Rosemont, IL - 2/14/15
 

My photos from tonight: https://plus.google.com/photos/11640...59043747520977

There were roses in vases in several places on the stage. Lindsey gave Chris and Stevie a rose, and Mick handed a bunch out to the front row to be distributed. Happy Valentine's Day!

Brilliant! Thanks for the photos, especially so quickly! Really appreciate it and, as always, great shots. :xoxo:

Thank you so, so much for the photos. I made it but had this insane night where I managed to forget my phone, wallet, and camera!!!! Used my friends iPhone but I'm under 5' and was row 33 on the floor, had I had my camera with its incredible zoom lens and HD video capacity, I'm sure I could've gotten great shots.... And don't get me started on traffic and you probably missed out on the parking fiasco... Wow... I swear it was Friday the 13th or something. Everything that could go wrong did for me. But we showed up after something like 2.5hrs on the road that should've been only 30mins (and we left with so much time to spare!) and did score floor seats we bought on the spot from the box office. That worked out at least! And I had a blast! My friend was so incredibly generous too, were both on vacation and his finances are tight so the original plan was I would buy but not only did he buy, he let me pick up two shirts and a poster (so happy for the poster, post show in Detroit they were all sold out). Granted Im paying him back but wow, so kind.

Would you mind if I were to print some of your photos for my own personal use? I'm a bit of a scrapbooker and have been wanting to make a really cool book of photos from concerts I've been to, favorite lyrics, etc, so completely private use. No idea when I will even get around to it but seriously should I even happen to share any photos of my scrapbook once it's made that show your pics, I will even give you credit. I know you posted them publicly anyway but just wanted to be polite and ask. I'm so grateful and after I cried over the forgotten camera, I finally calmed down realizing undoubtedly someone would share photos here.

Will try and remember to add my thoughts later, I'm exhausted. Somehow medical issues and all (and Im in ridiculously poor health, honestly) I managed to dance and sing at the top of my lungs and have a blast. Floor seats were fun though I couldn't see the band much of the time due to my height. Met a bunch of hardcore fans. In fact I kept wondering if the woman in front of me might be a Ledgie. I was tiny redhead in Stevie clothes in row 33 (seat numbers were all screwy and we moved when people left and never quite got our actual seats) anyway woman was probably 40's, with at least two men on either side of her. She kept smiling back at me and seemed even more fueled by my enthusiasm. Half wanted to slide into her row and dance with her. Anyway, on the off chance she ever sees this, thanks. You fueled me too. And not everyone was necessarily happy with my loud singing so, you helped make it more fun! I really wish I could've thanked her honestly, and I don't know, no one here knows what I actually look like so probably wasn't a Ledgie but she should be, her and I were the near constant singers and dancers in our area, knew the set list and all. Anyway, female fan in front of me, you rock!

Totally would love to try and meet some Ledgies at a future show. Im a naturally very enthusiastic sort of person, figure the other diehards would enjoy my company, as I would them. Even my friend told me I'm more fun than the actual concert. :P

So I guess I'm feeling pretty darn happy inspite of everything.

BTW, maybe it was just where I was sitting but what did everyone else think of the volume? Lowest volume of the three shows I went to and seems the bass was a bit low at first but improved. (I'm in love with Mac bass lines. John inspired me to start learning bass! I basically only know how to play a few Mac songs.)

Anyway, I had a blast. Though curious about anyone else who got caught in the traffic and parking insanity... Easily up to half of the concert goers were totally screwed and way late like us, it was wild. Bad wild.

Oh and funny tidbit- at the end of GDW from what I saw on the screens, someone totally grabbed Stevie's shawl and she had to yank it back hard. It was kind of amusing.

I was one of those caught in the crazy traffic! And I left an hour and a half before the show thinking that'd be plenty of time. I was wrong.

