Save Us in Pittsburgh (Spoilers)
 

So, it turns out salvation does not require all the prayers in the world. Beauty, beast, bass and Buckingham will do just fine.

I just got back from the Mellon arena. As I entered the arena an acoustic version of BTLH was playing. Later came Beautiful Child and Destiny Rules. Do those songs really sound that good without vocals? If I’d known that, I’d have wished the singers would shut up a long time ago!

There’s no tour book on sale yet.

As the place filled up, I saw the ILAA people got first row center seats. That increases my hope for getting the same with my single ILAA ticket in a couple of weeks.

I saw Cory, but no Ray Lindsey. Lindsey had his guitar tech from the GOS tour with him.

I think the show started around 8:25. First Mick emerged. Then John came out with the band. John was wearing white shirt, white hat, white beard and (matching) white hair. Lindsey and Stevie emerged together, hand in hand, from her side of the stage. She was wearing a knee length red dress. RED. With red suede boots. The vibe was already promising.

Lindsey was wearing tight black jeans, a red shirt to compliment the lady, and a short, shiny, black leather jacket. Ha, I think Lindsey and Lori were wearing the same jacket, same size. Hers was just buttoned up and his was closed.

From the beginning about 3 rows of people were cloistered around the stage. They didn’t wait until the end of the show. They gathered at the beginning and stayed there all night. And they took pictures galore. Open and notorious shooting. Around Rhiannon, security came up front and asked that people put the cameras away, but it took them that long to even bother. By then, no one paid much attention to them.

No Carlos. Steve the drum tech was there and played behind Mick. Neale, Brett, Jana, Sharon and Lori were in attendance.

MONDAY MORNING: Sounds good. I think it’s a good opener, because even the people who don’t know it are so excited about the start of the show, that they’re cheering and dancing anyway. So, it probably works here better than anywhere else.

THE CHAIN: I really don’t hear Stevie’s voice in the mix at all. When Lindsey starts addressing th crowd, she spends the whole time motioning to the back up singers and telling them she can’t hear. So, I can’t hear her and she can’t hear herself.

DREAMS: Stevie says “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We are Fleetwood Mac (:eek: I’m at the wrong show, what an embarrassing time to find out!) and we’re thrilled to be here. Let’s get this party started!” As the song closes, Stevie holds the word “knoooooow” for a long time and adds these little vocal flourishes throughout, many different places during the show.

Lindsey says that most people know that they’ve had a complex and convoluted history and they separate and come back together, but their little dance always concludes with a “forward motion.” He said this time around they had a lot of fun during rehearsals and just kicked back and enjoyed each other, since they don’t have a new album to promote.

I KNOW I’M NOT WRONG: After much deliberation and inner argument, I’ve decided that Lindsey is the most beautiful person on the planet. Well, there’s a slight chance that Gillian Anderson may be as beautiful, but really . . . that would be the only exception. He looked kind of puffy-faced in the recent Elle pictures we saw. But his face is lined and lean tonight.

GYPSY: Now, the way I was positioned, I couldn’t really see the videos they used during the show. The one facing the audience was low, behind Mick and its contents weren’t obvious. And then there were 4 screens overhead, looking down on the stadium. You had to crane your neck to see them. So, I didn’t notice them for the most part. I first saw them during Gypsy. That famous video danced across the many screens, bringing back dazzling memories of MTV in the eighties. Black and white Stevie in Lindsey’s embrace. Lindsey is silently mouthing the lyrics throughout the song, but at the end, they turn their mics to each other and sing, “I still see your bright eyes” together. It works for me. I don’t know how it went from their perspective, but I hope the song stays in the setlist this time.

GO INSANE: Stevie leaves the stage and Lindsey does the song alone. It’s as good as it was during the GOS tour. He uses a guitar pick through a part of the song. Yeah, why is he using it more now when he never did before. Old age! I’m sure of it. It’s probably some kind of posturepedic pick designed to prop up arthritic fingers or something.

