Toronto 2: February 3, 2015
 

Wow, is all I can say.

I've just returned from the Fleetwood Mac concert and have to write down my experience so that I do not forget.

First, let me preface by stating that I have been a Mac fan since around 2006 and saw the band on the Unleashed tour in Toronto and at the London O2 Arena in 2013 (the final O2 gig wherein Christine joined the group for "Don't Stop"). I thought that after having the great experience of seeing the O2 gig with Christine, I would be finished with Fleetwood gigs. However, having viewed the On With The Show videos on YouTube, and having never seen a full gig with the Rumours 5, I decided that I would indeed see them tonight.

Also, I should mention that I can be as skeptical as they come. I fully realize that a major incentive for this particular tour is purely financial and it may in fact be a template for any other FM musical endeavours. I also know that a tour without any new material lacks truly innovative artistic statements. I know all of this.

Having stated that...

This was an unbelievable show. It was evident right from the start that these musicians went on stage with something to prove. I would go so far as to say that tonight's gig was miles ahead in terms of musicality, showmanship, and emotion than either of the two previous shows I have seen (except for the mini-reunion during the O2 gig). From what I recall about Unleashed, Lindsey was very energized and Stevie had her moments. However, there was a definite lack of urgency. The 2013 tour had many high moments throughout the show and was certainly a tour worth seeing. However, the return of Christine McVie has without question reignited the passion and energy in the band. Whereas the previous concerts I went to seemed like the Stevie & Lindsey show, tonight was without a doubt Fleetwood Mac. Tonight I witnessed a band in the truest sense of the word.

I could go on and on about each song, but I won't. The highlights tonight seem to be the highlights from the other shows. However, a few observations...

--> Is it just me, or does this tour not feel like a top to bottom full-on rock show? There is such an incredible raw energy from start to finish that any "pop" side of Fleetwood Mac appears to be left aside. Even Christine's material, which has always been the most accessible, has been given such a "rock boost" onstage. I, for one, love this approach. These guys can rock better than most bands in their twenties and have the ability to maintain such an energy for close to three hours. Incredible.

--> Without Christine, where would we be? Tonight proved that it is not an understatement to say that the band needs each of these 5 members to reach the fullest potential. Christine was magnificent tonight, and provided many highlights. She received such a strong response from the audience throughout and played brilliantly. Her material is so needed in the set, not only due to the amount of hits she wrote but also to level off the intensity of Lindsey and Stevie. I was surprised to see how incredible Everywhere is live, and Little Lies has become one of the high points. All of her hits were performed enthusiastically, and received with such appreciation. Her intelligence as a musician was on on spectacle tonight, playing the keyboards brilliantly. Songbird provided a moment that I have never experienced at the ACC: total silence; the arena paused to listen to the beauty and poetry of that song. It was the perfect ending to the evening. Welcome back Christine. Thanks for making our band a "band" again.

---> Lindsey Buckingham is unquestionably the most underrated guitar player and performer in rock. I won't go into all the specifics of the evening, however it should be noted that I forgot how incredible it is to witness his playing in a live setting. I think that with Christine back, Lindsey has stepped his game up even more so, as was noticed on several of this evening's songs. Side note: I do believe that Mr. Buckingham was a little "loose" tonight, shall we say, as his speeches were a little less structured than usual and he seemed to get distracted easily when not playing (all in good fun, though).

---> Stevie was the best I have ever seen her tonight. Like Lindsey, the return of Christine has certainly been a positive thing for Ms. Nicks. She was so appreciative to the Toronto audience for having the band back for a second show, which was recipriated back from us. Gold Dust Woman has only gotten better as the years have progressed and this evening's rendition was the best I have seen of the track. I have never seen Stevie as happy or as energized as I did tonight.

---> The band truly do seem grateful. Yes, the skeptic in me wants to ignore this sentiment. However, there was such pure gratitude being spoken and shown from each of the performers this evening. Very humbling.

This evening was simply extraordinary. An incredible band with such a large and varied audience. A band that tonight proved they are first and foremost a rock band. I am honoured to have seen this show tonight.

More importantly :sorry: the successor to the Frankenboks arrived in all their 'glory' at the end of the gig...

http://tmakworld.com/wp-content/uplo...60832-Copy.jpg

http://tmakworld.com/wp-content/uplo...60831-Copy.jpg

http://40.media.tumblr.com/d9f85fdd8...a43o1_1280.jpg

:laugh:

Oh my! Now i am gonna have to change my name to converseandlace

:laugh:

Btw. Does anyone have a picture of the original frankenboks? I can not find one anywhere.

