Originally Posted by aprilsrain
Last night was the Oakland, CA show, which I went to. I wasn't quite prepared for Stevie to start so close to 7:30, so when she launched with Stand Back, I was in line getting beer. When I arrived at my seat about halfway through the opening song, I noticed the crowd was pretty mellow and tame. They weren't unimpressed with the music, but it was pretty obvious the majority of people there were looking forward to Rod Stewart more than Ms. Nicks. It provided for a less-than-energetic atmosphere during her set. It felt to me like Stevie and Waddy seemed pretty darn tired throughout the set as well, though Stevie very notably came more alive during Secret Love and the TISL songs of the set.
The crowd reacted more to Stevie's FM classics than her solo career work, which I noticed she didn't play anything from Rock A Little - Street Angel. It's as if she just wanted to forget that time period.
The band was very tight as usual, and though the set had less energy than the last time I saw them, it was still a great concert going experience. I really loved the piano interlude at the beginning of Rhiannon, which if that man has a solo piano album, I'd happily buy it. I've seen her start Rhiannon similarly over the years, but this interlude was the most memorable for me.
I loved Landslide with her video montage over her youth. Nearly cried with that, but don't tell anyone.
Stevie mentioned she's only closed her set with 2 songs in all of her years in her solo career, and she has made a change for here on out, closing the set off with Love Is, done with only piano. It was very emotionally jarring, and leaps and bounds beyond the TISL version. I really hope to hear a soundboard quality live version of this. If anyone has one, please let me know!
It was really strange to hear a poppy and light hearted Rod Stewart after Stevie's brooding and introspective set. I felt that it didn't really fit together with the fancy stage, the girls in short red dresses, but the crowd came alive during Stewart. I noted his mic was buried in the mix pretty well compared to Stevie. I've never been much of a Stewart fan so we left after the duet songs with Stevie. It was a great way to end the night with those two songs, and we got home early.
I was very happy to find Stevie's voice is in full form, and though she doesn't strive for the high notes anymore, she sounded beautiful!
|