Review of Billy's show in Nashville
 

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Memphis in Manhattan in Nashville

Plastic eggshells with raffle tickets buried inside were the Easter-themed currency at last Sunday’s Billy Burnette show at 3rd & Lindsley. While rockabilly stylist Burnette provided a fascinating character study in rock star poise, the real clucker was watching Music Row moguls juggle the plastic goodies in one hand while pecking away on their Blackberries with the other. Burnette, a onetime member of Fleetwood Mac who also toured as a backing guitarist with Bob Dylan for 2001’s Love and Theft, packed enough biz veterans in the club to warrant the repositioning of Music Row, if only for one night. Pitchfork darling and opening act Nicolai Dunger was missing in action, but wattage from Burnette’s frequent songwriting collaborators Shawn Camp and Bekka Bramlett more than made up for the Swedish rocker’s absence. Bramlett accompanied her former Fleetwood Mac bandmate for much of his set, flailing away with her tambourine like a madwoman possessed. But it was Burnette himself, playing in support of his live album Memphis in Manhattan, who really made the show tick. Flanked by guitarist Jedd Hughes, Burnette’s end-of-show barnburner “Tear It Up” produced a rousing standing ovation. Elvis may have been king, but as audience reaction showed, Burnette can certainly hold his own.

And people say that Bekka was not a Stevie Nicks replacement

She isn't.

The main difference between the two being, of course, that Bekka can actually sing.

AND, play tambourine. :D

Gawd I love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup: :laugh: :woohoo: :laugh: :thumbsup:

Billy has such a winning personality--so self-effacing & gracious--that I'm glad to see he's still out there rockin'.

He was probably the funniest member ever of Fleetwood Mac (several of the others have been periodically funny to varying degrees but Billy is by far the quickest with a quip).

I love his song "The Bigger the Love, the Harder the Fall." Is anyone able to YouTube the video from the Graham Nash show where Mick & Billy & Co. performed that? I vaguely remember Sharon Celani singing backup, too.

Your kidding right?

Im not even going to go there ;)

p.s. Im halfway through listening to that Billy record!

Gawd, I hope not!!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

It's ok, Foxy. No matter what anyone says, just remember that Bekka's still a backup singer. ;)

Thanks for posting the review, Livia. :xoxo:

Well aint that the truth ;)

Not even a little bit. :wavey:

Oh poor sweet delusional Victoria...





:laugh:

Now that's the pot calling the kettle black, Michael.

:laugh: I love you anyway, despite the awful music taste :p


Bekka better than Stevie :rolleyes: not in a million years.... ;)

By saying that, you've just discredited your own opinion about singing, and any kind of ear you claim to have.
:laugh:
Anyway, I'm glad he got a good review.

Just a backup singer? Sharon is JUST a backup singer. Bekka writes songs for albums that sell in the millions. Bekka tours with acts that do things like sell out arenas in major cities. (The last time Sharon was on a tour like that was the short SYW tour.) I think it's a safe bet to say that Bekka is having THE most successful career today of any of the ex-Mac.

Honestly, I don't think Bekka wants to be the headline artist. She's reportedly turned down a few very lucrative deals. I don't think she has any interest in having the superstardom that Stevie has. Bekka makes a buttload of cash singing in stadiums, but isn't so popular that she couldn't enjoy a night out without being hassled by people (other than the ultra die-hards like a few of us on here) wanting an autograph.

Bekka has considerably more range and volume than Stevie ever had. But, Stevie is the singer/songwriter, and a personality. Her vocal range is pretty limited, especially compared to her bandmates, and she didn't have the lion's share of hits, but her voice is almost instantly recognizable and her image, though simple, is larger than life. She's the Grace Slick of Fleetwood Mac.

So, who's the better singer? It's a matter of preference, or as I like to say, Christine McVie. But, there's ABSOLUTELY no disputing the fact that Bekka Bramlett SMOKES Stevie Nicks as a tambourine player.