The traffic was horrendous! They need better traffic cops. So I ended up having to park across the arena, which was free, but had to hike it over in the freezing cold. I mean subzero temps! Longest walk ever! They had a shuttle bus but there was no way I'd be waiting out in the cold just to wait for that bus to arrive.

Anyways, obviously I was late. Heard The Chain playing as they scanned my ticket. Then during YMLF, I was trying to find my seat. Finally got to my seat and sat down. It probably took me another two songs to just unfreeze & relax.

And I tried to record audio but my digital recorder decided to not cooperate with me! So mad! Hopefully someone recorded the whole show because I must say, FM sounded incredible last night! The best I've heard them in awhile.

Now let me see what I can remember...

The energy was great from the crowd. I know my section of 204 was having a blast. After Stevie thanked American Horror Story for Seven Wonders' return to the set, Lindsey said this next song wasn't in AHS. Lol it was a funny moment.

I did manage to video tape Stevie's crackhead GDW dance. Seriously I was looking forward to it so much and she did not disappoint.

Lindsey gave Christine and Stevie a rose at end of the show.

Ok it's early right now and I gotta head out but I'll try and post some more later.

Great show!!!!!

video of that moment here:
https://twitter.com/mrpapageorgioOO/...33160580001793

I got in! Was worried since someone tagged themselves in my seat. As soon as I got there, I recognized the woman sitting in the seat next to me as the one that tagged herself. I told her that I was floor 3, row 11, seat 11 and she said she and her husband had seat 11 and 12, but actually had 12 and 13. We're staring at each other, and the husband finally says "do you want us to move?". I decided to just take seat 13 rather than us get tangled up (seats were very close together). Not sure if my view would have been better or worse if I had switched since there were about three 6'6" men in the rows ahead (I'm 5'3"). Oh, and future note for anyone who goes to shows at AllState- the seating chart shows there's an aisle between rows 10 and 11, but there isn't. Entire reason I bought row 11 was so I wouldn't have tall people in front of me. But the tickets worked!

I thought Lindsey's guitar was a bit low at times. I forgot which song (maybe ISA?) but I was thinking that I heard Mick much more than him. I was deaf after the show (not in a bad way though).

I know what you mean! I started taking guitar lessons last year due to my love of Lindsey.

I was one of the shuttle bus people. I took the first one up there and was glad I did. I had to wait about 15 minutes, but that was my fault for getting up there that early. They started loading at 6:45pm, which I was very happy about. I didn't have to wait for one on the way back, caught it just in time. It was caught up in traffic like all the cars though.

I laughed at this too. Couple other moments- when Lindsey was introducing Big Love, and talking about hard times that he was going through at the time, someone in the audience screamed (not sure why) and he said something like "Sounds like that person is going through those times now". And when they went to start GYOW, it sounded like they accidentally started Rhiannon again (edit: now that I think about it, I think it was GDW they accidentally started again). Lindsey had to go over and talk to Mick about it. Oh, and of course, Valentine's Day was mentioned a number of times.

Other than the tall people, it was a great show! I'll post my pictures as soon as I have a chance to edit them.

Sure, go for it! Glad you had a good time, despite the travel issues. I've been to this venue many times and it's always a hassle. The parking lot set-up, there's always construction, etc. I had to be there early for Mick's m&g so I didn't run into traffic problems (I took a cab). Took the shuttle back to the blue line after show and managed to get a cab there. So it worked out pretty well for me.

I really enjoyed the show. Mick and his drum tech Steve (that's his name right?) were having some coordination problems at the beginning of GYOW, which is why they had to start over.

I was really impressed with the crowd. With the bitter cold I figured there's be a lot of empty seats but there weren't.

It sounds like a great show.

I see roses were strewn across Christine's piano too.

That's really funny that Stevie had to yank her shawl back from that person. Of course, it's actually a safety hazard for them to pull it when she has it.

Lindsey's little asides sound hilarious. He does that commenting a lot in his solo shows all of the time.

Those were great pictures Erin and I liked the one of Lindsey and John, touching necks at an odd angle.