RHIANNON: Stevie returns. At one point she turns to the back up singers, gives them a thumbs up and laughs. So, I am guessing she is now pleased with the sound quality. The wide sleeves of her gown spread in a makeshift veil, Stevie covers her face for the “don’t leave me” part.

SECOND HAND NEWS: Um, it’s been 30 years. Why does this song suddenly need an introduction?? Lindsey says that it’s one of the first couple they did for the emotional Rumours album, which brought many opposites together. Through the difficult times, this song managed to remain one of optimism and humor. Stevie is busily rolling up her Rhiannon sleeves as Lindsey talks. She binds them around her wrists in a clumsy tie. As they perform, the video backdrop has images of newspapers flashing by. What a waste! If they were going to use video, why not use old newspaper clippings and magazine covers which featured FLEETWOOD MAC. That would have been quite effective.

TUSK: I’m really surprised that it comes here in the set and is not used as part of the trifecta that they did so well for so long (Tusk, Stand Back, GYOW). But it works here. In fact, except for the Oh Well/ISA segment, I have no problems with the set list sequence at all. It worked well and kept up the enthusiasm and excitement. There were no instances where people were running to the bathroom or even taking a break to sit down. The momentum continued as a constant.

SARA: I was surprised this one was still in and it was still quite beautiful. Her hair is down and she is not wearing a red shawl. They sing the “met my match” part together. Stevie croons that the wind became SO crazy. At the end she slowly spins her way to Lindsey and sings into his mic, but they don’t put their heads together, as they did for the SYW tour. He plays in back of her and she sings. That’s a photo I’d like to have. Mark that down for the tourbook. At the end, she walks off the stage (exiting on his side) and the music continues without her. Quite lovely.

BIG LOVE: Before beginning Lindsey asks the audience at the stage if it’s cool down there. “Are they keeping it nice and cool for you?” Lindsey, it’s WINTER time. Don’t worry that the audience may get overheated.

LANDSLIDE: At the end of the song when Stevie pauses before saying the landslide will bring you down, she and Lindsey don’t synch and she laughs as she orchestrates with one hand. After the song ends, she says to the audience, “You almost made us miss our cue, but it’s totally forgivable. Thank you.” Huh? There’s one singer and one guitarist on stage. How can they “miss” the cue. The two of them are entirely responsible for creating it. Of course, the audience is singing along with her, but still . . . don’t blame it on us. Blame it on your wild heart. She and Lindsey do not hold hands during the song, as they have in days of yore, but he does blow her a kiss.

STORMS: Mick comes down with his little “cocktail” kit. He is wearing his red shoes, black stockings, short knickers, vest, and red tie at the neck. Stevie says that longtime FM fans will know this song (anticipating it, people in the crowd start cheering immediately). And those of us that don’t know it, will know it after tonight. It comes from the record they did called Tusk. They’ve always loved the song, but it’s one of the rare songs that you can’t make sound good live, the way it does on the record. But this time they just decided to try really hard and get it right. Stevie says the song’s actual title is “Storms” but that she likes to call it, “Always Been a Storm.” I think the song comes out beautifully.

She trills that all the prayers in the world couldn’t save them 3 times and then Lindsey approaches the mic at the end and he sings that line with her to close the song. Ok, I’m easy. Cheap. Gullible. But when they turn to each other and their eyes meet as they say that not all the prayers in the world could save them, my eyes water. It’s a reflex reaction. If that kind of manipulation is wrong, I don’t want them to be right.

SAY YOU LOVE ME: Stevie takes the first verse. Lindsey takes the second and they sing the third together. Lindsey really gets to me the way he sings the “it will be the end of me” part. I don’t remember what lyrics Stevie sang for her first verse, but they weren’t the right ones. Still, I thought the song was quite wonderful. Not as good as The Dance, of course, but still strong. When they get to the “falling, falling, falling” part at the end, they all point downward in unison. Well, Lindsey, Mick and Stevie. I couldn’t see John.

GOLD DUST WOMAN: Stevie plays with the word “shadow” at the close, saying it different ways, but she doesn’t do the “you can’t see me now” part. I guess she saves that for Waddy. It’s very good.