Stevie may not have a range as large as Bekka - but if Bekka did all the touring and lived the crazy life Stevie has, Im sure Bekka's voice would have changed as well. Don't forget, Stevie is damn near 60. While Bekka's voice may be "better" - Stevie's voice has alot of character.

And who cares about who is a better tambourine player :confused: Stevie playing the tambourine is more of a gimmick than anything else....

Besides, I bet Stevie was better. Also, Stevie's sense of harmony smokes anyone else's.
Also - who does Bekka tour with? :confused: Not that I don't believe you, I just didn't realize she, uh, was with such big acts or whatever. And how is she having the most successful career? :confused: Do you mean she tours with acts as their opener or something? :confused:

But then, you're not biased or anything.

No, she is just a back-up singer who writes the occasional song - So Johnny Stew was right.

Why are you talking to yourself from the third person again? :confused:

:rolleyes:

You're so amusing, truly. You should make a career out of stand-up.

Not as biased as you are against her. :laugh: I think an objective person would also site Stevie's unusual sense of harmony as smokin' as well. I think she's awesome because she uses her voice in unusual, never before heard, completely unique ways. But others like a more straightforward, less complex singer, and I understand that. Nevertheless, to say she cannot sing strikes me as someone who maybe hasn't heard a lot of her live performances, or even most of her album tracks.

Actually, Bekka's tambourine was used in the mix, which wasn't the case for Stevie. But, honestly, if you get offended that somebody thinks Bekka did a better job of slapping around a tambourine, then you need to get a life.
I've always admired that about Stevie. Actually, it's probably the biggest thing I admire about Stevie.
No, she is a backing vocalist, to be sure. But, to say that she's ONLY a backing vocalist doesn't really tell the full story. She tours with the likes of Faith Hill and Billy Joel. In fact, the latter called her personally to sing for him. Now, how many other former members of Fleetwood Mac (or even current members of Fleetwood Mac as solo artists) are playing THAT size show? NONE! No, she isn't a headline or opening act, but damn that's an impressive gig! The only step up from that level gig is something like a Rolling Stones gig, which is ironic, as I always thought Bekka would be perfect for "Gimme Shelter." Plus, Bekka has contributed material to Faith Hill's albums. Those certainly tend to sell well, which means she's probably getting a nice chunk of money from the royalties.

Calling Bekka "just a backing vocalist" is like calling Neal Heywood "just a backing guitarist." Neal contributed to an album and did two tours (about 220 gigs) with the band. He is an important part of the overall process of making music for Fleetwood Mac, and saying anything less really undercuts his importance to that process. And, I think the same is true for Bekka in regards to Faith Hill.

I was joking about the tambo thing. :) That's cool Bekka is singing with those people, I didn't realize. Although, do Billy Joel's shows really sell better than Big Mac's? It already sucks that Faith Hill's shows sell better....:laugh:
I'm not really familiar with Bekka, thanks for the info. I have nothing against her, I'm sure she's outstanding, I would just never like anyone's voice as well as Stevie's. I don't love it, I'm in love with it. :laugh:

I owe Vicky an apology. It's turns out you were right, hon -- it is fun to rile people up. :angel:

I've been watching a couple of old videos, & I saw Bekka & Billy on TNN sing from their Bekka & Billy album. They were a charming duo & the country crowd really dug them. They sounded good. I don't know what song they sang because I don't have that album.

I'll remember you said that. I can't wait. :cool:

Right... 'cause I just bought all those f*cking cds, videos, etc because I thought they'd look pretty sitting on my shelf. :rolleyes:

And Stew? Now you know: Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. :)

I doubt it. Bekka's parents still have very strong voices. I saw a recent clip of Delaney Bramlet singing "Everybody Loves A Winner" on his website, and it sounded every bit as good as how he did it in 1967 on Delaney & Bonnie's album "Home." Bonnie's voice is very strong, too. They lived even crazier lives, partied a lot harder, and are a little older than Stevie. Bekka, too, from what I've heard, used to date a lot of the big hair metal guys back in the day. But, I think she decided early on that she wasn't going to make the same mistakes as her folks or their friends.