Michele

Oh, that's funny. He had to tap Stevie to give her hers. Then, he opened his arms to the crowd before walking off. I hope no one pricked their thumb on a thorn. Roses in Rosemont.

Michele

yes, also the one of Lindsey bent backwards in front of Christine's keyboards during ISA!

apparently at the start of BL intro he said something like "this song was not on AHS and i'm happy about that!" i love it how off-the-cuff his Big Love intros start these days - like you said, he's much more relaxed and closer to his solo shows off-the-script exchanges with the audience.

there were some great comments on twitter about it such as:

@standinginaline · 15h 15 hours ago
@mrpapageorgioOO @BUCKlNGHAMNlCKS DO YOU SEE HOW HE TURNS AROUND LIKE WHO DA MAN? IM DA MAN! BYYYYYYYEEEE OMG

and then there's this great photo of LB during gypsy intro that Erin took - which speaks for itself :laugh:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3mpatrdw.jpg

(Erin's original link, i lightened the pic a bit before posting above - https://plus.google.com/photos/11640...77339730749395)

The show was great. I had 8th row.

1. I did not notice the sound issue.

2. When LB gave the roses, Stevie was talking to Christine. He interrupted them, tapped Stevie and she looked at him and said - thank you. I think he opened his arms to the audience because he did not like the way she said Thank you. That is my guess.

3. Christine was mouthing words to so many songs while she was not singing. Love that. Stevie did for Little Lies and Over My Head. LB did it during Rhiannon. I liked it.

4. Stevie was smiling most of the show, which was great. Her energy is amazing.

5. I loved when all sang. Little Lies. SYLM, YMLF, Gold Dust Woman, don't Stop, World Turning. All had amazing harmonies.

6. Crowd on floor stood whole time but for So Afraid. When I saw the actual people up front, I was nervous they would sit. But thankfully they did not.

7. This was my 5th show this tour. They are amazing. Just amazing.

Loving all these tid bits and reviews. Love the energy the band is still displaying. I see them next month in Miami. Cant wait!
Lindsey is being a rebel again with that American Horror Story jab. Very passive aggressive to Stevie and I LOVE IT.
Where did the roses come from and how did they get on top of Chris's piano?

The roses were all there from pre show.

Not sure why LB had to say that about American Horror. Total taking jabs at Stevie. Seriously - she kept this band relevant on her own for a long time. They would not be here today like this without her. Should cut her some slack.

:lol: and here we go again - another cycle of the same argument?! whatever "like this" means. so sure, i'll bite!

when SN poo-poos the rest of the band like she did in her RS interview basically portraying them as jealous old f*rts, that's characterized as good PR, perpetuating drama fueling their popularity.

when she poo-poos on LB's producing her songs publicly instead of telling him straight what she doesn't like and fixing it while still in the process, that's apparently great too.

yet others in the band cannot ever be behaving or saying anything that perpetuates the "drama" and should cut her some slack? i guess Christine shouldn't have blown her whistle when gypsy intro went too long either? ;)


that said, looking at them on that stage, and camaraderie and enjoyment between the other 4 FM players, especially when you are on the side of the stage, i sometimes can't help but feel really bad for Stevie. at some shows, she looks so unhappy to be there, and almost like she's there alone among the rest of them who are together in a whole another dimension and level of understanding between them.

I'll try to be as thorough as possible with my post, but once it's over it all becomes a blur doesn't it?

Let me just start off by saying that I haven't been feeling well this past week, have this nagging cold and tiredness that won't go away (had it since last Sunday) which significantly put a damper on my mood. I was also taking cold medicine and that left me feeling out of the loop and both tired and awake at the same time. Not a good feeling.

I didn't run into the traffic problems that others did, except for when we were in the vicinity of Allstate, the ramp going into the parking lot was jammed which was understandable. When we left though it was a nightmare trying to get out.