OH WELL: Not my thing. I don’t know what to say about the guitar playing. Sounded good to me, but guitarists will have a different take. Lindsey gave the verses a comic interpretation. The only thing I figured was that if the vigorous drum and guitar parts in this song ended up being enough to replace ISA and WORLD TURNING, then it’s inclusion would be ok with me. But that didn’t happen.

ISA: I see Stevie coming from backstage as the song starts, but it takes her a long time to get up front. Is she saying to herself, “Lindsey’s doing that stupid, long tippy toe walk of his, so I can take all the time in the world!” She slips off after her vocals are complete. They seem to have some technical difficulties with the song initially. After a few seconds, they stop and start it over again.

STAND BACK: Exciting as always. But it gets new punch with a false ending. The music stops and then Stevie says, “OK. One, two, three, four” and ends with “oh yeah, Oh yeaaaah.” I like it.

GYOW: Stevie goes back stage after Stand Back and then the music for GYOW starts playing. As we wait for her to emerge, I begin to think that she will come in her top hat and she DOES! It’s black velvet. She is wearing a tuxedo jacket, but a short one, not the long one. Obviously, another snapshot to get for the tourbook.

WORLD TURNING: Well, Mick doesn’t do his drum vest thing. But Brett does do the digital thing using Lindsey’s synthesized voice. To me, the only reason to keep this song in is for Mick’s solo. So, it sounds good, but I think it’s expendable. Actually, I like the way the stage clears and it’s Mick alone (with Lindsey sitting down on the side) and then Brett comes back out. Lindsey stands up and comes to attention, guitar at the ready. Neale and John suddenly materialize and Stevie slides back out. I like the way they all slip back in and you go from solo drummer to full band in stages. It’s like a surreptitious invasion.

Mick does the introductions. Says Steve is helping out ably behind him. Says John is his long time partner in crime.

DON’T STOP: I’m in Pittsburgh now and I have to be at my desk in Los Angeles in 12 hours. Not just back home, but AT MY DESK. I couldn’t don’t stop thinking about tomorrow if I wanted to! I’m too old for this.

SILVER SPRINGS: Stevie emerges in a gold and black bodice, wearing her long, don’t-touch-me leather gloves. The song is beautiful and Stevie takes it up a notch, for the “never get away, never get away, never get away” part. Eyes blazing, but she’s staring straight ahead, not at Lindsey.

At the end, she and Lindsey stand in the middle of the stage, arms around each other. The money shot. Lindsey kisses her hair. Stevie motions for Mick and John to come repeatedly with her right hand. They bow. Lindsey takes flowers from a little girl in the audience and delivers them to Stevie. She bends down and talks to people in the crowd. Lindsey straightens and goes to his mic. He thanks the crowd and says, “we’ll see you next time.” They leave the stage.

People don’t head for the exit right away. They think there just might be another encore. But no, the lights come up. The crowd disperses.

We were frail. Save us.

Michele

Thank you Michele!

I feel like I was sitting next to you. That was a very informative review and I could see what you were relating.

(It was more entertaining than an X-Files episode....! And you know I bought the boxed set...)

If you can remember -- Say You Love Me --

Did they perform it with a banjo and somewhat accoustic (?) like they did on the Dance Tour? And did they do the vocal ooh laddy, laddy things?

Happy Trails back to CA with the red eye... and if you can...get lots of sleep on the plane.

Tomorrow when you're tired you can be singing Monday Morning to yourself.

You totally made me feel like I was there - you're the mad note-taker! Now get your rest! :p

Michele, that was awesome! Thanks for the great review and the delightful read. I don't want them to be right either... ;)

Hey Betsy. So you're still awake too?

No, SYLM wasn't acoustic. I'm not sure what you mean by "oh laddy, laddy". I'm not familiar with that part.

I did want to add that for Landslide, Stevie dedicated it to ... I think she said Francis and Debbie, wherever you are.

They didn't do the little Tusk fight, thank goodness. It was just Stevie and Lindsey for NGBA.

