29/9/13 - Birmingham LG Arena
 

Who's off to the Birmingham gig tonight? I'm leaving the house at 4 to start making my way down. So excited for my first concert!

And the Birmingham Mail are already speculating whether Christine will make an appearance tonight, which is highly doubtful since Stevie only mentioned the London dates.

Again, I HIGHLY doubt it.

I hope you have a great night. A first concert is such an amazing experience--glad your first is a FM show! Hope your travels etc go well and you find yourself seated with some fun/enthused concert goers.

I don't know what to say about the CM rumour except that I am glad you are keeping things in perspective!

Have fun!!!

Yeah, I seriously doubt she'll show up.

Literally just walked through the door after coming home from the gig. I have only one word: magical. Simply magical. Everything was superb from start to finish. Lindsey simply blew the roof off the place with Big Love and I'm So Afraid. Stevie's Rhiannon and Gold Dust Woman blew me away. The entire band was on form! An experience I will never forget.

A few funny moments came during the Without You intro - Stevie forgot Mick's name entirely and just referred to him as "the tall guy". She kept her "smokin' hot guitarist" line in for Lindsey again which was cute. I think Mick came out from behind the drum set for a minute and did a little dance, which was funny.

Stevie dedicated Landslide to JC, their former manager (not sure whether he was in the audience, but I did recognize the name).

I did try to capture some audio, but my damn iPod decided to stop recording TWO FRICKIN' SECONDS after the lights went down and the band came out. And I didn't realize it wasn't recording until towards the end of the show. I managed to get everything from Stand Back to the end though, just really gutted that I don't have the full concert. If anyone was there and recorded the entire concert and would like to send it to me, it would be much appreciated.

Only downside was the teenage girl next to me screamimg in my ear the whole time, and a bunch of assholes in the crowd decided to start shouting at Lindsey in the middle of Landslide and Never Going Back Again, which really killed the mood.

Ooh, it sounds like the Without You intro again is back on track and funny again. Nice.

It's great that they have kept the show momentum up.

I know what you mean about people screaming in your ear. Don't they get that when they are shrieking and trying to get the people on stage to hear them, that they are standing like 10 inches away from someone's actual ear drum?? The ones that wolf whistle next to me really, really make me want to go and live in a cave and forget this cruel world.

Bummer about killing the Landslide mood. Lindsey has made me not care about NGBA's mood -- if it even has one these days. It's to the point that I love the crowd's response when that song starts and there is the rush of joy to hear it, but after he "gets into it" I start wishing for Sardonic World instead.

Michele

Glad you had a good night!

A screamer can ruin things--we had one in our ear for Say Goodbye and it killed the mood.

I saw mentions of JC at a London show (Twitter) so perhaps he is hanging with them at a few shows.

I am sure audio will pop up soon--usually it can be found.

Every time I read descriptions of John Courage, I always get the impression that he's a really tremendous guy.

Michele

His name always brings to mind the chicken story-

(Found here for anyone who hasn't read about it and wants to do so:
http://www.fmlegacy.com/TakeItToTheLimit.html

snippet reported back to me from the show tonight:

"one set of girls threw a bra at him and the other had a sign saying "tusk me lindsey" "

That reminds me of the "We're legal" speech that someone shouted to him at Jones Beach.:shocked:

Girls better watch their step. We know one member of the band doesn't look quite so kindly on them trying to hook Linds... ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y82-YpFKtHI

#notgonnahappen

I chatted with him once (in 1997, pre-Dance), and I wish I could have even more. It was the last time I ever talked with management. Nice guy, and answered a few questions for me. At the time, there were rumors about Bekka, Billy, and Rick also going on tour for the band's 30th anniversary, but he quickly dispelled them.

BTW, have they dedicated a show to Bob Welch (or any of the Bobs), yet?

Ha! Yes Stevie!

I didn't see anything get thrown at him, but I was up in the nosebleeds and the band looked like ants so maybe I just couldn't see it. I wouldn't be surprised either.

A few clips up on YT:
sisters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rrfXWfpjdc

Don't stop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rZjQniwjA

GYOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juQzzrvu8_4

There were no side video screens so it would have made it impossible at the back. I was on the side overlooking the stage so I could see but I did remark that the view for those at the back would be disappointing. Such a shame.