Can't believe though that when my mom and I finally got in that I stumbled into Erin Brown in the bathroom! Was not expecting that and was not expecting her to recognize me either, but she did! *waves*

When we finally got to our seats was when I became disappointed. When I bought the tickets I had been really excited to be in Row AA because it was the first row in that section and I thought "Great, I won't have any obstructions in my way! Perfect for videoing and taking pics!" No, we were practically in the floor section with no elevation and I'm a really short person so throughout the night I had to maneuver so I could see between people's heads.

Plus, I didn't like that there was this seating fiasco going on between people who were supposed to be in Section 114, but that section didn't seem to exist. Management had to keep coming over and were trying to figure out where to sit these people that had these phantom seats. They ended up moving a row of chairs and moving two people down a few seats.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps0e888dc6.jpg

Sec. 113, Row AA.

Other than this, the show was awesome. I'm still partial to the United Center as a venue because I believe it has a better sound system and a better overall seating style. When I went there back in October, I sat in the back for my first show, and even though we were on a riser, I could see pretty clearly the entire stage even when sitting and standing.

--I loved when LB was doing an intro, can't remember which one, might have been "Big Love" when all of a sudden, a group of people in the 200 level screamed really loud and he said "What's going on over there?" or something to that effect.

--The AHS jab was funny too. "This song is not on American Horror Story."

--The funniest part for me though was right after he finished IKINW, and he just flat out started screaming into the mic. It wasn't his usual "Ohhh yeaaah!" My mom and I were both cracking up and luckily I got that on film.



--I missed getting a pic of LB and Chris hugging like I had gotten at the two Chicago shows last year. Everyone seemed to run off that stage after it was over and I couldn't make my camera take pics fast enough.

Anyway, here are some of my favorites from last night:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps33ed5ff7.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...psef7c127a.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...psebed5e2c.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps04e5ee05.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...psf7d83dde.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps8d4b7c87.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...psead24ff2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps7829e241.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps452a9bd0.jpg

And the rest are here: https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/1...39398321373937

I don't think that comment was necessarily meant as an insult. That was part of his intro to Big Love, and since that's all about how the song has transitioned to a positive, he might not want it in that show (for the record, I am a fan of the show). He might not even know anything about the show, just the title and is going off that.

Here are my pics from last night-

http://s47.photobucket.com/user/Mont...?sort=2&page=1

I particularily liked these two-

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psvydyixun.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...psebyirdwr.jpg

Erin, I liked the Lindsey bumping into John one as well! I wanted to get one but didn't have the angle.

Love your LB pics! The one where he's walking away after giving them roses is great! You were a lot closer than I was.

But where were the roses during the concert? They wheel the piano in for Songbird at the end. Were they on stage the entire concert?
Lindsey is being Lindsey. It was a joke which I think is very funny. Its a bit passive aggressive but still funny! I think his hug to the audience was in response to Stevie's coldness to him giving her a rose. Like hey....I tried so I did not get a hug so I will hug the audience...bye!

Thanks for the pics! Also, I think he's more than aware of the show. From an interview with Ryan Murphy in October 2013:

She’s not a witch, but she has an attraction to those mystical creatures because they’re fun to write about. So she gave me the rights to her music and she and Lindsey Buckingham are working on a special sort of redo of a song they did about a witch.

Thanks! I love the one you have of Christine and Stevie smiling during Tusk.

not sure whether the roses that were on the piano were on it the whole show, someone who was there will need to chime in; but here is one of Erin's photos from before the show started, where roses are in vases all over the stage:

https://www.facebook.com/31670818169...type=1&theater

What a small world. I can't believe it.

Love your pictures. Thank you for posting them.

Michele

thank you both for sharing - love the pics and the reviews!

Or when she mocks Lindsey, like in the FM documentary where she made fun of him doing his Tusk vocals and she said they told him to do another take and he did them just as silly as he had the first time, that's GREAT hilarity.

I mean, I thought it was very funny. But if Lindsey had mocked Stevie vocals like that, people would want him hung.