Michele

I posted the thread and then I thought about you and I ran back and put spoiler in the title!:p

I wanted to note that I think John looked a little thinner than he did for the SYW tour. Still had a little paunch in front, but it looks like things are holding up pretty good! And keep in mind, we really haven't seen him for 6 years. The others have been milling round on their solo jaunts, but not him. Michele

OK Stevie!

What else did they put on the screen? Any of the same stuff Stevie used during Landslide on her solo tour? Did they show the old Sara clips during Sara (I love that).

There were intimate moments missing, like the way he would lean into her during Say You Will and the way they would go head to head at the end of Sara. Or his face smothered into her hair at the end of Don't Stop. None of that happened tonight. But, there were compensations:nod:.

Michel

I personally don't mind them dropping all the staged interaction stuff.

No. I didn't see anything else on the screen. I could have missed it though, because I had to look straight up into the sky to see the video screens and I forgot to do that, for the most part. I mean, for Silver Springs when she sang about blue/green they had an aqua color on the screen and it looked like it might be flashing. And they had psychedelic lights up there sometimes, but nothing noteworthy.

Michele

thanks michele :xoxo:

Well, I agree with you about the Tusk dance they did before, which made me gag. The staring into each other's eyes for Say Goodbye was stultifying and even the finger intertwining during Landslide got old. But then there were some things they did for the SYW tour that didn't feel that staged and stilted to me. When he had his face inclined completely towards hers for SYW or Sara, back then, it really worked for me. I felt a bit tingly.

Michele

Awwww, Niki, I love your moving image.

Michele

Yeah, I mean staged or not - you can still be a little loose and have a good time - interaction is good - I hate non interaction where people act like they are onstage alone.

Thank you so much for such a detailed positive post. I am thrilled that Storms is in the set, and hope it makes it through the entire tour. It's always been one of my favorite songs-Stevie really hit a peak with her Tusk songs-and I never thought it would be performed onstage.
Thank you so much.

Joseph

They definitely didn't have a ton of interaction with each other tonight. I can't remember what song it was but Stevie went over and sang into Lindsey's mic...for a minute I thought they were going to sing into the same mic at the same time (a la Angel from the Tusk Documentary) but then he just backed off. I can't for the life of me remember what song this was!!??

i prefer "beefy, buffoon, bulbous, and brinley."

some might say she "shot her waddy" on her solo tour.

was it gypsy? I remember that cuz they were right in front of me and I told my hubby to take a pic but he had his ear plugs and couldnt hear me.
i really missed the interaction with them, it was strange not to see it. I also noticed that Lindsey went nuts a few times but not as much as he did on SYW tour. I wonder if Stevie was like hey chill out a bit this time around. HA!

Thank you for your review, Michele! I'm glad you ended up going (despite my love for PIT, no non-stop flight = no go for me).

One quick question- did Lindsey let a fan (or fans) in the front row play his guitar during GYOW, like he did during the 03-04 tour?

Don't they do that on "Sara"? It's just they're thing...

Hm, well, it could have been, but I'm thinking it wasn't. It had to be a song where they were both singing but then Stevie just sung toward the end. Although, it was something where I could see the two of them singing together. Dammit I could kick myself right now - I took special note of it as soon as it happened. She walked over there and it just looked like the two of them were going to go all Angel on the mic. Of course, something this stupid is sooooo frustrating!!!!

Yes, they played his guitar on both sides of the stage. I had non-stop flights scheduled both ways, but I couldn't make it Friday. So, I left Saturday instead. Missed my connection. Had to spend the night in Minneapolis. Got here this morning. Had a non-stop for tomorrow, leaving at 6:30 p.m., but I had work commitments that kept me from keeping it, so I leave at 7 a.m. in the morning. Michele

It was Sara. She went over and sang into his mic and he stood in back of her playing. Then, she walked off of the stage.

Yeah, Stevie wasn't into Lindsey tonight. He was was very loving towards her, kissy, huggy. When he handed her the flowers from the little girl, he had his arm around her, but he probably did something back stage she didn't like.