I also had two young 'uns next to me that were busy stamping and clapping at all the wrong times and lost any sense of rhythm, even debating whether the band would finish on Songbird ...poor souls! Perhaps they were just excited but they did keep clapping loudly.....ah yes not a problem at all but the only snag was they didn't seem to realise when the song had actually ended! Its the first time I have heard Sisters of the Moon live in person and at every break they seemed to think it had finished!
Its nice that there is a younger element attending the shows but boy do they need educating! I overheard a debate on the way out with some teenage boys about how Lindsey was totally weird and just had his hand hanging loose all the time and never even strummed the guitar. Quelle horreur. The finger picking style was a bit lost on them I think, but it did make me chuckle.
Its probably because I think that tickets have been hard to get this time with genuine fans on the wrong end!

Stevie did seem to be limping slightly on her at the back of the stage although not overly noticeable at stage front. Great show though.

Yes it is!! OOPs ...I am humbled and losing brain cells::sorry:


GD Woman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glpKYazcLYg

Say goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBHyr...IF_ow1G1cqKKZQ

Don't stop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rZj...IF_ow1G1cqKKZQ

World Turning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQDXS...IF_ow1G1cqKKZQ

This was my first experience of them live and it was not disappointing. My Mum complained that the sound wasn't great, but that might have been where we were (near the stage, first platform level on the left - right near stage John/Stevie) as we seemed to get a LOT of drum and bass reverberation which made it hard to hear vocals sometimes, but I didn't think it was that bad to be honest, certainly heard worse and barely noticed it after a few songs. We had a good view of the side of the stage where Stevie kept going to to get shawls and things. They lit the little path with a torch for her, that was sweet. I had to pinch myself a few times that I was actually there and it was actually THEM! Fortunately didn't have anyone screeching in our ears where we were which was nice.

Highlights for me were Rhiannon, Landslide, Mick's drumming and Sisters plus the little chatty bits in between. Mum was saying on the way home how she's always thought of Stevie as super serious and non-smiley, so it was cool for her to see her look and sound so relaxed. I wish I had a pocket Stevie to just tell me long stories randomly throughout the day, it'd be so much nicer. Anyway, overall it was fab and I'm so glad I was there.

:nod:

:lol: That's great!

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Glad to see everyone's experiences. Looks like a great show!

Ooh, I would love a pocket Stevie too. But she's already pocket-sized so pocket pocket Stevie.

[QUOTE=ali101;1105600]There were no side video screens so it would have made it impossible at the back.[QUOTE]

There were video screens on either side of the stage, it's just that I couldn't see them properly because some metal rigging at the top of the arena was in the way and I had to keep bending down to see it. In the end, I gave up and just watched the stage.

There were a few people my age in my block (16-17 year olds), but the only songs they knew or seemed to know were all from Rumours. A few people said after the show that they were disappointed because the band didn't play Everywhere/Songbird/You Make Loving Fun (mostly Christine songs). I was the only person who cheered when Lindsey mentioned the Tusk album and Stevie the Buckingham/Nicks album. And the faces around me were all blank during the four Tusk songs (the screamer next to me said afterwards, "I didn't even know half the songs they played"). I guess they all just showed up to hear Rumours songs and Landslide and to scream at Lindsey.

I think Stevie could make any story amusing, even a trip to the grocery store.

Michele

Young fans are great, especially the ones you think might be inspired to delve more into FM after they leave the concert and learn more about music. But the youth you described at your show probably won't do that. :laugh:

Glad they didn't spoil all of your fun though.

Review: Fleetwood Mac, at LG Arena, Birmingham
30 Sep 2013 13:03

Big personalities and classic songs give fans an evening of pure energy

5 stars

Fleetwood Mac, at LG Arena, Birmingham, The Birmingham Post

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/what...-arena-6115021

Fleetwood Mac might be middle of the road musically speaking but the soap opera that’s the story of the band is about as rock ‘n’ roll as it gets.

It’s a saga characterised by battles and broken relationships and the kind of hard living that would put even the most notorious rock star to shame.

The hell-raising might be no more but the love/hate relationship of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham lives on in many of the songs.

And what songs they are too, with the band producing a soundtrack for a whole generation.

This was a concert of epic proportions, 23 songs in total and not far short of three hours from start to finish, with the band on fire as they plundered the riches of their amazing back catalogue.

There was room for a new song in the shape of Sad Angel, which sounded good but didn’t really get the crowd to their feet in the way The Chain, Rhiannon, Tusk and Landslide did.

Given the big personalities and talents of Nicks and Buckingham it would be easy to overlook founder members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie who give the band its beating heart and clearly still relish playing live.

