did me no good when the security guy wanted to make me sit down.

I would have loved to see Chris and Lindsey's hugs. When he's canvassing the stage at the end of GYOW, he did kiss her on the cheek. I couldn't really see them after Songbird. Whenever she says hello to the city at the end of the song, he smiles. I didn't see Chris and John embrace either, but she grabbed Stevie's arm and with Mick she made "come here, come here, come here," gestures with her index fingers and when he bent down, she kissed him on each cheek. Awww.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

And I guess if I had made a dodge for it, I could have shot to the middle, but I was trying to play by the rules and only stood in front of my seat, which did me no good when the security guy wanted to make me sit down.

I would have loved to see Chris and Lindsey's hugs. When he's canvassing the stage at the end of GYOW, he did kiss her on the cheek. I couldn't really see them after Songbird. Whenever she says hello to the city at the end of the song, he smiles. I didn't see Chris and John embrace either, but she grabbed Stevie's arm and with Mick she made "come here, come here, come here," gestures with her index fingers and when he bent down, she kissed him on each cheek. Awww.

Michele

I got a tear or two.. The love between them is so authentic. I love Chris and Lindsey's energy together.

[FM77]

I thought the Forum was awesome. Very nice venue; it almost felt intimate. I was about 10th row center on the floor. I went to MNPLS and Chicago and thought they sounded much stronger last night. Christine singing with a ton more confidence and just louder on harmonies, etc...

We were in the Forum Club before the show and saw Harry Stiles. Olivia Newton John was behind us, dancing and singing along. Irvin Azoff was a few rows to my left. I thought I saw Michelle Phillips too. Haim also there and I thought that was who she dedicated Landslide to.

I thought the crowd was very into it. Can't wait for tonight.

[James89]

I'm really surprised Harry Styles went. It's really nice to hear that the younger generation are showing an interest in them. I wonder what he really thought of the show?

I would also love it if HAIM did a collaboration with them or Stevie as I think they would sound fantastic together. :)

[chiliD]

I would also love it if HAIM did a collaboration with them or Stevie as I think they would sound fantastic together. :)

Well, remember, Haim covered "Oh Well" (and did a GREAT version, too! Even for this curmudgeony old man who nit-picks everything to death) :lol:

[chiliD]

Everyone seemed to be standing last night, so I don't think the people on the floor could see very much if they were even 5 rows back. It's great to be at the stage, but otherwise, it's better to be elevated, I think.

Michele

Yeah, from my lofty perch, seemed like the entire floor "seating" area was full of STANDING people throughout the show. The one odd thing about the Forum renovation was that they removed the side riser seats. There were lots more floor seating, but, not sure if that really was an "improvement". There were riser seats straight back from the stage...and that's where the soundboard was...all the way in the back. In olden times, kids, the soundboard was usually about 1/3 to 1/2 way back. (sat directly in front of the soundboard in '90 at the final BTM tour show...I was in the 15th row).

[chiliD]

"Great to be playin LA, it's been a few years since we've been on the road and a lot of people were wondering what happened to us. Well we're here to show that, we just refuse to go away so!" Lindsey LA Forum 1982 (32 years ago)

Was extremely fortunate to be there when he said that (both nights).

I used to go see them more often when I could get seats within the first 10 rows for $25 or under. ;) :lol:

[michelej1]

In olden times, kids, the soundboard was usually about 1/3 to 1/2 way back. (sat directly in front of the soundboard in '90 at the final BTM tour show...I was in the 15th row).

I remember that and the family members and celebrities used to sit in that raised area around it during concerts.

Michele

[nicole21290]

I'm really surprised Harry Styles went. It's really nice to hear that the younger generation are showing an interest in them. I wonder what he really thought of the show?

I would also love it if HAIM did a collaboration with them or Stevie as I think they would sound fantastic together. :)

"Mesmerizing", apparently. He went again tonight, along with about 5,678 other celebrities...

http://onwiththeshow-bn.tumblr.com/post/103962525149/inglewood-ca-11-29

[michelej1]

O.C. Register, BY PETER LARSEN / STAFF WRITER , 11/29/2014

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nicks-643755-mcvie-fleetwood.html

Leave it to Stevie Nicks, ever the mystical muse of Fleetwood Mac, to let us in on the secret – some combination of cosmic vibes, love and magic, and a simple cell phone call – that made the legendary band whole again some 16 years after singer and keyboard player Christine McVie retired from touring.

Yes, McVie picked up the phone and called Nicks in October 2013 to ask if she could come back to the band that had soldiered on with four-fifths of its classic lineup of Nicks, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood. And of course Nicks told her she was welcome whenever and for always.

