Perth Reviews
 

Stevie Nicks back to her magnificent best in Perth
http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertain...-1226207204177

Polly Coufos From: PerthNow, Sunday Times November 27, 2011 7:22AM

Given her troubled past and well documented struggles with drugs and alcohol Stevie Nicks had no right to look and sound as good as she did last night.
She was here on the Perth leg of the Australian tour in support of her latest, Dave Stewart-produced, album In Your Dreams. In front a dream band led by legendary guitarist Waddy Wachtel, the 63-year-old’s voice commanded attention and affection as it rang out in the cool night air.

Towards the end of the two-hour set as the band cranked out chorus after chorus of Edge Of Seventeen, Nicks walked across the front of the stage – with help from her security who made sure the tiny-framed songstress did not get pulled in – touching the fans within reach. Those further back were just as surely touched by an artist who delivered a memorable and heart warming performance.

At the beginning a buttoned up and all in black Nicks explained that this as not to be a greatest hits set per se, but rather it would feature the new album. Six of 14 selections would come from In Your Dreams. The direction was clear and the new songs fitted easily with her signature tunes. She began with Stand Back which sounded all the better from being shorn of all its ’80s sheen. Who would have thought that under the weight of all that synth gloss there would be a hard rocking gem?

The diminutive singer then seamlessly blended songs from the past 40 years, making it easy for Rhiannon to connect with Annabel Lee, her reworking of her favourite Edgar Allan Poe poem and for the lazy country sing along of For What It’s Worth (co-written with Heartbreaker Mike Campbell) to claim kinship with the still gorgeous Landslide.

Nicks prefaced most songs with a story about its inspiration or genesis. Some were funny, some were touching. All added at least a little more understanding as to why this woman was standing before us in such good shape. It’s as if she’s realised life’s a marathon not a sprint and to keep going is the best that we all can do.

There were no screens at the venue and the audience was requested to refrain from taking photos during Nicks’ set. Sure she didn’t look the same as when she first came to prominence in Fleetwood Mac all those years ago, but then who does? On the other hand this display of vanity may also have been part of the reason why she also took no chances with her players or equipment. She utilised a variety of shawls to provided a subtle link to that past and that was enough. She stood before the audience not as a desperate sixty something sex siren but as a singer and songwriter. The years have enhanced rather than diminished this woman’s attributes.

The lack of screens may have been a problem for those at the back of the slightly disappointing crowd, but the crystal clear mix did all it could to remedy the situation. Even in a night that was subject to blustery winds the sound coming from the stage was dynamic.

Former Eurythmic Stewart himself did a similar trick to Nicks whereby he mixed and matched songs from his fantastic new album The Blackbird Diaries with hits from his past like Here Comes The Rain Again, Missionary Man and Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). With a 10-piece band that frequently spotlighted the steel guitar stylings of WA’s own Lucky Oceans, the Englishman hit a peak when he strapped on an electric sitar to charge through Don’t Come Around Here No More, the song he co-wrote and produced for Tom Petty. He was also a frequent guest during Nicks’ set coming out to add guitar to most of the In Your Dreams material.

This concert was the first held at the WA Athletics Stadium. It appeared to offer good clear sightlines (the lack of screens notwithstanding) and commuting and parking wasn’t a nightmare. Thankfully it had more of a concert vibe than barbie-with-background-noise that some outdoor concerts seem to encourage. We may be on a winner here.

If she was still overweight I wonder if the reviewer would have given the same rave review?

I had some NZ friends who went to the show in Oz (Melbourne) and said Stevie "blew them away"... they had never seen her live before. Wish I had gone now... ;)

[Is Waddy infamous??]
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/ent...-dave-stewart/

Review: Stevie Nicks/Dave Stewart
BOB GORDON, The West Australian November 28, 2011

While the two may not seem the most obvious teaming, Dave Stewart in support of Stevie Nicks ensured an evening full of memories and style when they took to the stage at the WA Athletics Stadium on the weekend.

Stewart produced Nicks' new album, In Your Dreams and with his own album The Blackbird Diaries (not to mention the Super Heavy LP … he sure keeps busy) also out now, the chance to take the creative chemistry on the road must have been alluring and has indeed proved well worth it. They do, after all, share strong links with their respected ex-muses.

After a short set by the over-exposed Brian McFadden, Stewart stepped onstage with a backing band in Perth's own The Panics, plus everyone's favourite pedal steel player, Lucky Oceans, to boot. Moments from the Blackbird Diaries engrossed the building crowd, but when he rolled into Eurythmics' Here Comes the Rain Again in a more rustic, acoustic manner that showcased his backing singers and led to a rousing outro, the stage was set for some unbridled audience enthusiasm.

When he asked if dancing wasn't allowed in Perth (revellers were being told to sit down) the foot-gates opened and many more were up for Gypsy Girl, a dash though Tom Petty's Don't Come Around Here No More which showcased co-writer/producer Stewart's voice as a less-gravelled Keith Richards utterance. Two last Eurythmics' blasts in Missionary Man and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) ended an utterly splendid set.

The scarves and necklaces being draped on the microphone stand could only have belonged to one chanteuse. And so it was that Stevie Nicks took to the stage with her 1982 hit, Stand Back, as excited audience members scurried back to their seats. Striking and dynamic as ever, it showed Nicks was a lot less fragile than her history or appearance might suggest.

Nicks launched into Fleetwood Mac's Dreams, the band's only No. 1 hit, she was proud to say. It's a song that thematically attached itself to her new album and indeed, from the new LP she showcased Moonlight: A Vampire's Dream, Soldier's Angel (followed with a sincere plea to help Australian veterans via Legacy) and For What It's Worth.

All new songs featured Stewart on guitar, a subtle, yet oddly profound presence. Nicks herself was gracious and very engaging with her audience. The new material was greeted warmly for both its quality and her connection to those she sang to.

An emotive piece by pianist Darrell Smith pre-empted a sultry Rhiannon, the wrapped-in-black Nicks evoking the witchy waif of yore, taking on a different vocal inflection to allow for the years (Meat Loaf take note). The song ended with the Bella Donna bowed, a stage light lingering on her blonde hair before the fade to black.

And it kept coming; Fleetwood Mac's Landslide resplendent with a tale of Californian hills and Lindsey Buckingham.

The new Ghosts Are Gone was a rockin' inclusion, while Leather and Lace was an exercise in vocal excellence. Infamous guitarist Waddy Wachtel (and Nicks' musical director) drove the band through The Edge of Seventeen before Nicks ended it all sweetly, yet poignantly with the piano ballad, Love Is.

The chance to take the creative chemistry on the road must have been alluring and has indeed proved well worth it.

Perth Gig
 

Hi guys, had a blast at the Perth gig, front row was amazing and i was blown away by Dave!
my boyfriend got some great shots which i'll upload later but here is a full vid of edge, and he even got us both touching Stevie!
:blob2:
http://youtu.be/70MB_MmF42U