.

Ah the heels have finally taken their toll on poor Stevie's footsies! I knew it was a matter of time. I'm surprised she lasted this long. I think these shoes are adorable!!!!! She should wear them the whole show and really switch things up. :D:D

Love the look on lindsey's face...."wtf are those Stevie?...oh, your feet hurt, yeah yeah, they look fine (if you are 12) yeah, keep wearing them!!"

The white does throw me a little. They are cute, but the white screams converse....

I just love the way Lindsey is looking down at Stevie's feet as if to say...."What the.....? No kidding, I thought you were joking"

Madonna wore a pair very similar to those on her Sticky and Sweet Tour.

This was hilarious. Stevie's comment of "this will never happen again" was priceless.


Also, how great is it that these 5 actually seem to be getting along. All throughout the evening it was very apparent that they are loving being in each other's company on stage.

hahhahaha!!

Those shoes are great, especially given the humor captured in the great picture above, as she shows them to Lindsey.

If they were all black, I would actually suggest she wear them for the entire evening. I think being in comfortable shoes would make the show that much more enjoyable for her and I really don't care how they look.

Michele

Oh, jeez.....More bad footwear choices. I just don't understand how a woman of her wealth can't find a suitable pair (or 2) of good stage shoes. Are these even comfortable?

I suppose they're better than the Frankenboks, but she still should not wear them with a dress. Those are meant to be worn with pants.

And speaking of pants, what kind of pants is Stevie wearing? I've always wondered. They look like stockings or stretch pants or something....

THOSE SHOES ARE BAD ASS! Love, love, love them.

Thanks for the great review OP.
Fleetwood Mac has always been a rocking band live even when they play some of their pop hits. Few bands are like this today. The Mac live is a completely different experience than the album Mac.

She bought them to wear with the shoulder-cut top that she wears at every public appearance and photo shoot. Expect to see a LOT of them. :nod:

Oh Stevie. Wedge gym shoes are so two years ago. :D

But yeah, any thing is better than the Frankenboks. These are light years better than those.

If the toes were out in those shoes, they would go with the shoulder-cut top just perfectly:o. Michele

And some SnL GIFs from show videos. Because why not.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/e2a5c41cb...8si8o1_250.gif http://31.media.tumblr.com/6a81afe0b...8si8o2_250.gif

http://33.media.tumblr.com/e1397024a...8si8o1_250.gif http://38.media.tumblr.com/67ab2d9e8...8si8o2_250.gif
http://33.media.tumblr.com/55465d08a...8si8o3_250.gif http://31.media.tumblr.com/2ca652f2b...8si8o4_250.gif

Last concert he did some fist bump thing when she raised her hand (for a high five?) so Lindsey deserves congratulations on getting it right this time... :thumbsup:

http://38.media.tumblr.com/6c3cf5523...8si8o4_250.gif

Also, they both are ridiculous dorks, with their stupid hand actions... I mean, it's so hard to figure out what lyric of Tusk they're singing. :D

http://38.media.tumblr.com/c3fd079e8...8si8o1_500.gif

"Why don’t you tell me who’s on the phone?"

You just reminded me: when talking stupid hand actions, you must remember their performances of "Say You Love Me" back in 2009. It was awful, as we know...but the hands, they were even worse if that's possible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFxIL8mpvp4

HAHAHAHA!! So true!

Oh my... you had to remind me...

Oh my god. That was the worst performace by the Mac i have ever seen. The hand gestures are just weird. Who is advising this band? Why doesn't someone say to them, please don't do that you look stupid.

It is moments like these where i question why do i love this band?

.

Several months ago, I literally made GIFS of SYLM in that actual video for that exact reason. So much cheese, and I can't help but find it endearing. Something's wrong with me. Stevie's SYW lasso and FWIW driving, OTOH? NOPE NOPE NOPE.

http://31.media.tumblr.com/c47f679bd...8si8o6_250.gif http://33.media.tumblr.com/d9dd61ff3...8si8o4_250.gif
http://33.media.tumblr.com/2af759fc7...8si8o3_250.gif http://33.media.tumblr.com/babf5c8f7...8si8o7_250.gif
http://38.media.tumblr.com/cca470d51...8si8o5_250.gif http://33.media.tumblr.com/cf9eec6f3...8si8o1_250.gif

I loved it. Lindsey's riff at the end (fallin, fallin, fallin) is very reminiscent of the tusk era. I thought it was the best rendition to date.

