The Stevie Nicks Concert Experience.....eh? not so much
 

A quick question....I have followed the tours of Stevie / FleewoodMac for decades...I've seen her perform in venues ranging from Stadiums to local nightclubs, Las Vegas showrooms to a neighborhood ice hockey areana.
I love Stevie and her music has been the soundtrack to my life. It seems to me that her peers i.e. Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, RollingStones, Rod Stewart and on and on have decided to give their concert going fans more of a theatrical experience. Not all of them have done the Vegas spectacular production of Stewart. Instead, Paul McCartney's simple use of videos was beautiful...nostalgic...it added to the history and depth of the song. Petty's lighting system was stuning. After years of Stevie's concerts, the same ole black dresses and years of safe concert setlists...isn't it time she explores a stage and technology that represents an icon of her status.

Very true! She needs some new funk on that stage....

What could she do? Suggestions?

I personally have decided to forgo seeing stevie; indio, vegas, LA and all points in between. All my pennies are now dedicated to Lindsey Buckingham SOLO. I know he brings the good stuff PLUS the new stuff. Stevie and I stress her BAND are stagnant in bringing new music to the stage and I don't anticipate late rehearsals learning then perfecting IYD.

For one thing, a Stevie Nicks tour does not generate the revenue of any of the acts you mentioned above. Theatrics and staging all cost lots of money. I think its a big reason you don't see that. Also, she doesn't do a huge setlist like those acts either...it's a smaller show. I agree, she should open up that catalogue and COMPLETELY revamp that tired set list. I've always thought she should do an unplugged segment within her show and do stuff like Long Distance Winner, Bella Donna etc...acoustic. Her fans would faint.

I'd LOVE an acoustic version of Bella Donna, I think it could turn out really nice. When she did the acoustic 3 song set on the enchanted tour that was phenomenal

Interesting.
 

I feel bad saying this but I have not paid to see Stevie since 2001.

I find her voice/performances VERY hit or miss. Her band bores me. The setlist bores me. But when she is ON, there is no one like her.

Everything just sounds the same. My memories of 1998 are good enough for me.

An acoustical segment is absolutely one of those moments that are never forgotten...I have never been a big Beatles fan but I will NEVER forget the simple videos that Paul McCatney played...the videos told stories of the "times" of the beatles...their history...Stevie has a rich history..her story could be told on the bigscreen....Fritz, BN, Fleetwood Mac, Good times, bad times...her early days in San Fran...images and videos dont cost much but they "fill" an arena and evoke emotions that can enhance a sad song or provactive images can add to a rukus and fun of rock and roll song I don't believe for a second that Stevie cant get creative and create lasting images for very little money. Cher's tour was very effective at telling her story...the concert even started with a video of Cher 's history and the crowd was aching for Cher to come out after the video.... I believe the reason why Stevie doesnt do this is not about money but, instead, the same reason she rarely plays with her set list...shes scared too. Seeing her recently perform with Rod is a perfect example of how she is more rigid and he throws caution to wind....

I get what you are saying...but would a cool video at the beginning of the show make up for a stagnant set-list? Cher is a tough comparison too because not only did she have a weekly TV show with AMAZING guests, she had a movie career too. Her performance history lends itself to that kind of iconic video--like the Beatles. She has played that video during Landslide and I don't think it is that moving. Just my opinion. It could have been done better.

FM77 I am in complete agreement about the landslide video...what a missed opportunity....it feels like it was done by chris down in a basement....I don't know that I agree that Stevies iconic history could come up with four minutes of video clips and images of her with as a child, then Fritz, the rarity clips of fleetwood, behind the scenes during bella donna...on oprah, rosie, letterman, leno, Ellen, Midnight special, Saturday night live taco spoof, singing with the president, her and dave stewart, her with bob dillon, her with don henley, her with sheryl crow, her with kenny loggins, her with tom petty, her and rod stewart, her with taylor swift, and on and on and on....she could certainly showcase her "legend" in a four minute video to ramp up the crowd before the concert and come out and kick some butt

At NOTS this year, Travis played some great/edited video that was extremely well received on the big screen. People were cheering at the screen as if Stevie was there performing. I don't think it would make up for the stagnant set-list, but such a showing would charge the performance up a few notches. I don't think Stevie has to do an Elton John/Vegas/Red Piano/David LaChapelle stage set up (things "flying in the air'), but she could do something with the stage to promote the new album. (the stage was pretty cool during TISL) Watching the sizzle reel makes it clear someone in the camp has imagination.

I really liked the video work in Stevie's set at recent the Hollywood Bowl show. I don't actually recall the lighting, so I guess that means it was...forgettable. I missed the first part of the show, though, and there was a commotion in the seats in front of where I was standing, so that distracted me a bit.

I agree that the Petty shows have great lighting design, and he just puts on an engaging show over all— secular church.

I agree with absolutely every letter of this. Lindsey will be the only one getting my pennies for live performances from here out. :)

...unless Christine decides to tour again. But we all know that isn't going to ever happen. :distress:

That is how I feel about large concert venues in general; I stopped paying to go to stadium shows decades ago, and I always have the best experiences in small venues. The Petty show I saw at the Greek (with some Ledgies) was the first stadium show I had been to since the 80's. That said, I got an opportunity to visit a friend at the bowl show, and so no pennies were paid.
I really wanted to go to that LB show, but I had to leave LA and get back home.

