Hartford Review

[John Run]

My observations from Hartford on June 8th.

A very large crowd. It was still 85 degrees at show time with a breeze blowing and they got a huge walk up crowd for the $25 lawn seats. When Fleetwood Mac kicked off the Dance Tour in 1997 this venue got the largest day of walk up crowd in its history and last night rivaled that. Of course when the band went on at 8:20 there were still easily 3000-4000 people not yet inside. It really was not their fault. Security was extremely slow. To get in the venue there were about 8 rows of people 80 meters deep to go through the turnstiles for their frisking. I got an inner thigh frisk! Much more thorough than the airport…..

As for the show, it was good. This was the 4th time I have seen the band on this tour. The show was not as good as the Boston show I saw in September, which was used for the Live DVD. That was a great show. This was a good show. The band was engaged. The crowd was attentive and energetic. The crowd stood for the majority of the night.

The setlist is well known, so some observations. I know I’m Not Wrong was very good, but it took until the second half of the song for it to really catch fire for me. Say You Will is now being delivered in higher key. It actually works quite well for the song. I will say Stevie’s voice was solid. She showed a little weakness in Rhiannon, Gold Dust Woman, and then most noticeable in Goodbye Baby where her voice seemed a bit strained by all the work it had done. She was in great spirits throughout. Sara was excellent. Brett played some real nice parts, although he has ditched the Gem Workstation and is playing all the piano parts through his Triton and some of the piano sounds were a bit thin. Red Rover exceeded my expectations. It is a more accessible song live. Yes, Lindsey had some technical difficulties with a nylon strung Turner Renaissance, but he showed some spontaneity and went with it. I can not emphasize enough how this song really worked for me live. They have sped up the tempo of Say Goodbye compared to the fall tour. I think I prefer it slowed down live.

A big difference for me is the band was a little less constructed this time. First they are very close together on stage and very close to the audience. Musically everything has been extended. Sara had three different instrumental breaks in it. The intro to songs such as So Afraid and Go Your Own Way are longer and looser. The solo in I’m So Afraid set a new length record. There just seems to be a little more room in the songs to play.

Stevie spent a few minutes after the show shaking hands with the front row. Lindsey spent a real long time signing and slapping hands and taking roses. He was all smiles and a very happy man last night.

A couple of asides. The drunk guy a few rows behind me who screamed I hate USC during the beginning of Tusk. Also the same person who after the crowd gave Lindsey a Standing O for I'm So Afraid was screaming don't cheer for him! One in every crowd. He was more funny than annoying.

The woman near me with enormours fake pushed up and thrown out boobs. Anybody and everybody near her got to feel them. She rubbed up against everybody. A very proud middle aged lady.

I have many more details. Got a question about the show, ask. Tried to keep this pretty general.

That is all for now. I have the day off!!

[Carolina Girl]

Originally Posted by John Run

The woman near me with enormours fake pushed up and thrown out boobs. Anybody and everybody near her got to feel them. She rubbed up against everybody. A very proud middle aged lady.

Just getting her money's worth, I guess.