Tribune Review

[kak125]

Because they are a staple of classic rock radio, it's easy to take Fleetwood Mac for granted. Songs that have been heard for more than 30 years tend to lose a bit of their luster after repeated plays.

On the opening night of the band's Unleashed Tour Sunday at the Mellon Arena, those oft-heard tunes were dusted off and given new life. From the opening chords of "Monday Morning" it was immediately apparent that this was not going to be a typical recitation of the band's greatest hits.

Most of that is due to the wondrous talents of Lindsey Buckingham. While his voice was initially a bit raspy, notably on "The Chain," his vocals got better as the night wore on.

But chances are no one who attended the concert noticed much about the quality of Buckingham's singing. Not after the way he "unleashed" some of the more evocative guitar solos heard in these parts in recent memory. Especially noteworthy was his solo, acoustic version of "Big Love" and the amazing Guitar Hero- worthy performance on "I'm So Afraid" that electrified the audience. He also did a more than credible job on the ancient Fleetwood Mac chestnut, "Oh, Well."

Next, Steve Nicks. Her smoky voice shows little wear, and if she's somewhat less energetic that Buckingham — for most of the evening they performed about 15 feet apart from each other — she nonetheless has a charismatic aspect that made songs such as "Dreams" and "Rhiannon" memorable. Most notably, Nicks did well by "Storms," a gem from the album "Tusk" that the band resurrected for the first time in years.

But the shape of Fleetwood Mac's is due to the band's rhythm section, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood. It was McVie's melodic bass lines and Fleetwood's superb way of shaping a song via percussion that gave "Tusk," "Gold Dust Woman," "Go Your Own Way" and just about any other song the band performed definition and backbone.

If there was a flaw in the evening — a big if — it was the continued absence of Christine McVie on songs such as "Don't Stop," "Say You Love Me" and "World Turning." Buckingham and Nicks did a credible job filling in, but McVie's voice is nonetheless missed.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib.../s_614069.html

there are some good pics on there as well.

[Moz]

Originally Posted by kak125

there are some good pics on there as well.

Aw, John and Mick have matching hats!

[kak125]

ha I just noticed that!!

[michelej1]

But John should have had just a little something red, like everyone else in the band. Maybe red socks . . . Michele

[michelej1]

From a "Your Cranberry" blog:

http://www.yourcranberry.com/blog/good-music-never-dies

Good Music Never Dies, by Chanel

I had the pleasure of attending Fleetwood Macs opening night of their 2009 tour last night at the Mellon Arena. Wonderful that they chose Pittsburgh for their opening night!

What an amazing performance. There was such a diversity of fans, not just ‘old bags’, like me, but young teens knowing the music! Fleetwood Mac was as good as they were the last time I saw them in 1979.

Stevie Nicks looked beautiful and her haunting voice still gives a fan shivers! And yes, Hottie, she did change her outfits frequently, but not on stage as you mentioned before in another blog!

Lindsey Buckingham, can play guitar! Darn, he was all over the stage at almost 60 yo! And of course, his duets with Stevie, just amazing.

Well, Mick Fleetwood, on the drums, Damn he is doing great with your liver AM! Very impressive~

John McVie hangs in the background doing his thing, too bad his ex wife was missing~

The point of my blog is to say that after 35 years, a band can still pound out the music, these peeps are 60 and put on a performance that had everyone wild.

Something to achieve ‘Fallout Boy’, T.I., Li’l Wayne, The Fray, Coldplay….etc.