(thanks so much to the people who taped and posted some of the show at Saban!)

Looking at Rod's set, my eyes were arrested by the movement and colors, the trumpet heralding the coming of his most famous song, but I didn't think to myself, "I wish the Mac would do something like this!" It was like Disneyland and it was about entertainment rather than the music. Music is and should be entertaining, but Rod showed me the difference between diversion and feeling and he actually made me appreciate the simplicity of Stevie's set even more.

It's not like Do Ya Think I'm Sexy is full of great pathos, but when I listen to the studio version, I do imagine two hesitant, shy people coming together and it's touching. His performance takes any emotion out of the song and he does the same thing with deeper songs, like Downtown Train, breezily stripping it of any meaning.

It feels cheap. Cher touched me with her Vegas show because she used full stage video of Sonny singing It's The Little Things, I was moved and grateful, but that's because it felt so personal. Costume changes, dancers and special effects leave me cold. I didn't feel that way when I was a kid going to see Michael Jackson, but now I do.

The only thing I would like Stevie to adopt are two things from Tom Petty's show:

1. A call and answer sing along with the audience (learning to fly is the hardest part)

2. And the strobe light dance she did, where the on-off flash of the lights made it look like she was frenzily dancing up a storm. I would love for her to do that for one of her own shows.

Other than that, I'm liking it simple. Michele

So I saw Cher's show in Vegas too many times to count (I'm kinda obsessed with her too). Yes the show had some great videos, staging, and visuals. BUT we saw more video footage than we actually saw Cher onstage. After every song Cher would go change outfits, so we'd see a video. Cher also only stuck to her hits and covers and never really added anything to make us fans go nuts. I kinda see that happening with Stevie's set. I do realize that Cher probably did that because the average person coming to see her at Caesar's was not a diehard fan. So she had to do the songs they would have the best chance of knowing. Thus they would have a better concert experience and leave satisfied. At Stevie's shows she really doesn't have to do this. Most of the time (except for casinos bc they give away so many tickets to non fan high rollers) it's her true fans who are there to see her.

My overall rambling point is that I'd hate for Stevie to start showing a bunch of videos as filler for the show. But, she does need to add to visuals and spruce things up a bit. I'm not asking for dancers or anything crazy, just a few changes. ;) These new shoes are a prime opportunity to show some behind the scenes footage of the recording of her new album. Some people in the audience might not even know she has a new album out.

End rant/novel.

Viewing a few clips of Rod and Stevie, it appeared to me that Stevie was having fun. I recall some dance moves, and brightness in her eyes from the newness of it all. Rod appeared bored and listless having to perform Leather and Lace. I think Stevie enjoys a little razzle dazzle, if she'd let herself go. Instead we have stiffness, backup singers shuffling a twostep, and the rise of the golddust shawl. I dig when she did kickass RocknRoll. Stevie truly enjoying a show and getting into the performance of it all is the show I'd like to see.

Stevie doesnt have to create as many videos as cher but the start of the show could certainly be enhanced by images that provoke a sense of Stevie...her image is based on beautiful concepts..angels, horses, gypsies, storms,...any of those could be utilized in video montages...on the soundstage we saw brief images/sketches of rhiannon...that is all her shows need to add more mode and atmosphere

I think the thing about Stevie and FM that was so amazing was that the never did those huge theatrics yet they still had the audience in the palm of their hands. They just knew how to work a crowd and it was so captivating without the need for bells and whistles. Stevie's shows have become "stagnant" because her setlist has remained the same and she performs them the same every night! I think that is the biggest problem. She gets up there and stands behind the mic and sings the same songs and does the same motions as she did the past 500 shows! I think she could go out and sing the exact same setlist but make it 10 million times better if she moved around more freely, in a less rehearsed fashion, and sang it the way she felt like doing it that night instead of the way she rehearsed it 1500 times. Its those lyrical changes, the ways she sings some notes differently, and that raw emotion that makes her shows enchanting, not theatrics... so if she could just pull herself away from autopilot, her shows would be killer!

Well, all I can say is: Stop with whining about the setlists and lack of surprises.

Aprecciate the fact that she is performing on a stage in your country and you are able to go. Lot's of fans live in parts of the world where he hasn't been solo since 1989 !!! I don't care of seeing the same old setlist I heard on tons of bootlegs and audience recorded shows the lastcoupleof years, As long as she performed it on a stage in my country or at least in the neighboorhood of my country !

This is true. As much as I was underwhelmed with my Indio show (mostly because of me seat situation) I am thrilled to see our girl perform live and will never miss an opportunity to see her if it is within my power. Would I prefer she change it up, HELL YES but the same old set list will not stop me from going to shows. Now if I lived in another part of the country and had to travel somewhere, that would be a different story but since I'm in LA it's easy.