Fleetwood Mac back at ACC 7

By Jane Stevenson, Toronto Sun February 04, 2015 07:56 AM EST

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/02/04...ac-back-at-acc

TORONTO - The return of The Mac proved to be just as sweet the second time around.

British-American ‘70s folk-rockers Fleetwood Mac, boasting their most successful lineup of singers Stevie Nicks, keyboardist Christine McVie and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham (Nicks’ ex-boyfriend), bassist John McVie (Christine’s ex-husband) and drummer Mick Fleetwood, returned to the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night after performing at the same venue on the same tour with the same set list back in mid-October.

No matter.

Torontonians - another 17,000 or so of them - liked a double serving of The Mac particularly since this tour features the return of the 71-year-old Christine McVie who stayed off the road for 16 years.

With everyone else in the group in their mid to late ‘60s there was no time like the present for this reunion.

Thankfully, the Fleetwood Mac back catalogue has held up so well with special mention to the songs from their beloved 1977 dics Rumours that’s sold 45 million albums and counting.

Not surprsingly, the group kicked off the night with The Chain from that album before McVie took over on lead vocals for You Make Loving Fun also from Rumours.

“Welcome back Toronto,” said Nicks in her usual black flowing outfit, black suede boots and various shawls throughout the night.

‘Tonight is our 47th show and I think we can safely say,’She’s back!,” added Nicks referring to McVie. “So that being said, let’s get this party started!”

McVie, who wrapped up the marathon two-hour-and-35-minute, two-encore show with Songbird on piano and Buckingham on guitar, told the crowd at one point: “I love you very much!”

It was a nostalgic but mostly riveting evening of music as the group, propelled by the guitar maniac that is still the fast-footed, lightning-fingered Buckingham, made their way through such crowdpleasers as the Nicks-sung Dreams and Rhiannon - with some twirling from her on that latter one - the McVie-led Everywhere and the Buckingham-sung I Kmow I’m Not Wrong in the first third of the show.

Five other musicians and an impressively large video screen and smaller video strips certainly helped to fill out the group’s sounds and sights.

“Well, we were here not too long ago - I guess a few more people wanted to see us,” said Buckingham with a chuckle. “So we came back. ... I think it’s safe to say we’ve seen our share of ups and downs and I think that’s kind of makes us what we are. In this particular moment, with the return of the beautiful Christine, she is a beautiful soul, now it signals the beginning of a poetic, profound and I think prolific new chapter of this band - Fleetwood Mac!”

The next two thirds of the main set saw such highlights as Tusk, with McVie breaking out the accordion, but the marching band appeared only on the big screen and not as a live accompanmient sadly; Buckingham’s incredible guitar dispay and gutteral shrieks on Big Love. his quieter vocals but no less stellar playing on Never Going Back Again and plugging in big time for I’m So Afraid and You Can Go Your Own Way, and Nicks’ ‘60s San Fran-reminiscent Gypsy and Gold Dust Woman (complete with gold shawl) with yet more twirling from her on both.

But the emotional centre of the show proved to be the pretty and delicate Landslide with just Nicks and Buckingham on stage with the former couple holding hands towards the end of the song and again at its conclusion.

Otherwise, the tunes that made me sleepy last time did it to me again, the Nicks’ sung Sisters of the Moon, Seven Wonders and Silver Springs and Fleetwood’s lengthy drum solo during World Turning but these are small quibbles.

The mighty Mac is back and they don’t appear to be going away again anytime soon.

Do you have any footage of this?

The fist bump one? Sure thing. Looked it up and it was actually a couple of shows ago.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/379be7ac9...8si8o1_500.gif

And video of the respective Go Your Own Ways:
Providence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stu0qqUPoks
Toronto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQEIpiNIX7I

Thanks! I never noticed them doing this before.

[From an article about Leiweke. I think the writer interviewed him in February and that's when the FM phone call took place]

Tim Leiweke: The travelling salesman who left his mark on Toronto
CATHAL KELLY

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle27876606/

TORONTO — The Globe and Mail Published Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 8:07PM EST

During one conversation, Leiweke paused briefly to tap off a message to a contact in the concert business about booking an extra night for Fleetwood Mac at the Air Canada Centre.

“That’s a nice parting gift – $500,000,” Leiweke said. “I’d like to see the next guy do this.”