Sacramento Concert Cancelled

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Honestly, I don't know why we aren't allowed to expect the same performance levels out of Stevie as she did in the early 80s....

While you make some good points, I have to say that I don't think comparing Stevie to Lindsey or Ann Wilson, or anyone, is really fair. We all age differently and have varying energy levels. There's also a difference in the wear & tear on individual bodies. I know people in their 50s and 60s who could run circles around folks who are 10-20 years younger than they are -- that doesn't mean I expect everyone their age to be as energetic.

I'm not convinced that Stevie is "unhappy" or "uninspired" on this tour, or demonstrating some sense of entitlement.

I'd like to share a quote from a review....

Despite the commercial success Stevie Nicks has helped bring Fleetwood Mac, the band is better off in concert when she shuts her mouth and whirls around the stage. Nicks sounded consistently weak vocally and apparently uninterested in the old material. Whole sections of the show, especially the one starting with "Dreams," were ruined by her lackluster vocals.

Nicks sang like she meant it only on one song the group played, leading one to suspect her poor performance was due to boredom than ineptness.

Based on those familiar-sounding criticisms, one might automatically assume they'd just read a quote from a recent review -- but it was actually published 31 years ago, in Rolling Stone. I purposely omitted the name of that "one song" (which was "Sisters Of The Moon"), to avoid time-stamping it.

So if Stevie was being accused of boredom and disinterest all the way back in 1978, during a time that fans treat as the "golden age" of her career, then perhaps she isn't really miserable up there on stage with the band in 2009 at all. Maybe it has more to do with Stevie's inconsistency as a live performer (when she's feeling fine, the show is great -- when she's tired or uncomfortable, the performance isn't too hot). Which itself could have a lot to do with the pacing of FM's tours as opposed to her solo tours, where she tends to get more days off in between shows.

Also, some of it could be due to the perceptions and expectations of the audience members. I went back this evening to that "Horrific Schedule" thread, and saw your reply to me, where you mentioned that you thought she was terrific when you saw her early on during the 2003 tour. Meanwhile, I clearly recall other people seeing shows around that same time, and issuing complaints similar to the above.

As is par for the course, not only do Stevie's performances on this tour seem to vary from night (and even song to song), but the fans also have wildly different opinions of whether or not she put on a great show.

"Nothing ever changes -- no, it doesn't."