Michele

Okay, you are correct, that must have been what it was. To me it honestly appeared the potential was there for some musical interaction but alas, you are probably right, she was probably annoyed at him for something. Who knows with those two?

I posted this in another review on here somewhere about how I got to play Lindsey's guitar. I remember him being at the other end of the stage playing and I was thinking if he doesnt get his a** over here I am going to be so pissed and then as if on cue he came right over and stood in front of me and then kinda lowered his guitar down where i could reach it. I started plucking at the strings real gently thinking I hope its ok I am doing this, HA! Then after that he started it moving over so others could play but I grabbed at it once more before he was done, LOL! Damm that man is intense and such an amazing guitar player and just such an overall nice person.

Thanks for the entertaining review Michele... Always fun to read.

Were you on Stevie's side of the stage? If so, I was right there with you, hehe.

No I was on the other side in section 1 pretty much right below Lindsey. I wanted to be on Lindsey's side but I had a lot of trouble seeing anything but Stevie's head and I had to move a certain way to even see John. The darn stage at Mellon Arena was too high for me!

Oh I see, yeah I was thinking that too, it IS pretty high. I was on Lindsey's side for SYW so I was glad to switch it up this time and be on Stevie's side. It was funny because I think Stevie was really nervous and made what seemed to be a conscious effort not to look down at the crowd, at least for a while. Then before I think Silver Springs, she was talking to a few people in the middle, then turned and looked directly down at my mother and me. I just waved and said "Hi Stevie" and she waved back. It was cute.

yeah I dont know why I never realized how high the stage was since I have been going to shows there for at least 15 years by now. sh*t I should have worn some 5 inch heels or something, HA! It helped that the guy to the left of me, left the show before the encores so that helped my view. Who the hell leaves a show before the freaking encores anyway? I know, people that live in the burbs, LOL! Its so funny around here even when the Steelers are playing all the people that live in the burbs leave around the 4th quarter to beat traffic on the parkway east and west. It makes me happy to live in the city. Its less than 5 minutes to get anywhere :)
Aww that is so nice that Stevie waved to you and your mom. I got a hand shake from her once but that was it. I wish she would interact more with the crowd when she is with FM. It seems that when she is solo she is more loose and friendly.

Lindsey also used a pick on Go Insane during the GOS tour. If it's anything like on that tour he's strictly playing rhythm guitar on it, which would explain the pick.

Yes, he only seemed to use it for one segment of the song. Michele

Thanks, Michelle.
That was wonderful.
Tell people to leave you alone at work today.

Michele, thank you for including all the wonderful details!

It was quite a show. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of interaction between Stevie and Lindsey - what Michele mentioned was it. Although Lindsey tried to catch her eye several times, especially at the beginning, Stevie seemed determined to do it straight.

I was in that front cluster, right at Stevie's feet, and after initial laxity the guards did crack down on the picture-taking. I didn't want to hold my camera up at the front, so even though I had it, I left it in the seat.

They both looked amazing, but especially Stevie in her lovely red dress, head to toe with matching boots. WOW girl. And she changed her boots three times. Since the stage was so high, I got a great view of them. She was also wearing some lovely sparkly jewelry, including a diamond-encrusted moon.

No slow intro for Rhiannon - they just went straight into rocking it.

Stevie dedicated Landslide to her father, and while there was no touching or going over to Lindsey, they shared a poignant look at the end for a moment (probably in honor of Mr. Nicks).

The Gold Dust Woman wail was the longest one I'd ever heard.

What a privilege to be there for the first time Storms was played live! When Lindsey and Stevie sang to each other at the end, he put his hand over his heart. It was a great moment, made especially powerful by the fact that they interacted so little.

Lindsey mixed up the intro for Oh Well a bit, adding his own spin to the famous riff before doing it straight. I liked it.

He continues to do ISA slowly - the days of the fiery ISA are gone - but it does build nicely into that intense, amazing solo.

