MSG Oct 7

[michelej1]

The Columbian, October 11, 2014 by JAIME HOLGUIN

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/o...ks-buckingham/

Intact Fleetwood Mac rocks with renewed vigor

Christine McVie rejoins group after 16-hear hiatus

NEW YORK — Their "dream girl" is back.

The members of Fleetwood Mac each took a moment Monday night at New York City's Madison Square Garden to welcome longtime bandmate Christine McVie back to the stage after a 16-year hiatus, thus restoring the band to its mid-1970s and most successful configuration.

In her trademark gypsy shawl, Stevie Nicks said the dream catchers she casts to the crowd each night finally netted her old friend. Lindsey Buckingham said her return marked "a beautiful, profound and poetic new chapter." Mick Fleetwood simply looked to the ceiling and shouted "Amen."

In between, they ripped through all their old hits with a fervor that belied their age.

The band opened with "The Chain," a song emblematic of Fleetwood Mac's lasting legacy, despite its many breakups and personal upheavals. The collective power of the three singers' voices belting out the song's refrain, "You would never break the chain," seemed to drown out the quarrels and drug-fueled rancor that tore them apart over the years.

The McVie-penned and long-dormant "You Make Loving Fun" was back on the set list, and upon hearing her sing the opening line, "Sweet, wonderful you," the crowd erupted in an approving roar. McVie, 71, looked comfortable and happy to be back. Her voice was strong and a welcome presence.

During the band's concert in New York City last year, guitarist, singer and songwriter Buckingham, singer and songwriter Nicks, drummer Fleetwood, and Christine's ex-husband and bassist John McVie powered through their catalog of classics. But despite a purposeful performance, it was hard to not feel shortchanged by the exclusion of Christine McVie's songs.

With her return to the fold this time around, however, the band was free to explore its entire repertoire, including McVie's songs "Over My Head," "Little Lies" and "Everywhere."

One of the highlights of the night was "Second Hand News," which the band played with the energy of young musicians playing for their first big break. The 65-year-old Buckingham, especially, attacked the guitar with such intensity and enthusiasm, you'd think it was his first time playing in front of a large audience.

Dressed in skin-tight jeans, he stomped in slow-motion across the stage during a hair-raising guitar solo for "I'm So Afraid," as the large screen behind the performers zoomed in on his dexterous fingers plucking away at the guitar strings.

While age has not diminished his agility, it has taken a slight toll on Nicks' voice. "Dreams" took on a different feel to accommodate her on some of the song's higher notes. A couple of backup singers helped out with the harder to reach registers and harmonies. But on her other signature songs, like "Silver Springs" and "Landslide," Nicks' voice was intact and cut through like a sharpened knife.