Other musical highlights included Sara, Big Love, Gypsy, Gold Dust Woman and Don’t Stop, although Say Goodbye, while an appropriate song to end on, didn’t offer the kind of rousing finale the show deserved.

After an evening of pure energy and exemplary musicianship that would put many bands half their age to shame Fleetwood Mac signed off with a lingering farewell that made one wonder whether it may be the last time they take to the stage.

I'll give you three guesses, the first two don't count. ;)

from Katy Hancock

There are 17 video's all together. To watch all the videos click on playlist, or click play all.

http://


Thank You So Much Katy Hancock For All Your Beautiful Videos.

This is how it was at the show I went to. I had a 11-12yr old girl standing next to me with her mom and as soon as Lindsey started talking about Tusk, or when he was playing Not That Funny, or any of the Tusk songs for that matter, everyone around me just shut up. It's kind of sad really.

This is why bands have to play the well known songs, because the majority of the crowd is made up of casual fans. It's a sad fact but it is reality. Think of any band or singer who you only know them by their radio hits. Do you wanna pay your hard earned money to hear them play a bunch of songs you don't know?

agree.

except, they don't usually play every. single. hit. on every single tour. which makes tours almost the same songwise.

Doesn't help matters that their chief hitmaker is, you know, not there.

All I want is for them to rotate at least 1/3 of the songs around. Keep a few staples, but switch that 1/3 around every tour stop.

well, i did ask (well, gently nudged!) Mick at the m&g they should do that. he said: "not gonna happen".

All I want is for them to play a couple of smaller shows where they make it known in advance they are only going to perform songs from their catalogue they have never done before and film it and sell the DVD to the world.

Where's the facepalm smiley when you need it?

There's been some talk about whether someone threw a bra up on stage last night at Lindsey and it looks like the rumour is true. You can watch this video and clearly see a bra getting tossed up on stage during Go Your Own Way.



from sallysmith1973

lol him following it flying through the air. thank you for finding this!

now if someone would find that kiss during WT from the 3rd London show...

what kiss? I guess I miss that story?

That is a great idea. I don't know about everybody else but the exciting stuff are songs not previously played or songs performed in a new context. And for anyone who thinks that is an unsuccessful idea take a look at Bruce Springsteen - 16 months 223 songs and only 3 performed at every show. Yes he is a very different act but the real fans enjoy the rarities and the bucket list attendees enjoy the more obvious. It also kept it fresh and exciting for the him and the band. Fleetwood Mac have always toured with the exact same set so moving away from that comfort zone will not happen. Ever. But it is still a shame and a one off show or handful of shows with a rare song list would be extraordinary.
Most people on this forum take delight in finding previously unseen footage or demos or live versions.
It would be nice but dream on silly dreamers.

[QUOTE=UnwoundDreams;1105618][QUOTE=ali101;1105600]There were no side video screens so it would have made it impossible at the back.I think you are right the Rumours 35 years press coverage seemed to pull people in that's what they were there for but it left 5 other albums for them to ignore! People were 'blank' and that is a good description during the Tusk songs and it was very weird. The crowd were positively raucous and ecstatic during the hits and at the start of Sisters they were banging seats and stamping to the drum intro way too quick because they thought a riotous hit was on the cards only to be muted when they realised they hadn't got a clue what the song was. (And that is such a shame because it was good for the song to be back on the setlist if only for this tour - we had Beautiful child and Storms on the last couple. Now we need another tour with Angel etc)!
It was the same with Not that Funny - it was lost on most as were many songs. But its the same at all concerts and the secret is balance and also looking after the fans. Unfortunately this doesn't happen much since even presales now are money orientated and only really help ticket touts in my opinion. The old pre sales were to fan club members/groups etc but now they are all phone and money organisations - Amex/O2/Vodafone etc and the Live nation presale all of which touts invade and its difficult to get a ticket then when they go on sale to the public either most or the best seats are gone.
I will never understand why someone who has a particular credit card or phone contract should be entitled to preference. Most customers just abuse this and I am sure that has contributed to the excessive number of tickets at massively inflated costs. For tonights show in Manchester they want £1380 or $2241 for block 115 - side near stage. Some people can afford this - I cant. So instead of being able to get to several shows I have been limited to one so I hope to goodness its not their last.
It seems as if a lot of people in the crowd are simply ticking boxes - they saw Fleetwood Mac live. That's okay bums on seats are better than empty seats but its a shame that you ended up in the gods. I was at the side and it was a good view of the stage and I'm so pleased that there were screens - I just couldn't see them at all but its a shame if the arena structure prevented you from seeing them.

Attachment 11853