But that was just the product of deeper machinations in the universe, Nicks said at the close of the band’s sold-out show at the Forum on Friday, the first of four Southern California dates that includes a stop at Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Dec. 7.

“I think that last year at some point in October there was there was some magical thing that went out from all our fans saying, ‘It’s time for Christine to come back,’ ” Nicks said. “We are so thrilled that we got our girl back – you have magical powers.”

That the feeling was mutual – all that love and magic, natch – was clear from the start of Fleetwood Mac’s two-and-a-half hour show and a set that in its 24 songs included many written and sung by McVie that fans here hadn’t heard since a 1997 tour that included three nights at the then-Irvine Meadows and one at the Hollywood Bowl.

Though this On With The Show tour has run for 20-some shows so far the opening number, “The Chain,” seemed a little rough at the start, the harmonies of Buckingham, Nicks and Christine McVie not quite meshing as smoothly as they should. All felt better though by the opening keyboard bit of the next song, “You Make Loving Fun,” a Christine McVie number that drew tremendous cheers as the crowd welcomed her back into the fold.

This is a band whose fights and fractures were legendary during the height of their fame. Nicks and Buckingham and the McVies each were couples, and then were not. Drug addictions and interband rivalries caused rifts even as Fleetwood Mac made some of the best albums of the era, from the self-titled “White Album” to “Rumours” and “Tusk.”

That they survived all that then is a minor miracle; that they perform as well as they do when they’re all between the ages of 65 to 71 years old must be an even sweeter success.

The show largely unfolded with the three singers taking turns on the songs they wrote and sang lead on. Early in the set that found Nicks singing “Dreams” and “Rhiannon,” the latter of which found her all a-twirl in her gauzy black shawl, bowing deeply to acknowledge the cheers at the end.

Buckingham’s “Second Hand News” and “Tusk” put a spotlight on his high-energy vocals and still-dazzling guitar work, but throughout the night it was the McVie spotlights such as “Everywhere” and “Say You Love Me” that felt just a bit more special given her absence on stage for so many years.

Given how well-known these songs all are you’d be forgiven for thinking there’d be few moments of genuine surprise or deeper emotional connection, but throughout the night many of these older tunes felt fresh in the context of the gang getting back together again.

This was the case even when it was only Buckingham on stage by himself, singing “Big Love” and talking about how the feelings of alienation he felt with the band when he wrote it have faded to meditation now, or later when Nicks joined him for a beautiful take on the always lovely “Landslide.”

Nicks was her usual endearingly hippy-dippy self, at one point giving a shout-out to the TV series “American Horror Story” for featuring the song “Seven Wonders” earlier this year and thus getting it back into their set. She later told a long and rambling anecdote about her earliest days as a singer in San Francisco pre-Fleetwood Mac and how a visit to the lady rock star clothing store later inspired the song “Gypsy.”

Highlights in the final stretch of the main set included McVie’s “Little Lies,” a take on “Gold Dust Woman” that from the ominous guitar line and cowbell opening through Nicks’ gold-shawl-twirling performance was perhaps the tour de force of the show. They closed with “Go Your Own Way” with Buckingham taking the lead vocals but both Nicks and McVie joining in as it built to the finish.

The encore opened with “World Turning,” which featured Fleetwood on an old-fashioned drawn-out drum solo that you didn’t really mind given how animated and happy he seemed, then “Don’t Stop,” which had most of the Forum singing along.

After one more break, McVie returned alone to a piano at center stage, singing “Songbird,” the nickname Fleetwood gave her during the band introductions, alone for a moment, then joined by Buckingham on guitar. A fitting final spotlight for the prodigal daughter now back in the fold.

[michelej1]

Fleetwood Mac Returns to the Forum Intact: Concert Review

12:28 PM PST 11/30/2014 by Craig Rosen Hollywood Reporter

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/fleetwood-mac-forum-concert-review-752831

In a recent interview with Mojo magazine, Fleetwood Mac drummer and co-namesake Mick Fleetwood admitted the band had been a bit "one-legged" in the 16 years it carried on without keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie. If that was the case, Fleetwood Mac was back on two legs, standing tall at the Forum on Black Friday for what was — according to a photo montage from its '70s heyday proudly displayed in the Forum Club — its 13th appearance at the now remodeled venue.

Given that this was the group's first date back in L.A. with Christine McVie and its history with the building, Friday's show had all the trappings of a special event and Fleetwood Mac didn't disappoint.

Opening with "The Chain," the only song on the band's 1977 blockbuster Rumours written by all five members, Fleetwood Mac at first celebrated its unity before turning the spotlight on the returning McVie, who sang lead on the even bigger Rumours era hit, "You Make Loving Fun."