Stevie NEVER had a strong voice. That doesn't mean it isn't good. In fact, that it's not as strong is why I think she is able to blend her voice in with others so well. She doesn't have the vocal strength to overpower the mix. And, I think it lends itself well to that fragile quality that makes her music so powerful to people. To be fair, Bekka probably had the strongest voice of ANY Fleetwood Mac singer, male or female.

Stevie and Bekka come from two completely different schools of music. Stevie is a singer/songwriter. Singer/songwriters aren't necessarily known for their amazing vocal ability. Bekka comes from a family that is known for their powerful voices. (So, there is the who genetic thing.) Comparing Stevie to Bekka is like comparing James Taylor to Al Green.

Please. Bekka just turned 38. She's hardly a spring chicken anymore. Bekka's voice sounds about the same today, with a lot of touring under her belt, as it did when I first heard it in 1992. Stevie's voice had changed drastically by 1986 (when she was 38). BTW, I didn't say Bekka's voice was better. I said it was stronger and had more volume. What they do is so different that it's not really worth comparing. The only Stevie Nicks song I've heard Bekka sing is GDW, and, again, too apples-and-oranges to compare. I like both versions (well, Stevie's not so much during the 87-90 period).

I'll have to refer you back to my first theory, then. Especially if you've heard "Insider, Live", and almost anything else, and continue to make your claims. :wavey: :p

Also, people who rile people just for the sake of riling them piss me off. Isn't there enough to argue about/debate without that? There certainly is for me. Plus, sadism is ugly in people. :laugh:

So was I on the intial post...

Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to agree, then!!! :laugh:
Yeah, I saw that you were joking. :woohoo:

I do it for the sake of my own amusement, and that's good enough reason for me.

And quite frankly, I really don't give a damn if you find that an ugly trait. I stopped caring about what you think a long time ago.

Yeah, I know. It's the part of the sadism that is ugly, the amusement. That's what sadism is, people who are amused at the discomfort or pain of others, and I find it creepy that someone's twisted mind finds that sort of thing amusing.

Wow, you're totally aggressive right now for no apparent reason. I mean, not that I mind or anything, just noticing with amusement.
I guess I've inadvertently riled you up while you were trying to rile others up. How funny! :laugh:
First you cuss at my totally innocuous reply to your post and roll your eyes, and now this explosion of purposeless aggression. In fact, it's even more purposeless if you don't even care what I think, yet are aggressive anyways.
Oh, now I remember why I rarely answer your posts. Your temper is even quicker and much more illogical than mine!
Congrats, your trophy is in the mail!!! :wavey: :woohoo: :laugh:

What ever you say you Lefty Commie Pinko Homo. All you need to remember is that Jesus loves you, support the troops and President Bush, and be proud to be an American. Now, here are some images that hopefully help you change your poor, sick, disgusting, misguided ways:

It can be fun if done sparingly... and in a fairly tongue-in-cheek kind of way.
As with most things in life, it requires a certain amount of finesse... otherwise it becomes heavy-handed and unamusing. At least that's my take on it.

And though by this point I'd hope everyone would know what page I'm on, I'll just say that I quite like Bekka. I think she's extremely talented and has one hell of a voice. :thumbsup:

Nope, no good, Steve... I'm still watching Golden Girls on Lifetime and listening to old Judy Garland records!

http://www.theodora.com/flags/new12/rainbow.gif

Rainbow Flag'd!

Oh, I guess I was confused cause that's not the way Vicki does it, she's more like the second thing you said. You must be talking about what I call "teasing with humor". :woohoo:

Honestly, I don't care which hole you use, just don't turn into THIS guy: