Stuff Co.nz by Bryce Edwards 11/18/15
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...ll-these-years
Should aging rockers retire? Grace Slick has today suggested that Fleetwood Mac should give it up.
But last night's concert in Dunedin showed that age is no barrier to filling a large stadium with a phenomenal performance of perfect pop.
The classic line-up of band members from the Rumours album era may have an average age getting close to 70, but they clearly know how to put on a show.
It was all their greatest hits, delivered with energy and grace. And it worked well in a stadium. The crowd sung along to favourites such as Don't Stop, Go Your Own Way, and Sara. It was a nostalgic stomp-along for the 35,000 packed into the covered venue.
Many had travelled from all around the South Island, creating traffic jams as far north as Timaru. The crowd was mostly towards the older age group of 50-plus, but there were plenty in their twenties dancing along, illustrating that Fleetwood Mac has a cross-generational appeal.
The band was obviously keen to make an emotional connection with the audience, with a lot of between-song speeches and homilies.
Nicks explained the background of songs and tried to inspire success in her fans; Lindsey Buckingham talked about the people behind the music and how their personal lives and relationships were embedded in the songs for all to see and scrutinise. But the most poignant moment was when Stevie Nicks sung her emotional Landslide song, which she dedicated to Jonah Lomu.
Both band and audience were visibly cold due to a polar blast hitting Dunedin. Industrial gas heaters warmed the stage, but the band still had to wear jackets, scarves and gloves.
Nicks joked about having come to this part of the world to find summer – she was dressed heavily, alongside Christine McVie in a puffer jacket.
Buckingham, the lead guitarist, was clearly the bandleader – with plenty of guitar theatrics – especially on his solo performance of Big Love.
In contrast, John McVie played his bass without fanfare. Likewise, drummer Mick Fleetwood was mostly in the background, but had the spotlight put upon him at various times – especially towards the end, when he brought about some crowd participation during his drum solo in World Turning.
Stevie Nicks' famous voice was still magical, and she has retained her somewhat kooky stage persona – characteristically all tambourines, scarves, shawls, lots of hair, and even a top hat for the encore. She excelled during Gold Dust Woman. She may have twirled a bit less than she used to, but was still sprightly.
But perhaps the most outstanding performer of the evening was keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, who led a rousing version of You Make Loving Fun, and later closed the show with the beautiful piano-led Songbird. Other highlights of the 23-song set included a stomping version of Tusk, and the beautiful harmonies of Everywhere and Rhiannon.
Fleetwood Mac is in New Zealand for the final performances in their On With The Show world tour. Auckland concert goers will get the chance to see something special in the weekend – music meant for a stadium, from a band keen to show why they're still one of the biggest in the world, even after nearly half a century.
Fleetwood Mac perform in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday night. Tickets for the Sunday show are still available at ticketbis.com.