See more Stevie Nicks' 10 Greatest Fashion Hits

With all due respect to Fleetwood, we'd argue that Fleetwood Mac was more like a three-legged dog without Christine McVie, with frontwoman Stevie Nicks and frontman and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham holding up the front end while Fleetwood and fellow original member, bassist John McVie, together, supporting part of back. At the Forum, it was clear just how crucial Christine McVie's role is, not only providing keyboards (although the band was supplemented by an additional keyboardist/guitarist and guitarist) and backing vocals for Nicks and Buckingham (the band was also assisted by three female backing vocalists), but providing an earthy lead vocal presence to counter Nicks' sometimes out-three gypsy visions and Buckingham's hyper emotionalism. And, it was that variety that made Friday's show such a joy.

Christine McVie's initial run in the spotlight was followed by Nicks' turn on "Dreams," then Buckingham on "Second Hand News," back to Nicks with "Rhiannon," extended with the singer altering her phrasing from the recorded version, proving this was no mere carbon copy of the record. The Tusk album track "I Know I'm Not Wrong" was a brief interlude from the hit parade before the title track, complete with video of the USC Marching Band performing the song on the video screen, for which Christine McVie added accordion and Buckingham replicated the elephant walk with guitar in tow.

The first third of the show was stacked so heavily with classic hits, it made you wonder if the band could sustain the momentum for the remainder of the gig, but that proved not to be a problem, as it used different configurations and vocalists to keep it interesting.

And the hits kept coming, as well, including McVie's "Say That You Love Me," the band's first-ever top 40 hit after the veteran British blues band was revitalized with the addition of Nicks and Buckingham. After Nicks sang "Seven Wonders," she gave a shout out to American Horror Story, which last season featured her in a cameo and the song, prompting the band to add it to the set.

Read more Fleetwood Mac Launching Reunion Tour With Christine McVie

Emotional highlights were natural to Buckingham and Nicks sharing the stage, Buckingham offering a startling acoustic reading of "Big Love," after noting how the song's meaning has changed over the years and then Nicks dedicating the ballad "Landslide" to "her fairy goddaughters" before the Forum's roof sparkled as she sang.

Nicks also took the spotlight in "Gypsy" and "Gold Dust Woman." The former was proceeded by a story about her early years in the Bay Area and remaining true to your dreams, while the latter had her donning a gold shawl and offering a freeform dance as she teetered on her high heels while the band provided a psychedelic interlude.

Towards the end of the set, the monster hit "Go Your Own Way" came off as a celebratory jam, with Nicks and Buckingham facing the drum kit and Fleetwood responding with a devilish grin.

During the encore, "World Turning" was punctuated with the hoariest of all arena-rock clichés — the drum solo. Yet Fleetwood made it tolerable by turning it into a call-and-response exercise with the audience, spouting gibberish and sporting wacky facial expressions between mercilessly pounding his kit.

"Don't Stop" had all three main voices joining in unison and also seemed to be a theme for the two-and-half hour show and this 2014 tour. After Nicks took it down with "Silver Springs" and Buckingham (on piano) accompanied McVie on "Songbird," Nicks returned to offer the story of Christine McVie's return to the band. Then Fleetwood returned with his two young daughters in tow to once again thank the crowd and return the love. It was almost as if they didn't want to stop.

Fleetwood Mac returns to the Forum Saturday and Dec. 6 and hits the Honda Center on Dec. 7.

[cheappd]

I thought the Forum was awesome. Very nice venue; it almost felt intimate. I was about 10th row center on the floor. I went to MNPLS and Chicago...

No, you went to "Mpls" or MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul) as we abbreviate it here. Will you be coming to STP to see the first show of the second leg on 1/16? It should be nice and cool (-20 F) by then.

[PenguinHead]

What a great Lindsey quote. I love it. Michele

"Great to be playin LA, it's been a few years since we've been on the road and a lot of people were wondering what happened to us. Well we're here to show that, we just refuse to go away."


Think about it; the time that they were "away" was a mere two years! Their Tusk tour ended in 1980. Both Stevie and Lindsey released their first solo albums in 1981, and Mirage was released in 1982, the same year of their tour.

Back then, two years was a considerably lengthy amount of time for a band to be inactive. The Mirage album and tour was herald as somewhat of a reunion! Can you imagine?

[FM77]

No, you went to "Mpls" or MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul) as we abbreviate it here. Will you be coming to STP to see the first show of the second leg on 1/16? It should be nice and cool (-20 F) by then.

No, but I will be in Lincoln two nights after STP.