I saw Stevie with Fleetwood Mac a couple of years ago and I did not think Stevie did a good job. Lindsey and Mick were great, but she was just going through the motions. She also got bad reviews for her performance and deservedly so. She seems like she is lacking energy or something.

I have not seen Stevie solo since her Trouble in Shangrila shows. I hope that if she does tour for In Your Dreams, she will extend the renewed creative enthusiam of that album to the stage, and...

Includes at least half of the album in the set.

Adds an acoustic portion (like on the Enchanted shows).

Takes stock of her back solo catalog, and selects songs she's never performed

Drops most, if not all of her Fleetwood Mac songs

I noticed her energy level lacking a month or so ago. It's easy to blame her illness but I think all the press, appearances and touring at the same time is taking a toll. I will be at the birthday show and expect her to be very "on" for an industry crowd.

I also think she will jump at more Rod dates as a solo tour looks bleak at this point.

I believe you hit the nail on the head...we have no idea what these artists have to deal with as far as the tedious/repetitive toll it takes on them mentally and physically...and with her being in her 60's and having been "on" for over 30 years both with FM and in her solo career I cant even begin to imagine how hard it must be for her especially all the years of doing it while wearing those spiked heels every night sheesh!!! if she just got up there and sat in a big oversized stuff chair and sang I would be happy...lol

I've been a fan of Stevie's since '97....I'm 29 and feel so lucky that I have seen Stevie live all over the country solo and with FM. I've seen her 21 times since the Enchanted tour....

I think that her sets have made perfect sense for wherever she has been in her career. For example:

- The Enchanted tour setlist matched the box set.
- She added a bunch of TISL songs to the set for the TISL tour
- For touring during Crystal Visions/Soundstage Sessions it makes sense for her to stick to the classics since Crystal Visions was a greatest hits album and the Soundstage Sessions was based on the show she had been doing for Crystal Visions basically.

When touring with FM, the amount of songs she sings is limited anyways and she has always thrown in a couple of new songs...for the Say You Will tour she sang her classics and threw in Running Through The Garden...Beautiful Child...Sara, etc...depending on what city you saw her in.

Of course her setlist would be shortened being with Rod...that made sense as irritating as it was to not see a full set.

And for these last shows in Indio and Vegas...yea, it was the short set but as I see it, you have to give her a lot of credit for every song she sang as she probably had to put an enormous amount of energy into the "tired" set list she has sung a million times. Although I do think she should cancel/postpone everything until she is 100% better...it's just not worth it to push herself like she is.

Anyways, my point is...if you take a step back you'll see how much sense all of her sets have made. I think if she tours with Rod again, she'll probably switch out one or two more songs...Rod's crowd is already antsy waiting for him to come out. Can you imagine if she replaced anymore of her hits? You wouldn't be able to hear her sing with all of the Rod fans talking to each other. :nod:

I'm still crossing my fingers we eventually get a real 'In Your Dreams' tour...I really am...especially after The Borgata and Webster Hall were cancelled. It really would be like a missing piece of the puzzle if she decides to not really do anything with it...but I'm just so grateful for every new moment I'm able to enjoy with Stevie as fan.. Don't get me wrong, it's this die-hard fan's dream too to hear a full set of songs I've never heard her sing live...but if my next "new" moment is just a new date and time at a venue I've never seen her at singing 10 songs, I'll be just as estactic. :D

Ditto...
 

I stopped paying for shows after 2003 SYW tour; although, I've decided that if I can get a seat in the front three rows, for the price of a regular ticket, I'll go. This happened during the last FM 'unleashed' tour, and I have to say, I considered it a 'goodbye and thanks for everything' experience after seeing all the tours (SN, FM, LB) from the mid-80s through 2003 (usually multiple shows). I've commented in the past that I wish Stevie would just offer the 'fans' one morsel of 'something special' for the ticket prices that many people work hard to afford these days. When I hear of people flying to shows, just to hear the 'same old - same old,' I feel bad for them. I have flown to opening nights, driven hours for 'special appearances' ('96 Tampa Bay still my favorite), and loved every minute of it; however, these days -- I'm more than happy to check out YouTube to see if anything's changed -- and with the exception of some new covers here and there -- nothing has. Adding Beautiful Child and Storms was really special; however, how come we can't get more of that on the solo shows? Okay, I'll recognize "Love is," is something that the 'fans' appreciate, and "How Still My Love" is always a die-hard fan favorite, but these days, I'd would even appreciate a Talk to Me or Rooms on Fire -- at least, it would be something different from the past several setlists. Even "Fall From Grace" has gotten somewhat old. I know that that the percentage of 'die-hard' fans is exceptionally minor compared to the masses who want the 'hits;' however, with such an expansive catalog, I just wish that she'd share something special for her followers a bit more.

Well if they are going to tour again together, there's a small window beginning after the Hard Rock Calling show June 26th up to August 24th when he starts in Vegas.

Then he's on a break from Vegas between after the Sept 11th show and doesn't return until Nov 3rd. So more shows could fit... But times a ticking if they are going to announce July dates.. Maybe they'll both stay overseas after the June 26th show and do something over there together.

I'd love for Stevie to do an extensive European tour. Her fans over there deserve it.