Well, I haven't seen as many shows as I would want, so I can't really say, but actually, to me, Stevie looks a lot happier, bouncier, goofier and playful this tour than she has ... well than she ever has on an FM tour that I've seen, to be honest.

But I agree with you in a way. I think Stevie stands apart from what John, Christine and Lindsey are experiencing together. Hard to say with Mick, though. I don't think he and Stevie are necessarily divided emotionally. They do have a camaraderie, even if it's just making faces at each other. They do seem bonded and familiar to me.

Michele

I often stalk people in the bathroom. Hi Sierra! ;)

The roses were put on her piano before Songbird. They took them from one of the vases. The roses were put on stage in vases before the show, during the m&g to be precise.:nod:

There were roses all around the stage. Christine had a large vase right next to her. I was sitting on her side so I had good sight lines.

And I do remember after Mick's drum solo when they all started coming back out, Christine was mouthing the words to the World Turning sample and pointing to the ground. It was pretty adorbs.

Also during Tusk, Stevie had to fix Christine's accordion strap.

About the AHS comment, it got a pretty good laugh. So I thought it was a good joke...nothing bad IMO. It was in the delivery of the line.

How cool. I would love to see a video of Stevie fixing the strap :)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps54e654c6.jpg

:) I love it too! Maybe this is right after she fixed her accordion strap as someone mentioned on here?

Someone posted it on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z23NIFW02Ws

Looks like the accordion strap moment is just after 3 minutes in (thanks Nicole for having this in the video section).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z23NIFW02Ws

Great pics and reviews, thanks all! They just seem to be getting better and better, surely they will film a show professionally?!?! Check out this Sisters, gotta be the best since they resurrected it in 2013:

Thanks so much. Glad things worked so well for you, lucky on that shuttle bus back, oh my gosh. People were getting straight up nasty, someone claimed we cut them in line and went nuts at us but we had just come out the door and it was a cluster, not a line anyhow... And some were making runs for the buses when they arrived bypassing the line altogether and boy did they get screamed at! I would've run if I could but poor health prevented that...

My friend and I are both Detroiters (who love Chicago) and we basically concluded as screwy as MI can be with construction, our highway systems and roads in general make so much more sense. We were joking about how we would be leaving in I love Detroit shirts after all that crap. Obviously we've never done Rosemont. Detroits Palace of Auburn Hills where I saw FM in October is probably actually larger than Rosemont and there's also another large outdoor venue that basically shares exits with it yet wow, totally different experience and just smartly done highways around that part... But Detroits suburbs are a lot more built up really whereas Chicago proper is the main draw in Illionois so sort of makes sense, maybe... My aunt and uncle are in Illinois. Live up in Fox Lake now but have lived all over the city when they were younger and are big concert people and they warned me repeatedly. We left pretty early too though I had wanted to go even sooner and let my friend talk me out of it which in retrospect was stupid because it was really his first big arena show so he had no idea, whereas I knew a little better but... Eh. I've never seen anyone more than twice until this concert and never seen the same tour twice so I feel in some ways I was more relaxed. My health has made previous shows extraordinarily stressful and getting to this show was a pain but the actual show, I was just in a very different head space and now I wish I had driven up to Milwaukee and done Grand Rapids too!

And thanks for the explanation of what happened during GYOW, I had wondered (and as I said I am so short, I didn't actually see a whole lot!).

And definitely a great crowd. I actually had sworn off floor seats at arena shows long ago when I saw Sarah McLachlan at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills in my teens and had maybe row 10-15ish, somewhere in there, and yet everyone around us seemed way more interested in drinking and talking than actually watching and enjoying the show! It was totally different the other night! Obviously also a very different vibe, but as I mentioned, just conversations I had as we were leaving and that woman in front of me, I felt like I was amongst "my people". :)

I also just want to throw out another huge thank you to everyone for sharing their pictures and video!!! I'm still so bummed about my forgotten camera... I cried when I realized I didn't have it but what calmed me down was knowing I could count on you all. So thank you, so very much!