I had heard the spoiler about Silver Springs, but after Stevie had promised us Talk to Me and The Highwayman for the Vegas shows without delivery, I was by no means certain of its inclusion. However, I was delighted to hear it as the closer, and from the response of the crowd, it went over wonderfully. Stevie's avoidance of Lindsey's eyes was disappointing, but she did still get into that ending, waving her hands to the "NEVER GET AWAY" part as she stared out at the audience.

Terrific show. I'm so glad I went!

WOW.. Thanks SO much to you, Nancy, and to Michele as well, for such wonderful and detailed reviews! It sounds like Lindsey must have pulled something with Stevie last night, as it sounds like she was a bit "miffed" with him, to say the least. LOL.. Who knows, but all in all, it sounds like they put on a wonderful show, and thanks to you both for sharing your wonderful reviews with us!

Hugs,

Arlene

Regina,

There should be a special day you can take off of work for FM. I'd promise only to use it once every 5 years:D.

Nancy,

I noticed Stevie's jewelery too, especially the long drop earrings she was wearing in the red. The sleeves of the red dress, the way the beads dropped down in tendrils was very appealing. She had black sleeves that did that too, but it looked better with the red.

I was thinking about Storms and I noticed it on the album, but it was more striking last night. The lyrics have her saying "save us" before she goes on to explain that not all the prayers in the world could save us. The first "save us" is set apart. So, even though she is talking in the past, like she should have seen the broken heart coming and it's all over, the "save us" comes out almost as a separate, present plea.

Last night, it was the same. When singing alone, she might have only enunciated the "could save us" once. Most of the time, she swallowed the "could" and was saying, "not all the prayers in the world . . . save us." So, to me the song was saying that there might still be hope. The message was that it was all over on one hand, nothing left to be done, but then on the other hand, there was one last hopeful plaint: save us.

I'm really drawn to that and Lindsey and Stevie singing the last line together, really accentuated that interpretation for me.

Michele

PERFECT write-up!!!!!!! Thank you, michele!!!! Last night I was hoping you were there so that we could get one of your beautiful pieces of reportage.

My initial response: Storms and Say You Love Me were back-to-back revelations. Much will be written and discussed about these, the highlights of the show.

Lindsey fired on all cylinders on all songs (an "Oh Well" for the record books).

Stevie excelled during Sara (what an exit), Storms (of course), Gold Dust Woman, Silver Springs, while Dreams, Rhiannon, Gypsy seemed lackluster to me. Stand Back was fun.

Almost no rapport between Stevie and Lindsey (despite HIS efforts). Strange. Yet, their styles complimented each other. She was very regal. He was like the court jester.

No banter between them. Little talking to the crowd on Stevie's part (except for a "hello, pennsylvania" opening and a brief intro to "Storms" for old-time and future Mac fans). Lindsey said a few things but nothing of note to me (except that during rehearsals it had been a real blast).

The lighting effects and moving screens were awesome, especially when they shone bright red -- the same color as Lindsey's shirt, peaking out from his leather jacket. VERY THEATRICAL. Very effective.

It's funny how no one is talking much about SYLM and I haven't seen a video of that yet. I enjoyed it, once it got going. Shaky start I think.

I know what you mean about their styles complimenting each other. I compared them being at his mic together for Sara to the SYW tour and the difference was stark. Yet, the fact that they weren't interacting there, less than a foot apart from each other, almost was the icing on the song's ending. It capped the mood of loss. Their singing together at the end of the Storms was the high point of the night to me, but when they shared vocals on Sara, that worked too. In fact, even Gypsy when Lindsey sang "I can still see your bright eyes" with her, I felt that the song had a little more spark.

I was a little concerned that Lindsey would tone things down and think he had to rein his performance in from what it was during SYW. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

I hope they are on fire by the time they get to MSG. I won't be seeing them there, but hope you do. I know it's an important show to them and they should be at the top of their game.

Next time I want to make a point to look at the moving screens more. I think I missed a lot of that, because they were at an awkward angle for me. Your vivid description makes me think they added another element to the show. Yet more to appreciate.

Michele

still loving your review... :xoxo:

found these public pics upon search @ myspace

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...f8fdcfcf5b.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...58a62f7a05.jpg