Also, I wasn't around for awhile after Detroits October show but I do have some cool photos and some video and was front row on the side there so likely got some unique views and shots (notably a few of Steie turned back to Mick like she often does with her tambourine). Anyway, I would really like to share them since I'm so grateful for all of that others have shared. But since that show was so long ago, should I resurrect the post from that show, or start a new one? Just wondered what protocol was. Won't even be able to post them for at least another week and a half when I get back home from Chicago but they're definitely good ****s and video worth sharing.


And lastly, regarding my comment on sound, it may have been the location difference and my having unusually sensitive ears but I swear it was louder in Detroit. I could not speak to my uncle next to me at all meanwhile my friend and I were able to hear each other on the floor, so I'm almost certain things were lower, though I agree Micks drums were nice and loud and GYOW Johns bass hit me very clear and made me extremely happy.

Final thought for now, I agree they sound better than ever this tour, but Stevie sang the end of Silver Springs differently in Chicago than at Detroit, Detroit was the closest I ever heard her get to the really passionate raw original version that I'm absolutely obsessed with. I want to go back and compare recordings though, I do think either way though it sounds way better than in 2013. Of course I was going to focus on this song given my screenname. ;) And I totally second the comment made about how incredible Sisters of the Moon was in Chicago!!! I'm currently as obsessed with that song as Silver Springs and just wow, wow, wow. It was an absolute highlight for me. Really enjoyed World Turning more than ever, just really fun dancing too which really elevated the experience from sitting on the side, or in my wheelchair at previous shows. I'm amazed I was able to find the energy to dance so much anyway. But Ive said before when I've sat in accessible seating at Mac before, I've watched how many others in wheelchairs manage to get up for at least a couple songs, my joke is Fleetwood Mac cures the sick. ;) I drag FM cds along to hospital stays and even during procedures. I currently have two IV pumps my FM fan nurse labeled as Stevie and Christine. (Christine the IV pump fueled my dancing in Chicago ;) So it's also not totally a joke! With all that in mind, that's what I personally get most from shows, I have no words to describe what a profound and special experience each show has been for me. I'd almost call it a treatment. Does more for me than most meds or hospitals frankly. I'm still in post Mac concert bliss today, rocking one of my new shirts. :)

It is always ok to revive a thread.I'm so glad you had a great time at the show.

Oh, definitely resurrect the post TimeCastaSpell. It sounds like you got some great footage and from a vantage point that we don't usually see. For the SYW tour, Stevie had a little area during NGBA (I think) and she would take off her top and put on her Rhiannon sleeves and always liked to be on the side of the stage to see that, because it felt "backstage" to me.

I saw Stevie and Don Henley in MI, but I don't think I've seen anything FM related in MI since then.

In late December, I was in Detroit and I was blown away at how active it was downtown at 9 and 10 pm at night. In early December I had a dream about walking down Woodward and passing this empty lot where Hudson's used to be and being terrified because everything was so dark and barren.

Well, when I actually was downtown later that month everything was light, bright and bustling. People were skating and milling about. I was shocked and ecstatic. Of course, then we took surface streets home and I saw many ravaged sections of the city, but I'm glad downtown is coming back.

Michele

I hope an audio torrent surfaces for this show. Great version of Sisters and I love LB's screaming after IKINW.

I was able to capture LB's hilarious screaming at the end of my video. :laugh::laugh: My mom and I couldn't stop laughing afterwards.



And I hope an audio torrent surfaces as well.

Yes, I would agree...one of the best I've seen since '82! That song has slowly but surely gotten more life to it since it was brought out of retirement two years ago! It was a great deal better when I saw them in October '14 vs. April '13 and it clearly has gotten better and better since October.

I still think it would rock more and be better placed in the encore (swap it with Silver Springs), but I am liking what I'm seeing/hearing here for sure!