Atlanta

[WildHearted]

Okay, this is probably going to be long and somewhat incoherent. So forgive me. But here's my review/recollection.

This was my first Fleetwood Mac show. I've seen Lindsey and Stevie solo multiple times but never FM. I met up with Dee at the Meet & Greet and it was great.

They came and got us for the Meet & Greet around 5. There was a slight hold-up afterward because someone who worked @ Phillips was all concerned about us bringing point and shoot cameras inside and had to go get some super special security guy to make sure it was okay. After that, it was good. We went inside and got to listen to the end of soundcheck before they let us in the arena.

When we were inside, they sat us in the first few rows and we waited for Mick to come out. He promptly led us onstage and we crowded around as he spoke. A guy there had on a Rob Zombie shirt which Mick saw and commented on, asking if it was the guys band. He then went on to tell us about how he used to tour with Black Sabbath, about how Ozzy looked to him like a father figure, about how the drummer used to use an oxygen mask. Then he talked more about the early days and kind of how they've succeeded as a band because they have a connection (he used an example about him and his friend from boarding school - they always got in trouble because they'd laugh when they looked at each other).

When it was time for pictures, they set it up so that if you were in a group, one person would get their shot, then the group, then the other person. I was the 3rd person to go, but they must have thought I was in a group because when I walked away they were like, "Don't you want another picture?" and so I went back and got a picture with the guy who had the Rob Zombie shirt on. Don't know him, but I just went with it.

Afterwards, we went back to the seating for the autographs and Q&A. I got a Tusk album and my laminate VIP pass signed. There were a lot of questions about drumsticks. Mick told us that at the last show, while he was playing the end of his stick exploded and all of the content flew into his eyes and into his lungs. "Little did they know, the drummer was blinded after the second song." It was a funny story. He explained that his sticks are aluminum, which don't sound as good as wood but are better on his wrists etc. Someone in the group asked about Stevie & Lindsey joining, which would have bored me, if someone else in the audience hadn't spoken up and said they were actually at the last show Buckingham Nicks played when they announced they were going to be joining Fleetwood Mac. I asked Mick: "If you could switch places with another band member for a show, who would it be?" He said John, because playing bass would be the easiest for him to understand. He talked a lot about his favorite music and his favorite drummers. Someone asked what 2013 Mick Fleetwood would tell 1977 Mick Fleetwood, and he said that while he doesn't beat himself up about anything, he wishes he would have been more present in his eldest daughters' lives. He doesn't know what his spirit animal would be - but he does have one. There is a spirit animal.

Then they ushered us out.

When we came back, we were planning on going to stand at the stage but no one else was up there so we hesitated and just sat in our 4th row seats. 2 security guards were standing up there. When the lights went down, however, the front row went to the stage so I bolted out of the 4th row and up to the front by Lindsey but a lady in the aisle told me to go back to my seat. Right as I got back to my seat, everyone from the rows behind me went up to the front and she didn't say anything, so I went back up to the front and we secured a spot right in front of Lindsey's more center monitor.

The band came out and they all looked great. In general, it was fabulous. The sound wasn't the best where I was (which could be expected) so I had a hard time hearing Stevie on songs she wasn't singing lead, but everyone seemed to be in fine form. Stevie told us she had lived in Atlanta ("Atlanta, Georgia," she said, in a Blanche Devereaux accent) for 3 months with Sharon and Lori and they loved it.

I'm going to go through the songs I can remember specific things about... probably not in order, sorry.

When Lindsey started his axiom speech, I held up my Tusk album and he saw it. He stopped his speech and laughed and then pointed to me and said something along the lines of, "Looks like we've got a Tusk fan here!" It was so great.

Stevie dedicated Landslide to Matthew Anderson and told him that his mom was proud of him. At the end, Stevie and Lindsey linked pinkies and Lindsey mouthed, "Pinky promise."

During the Without You intro, Stevie started on about how this was a song written in 1971, when she and Lindsey had been in a band for 3 years and when they had been going together for a long while. Lindsey got a funny look on his face and then scooted back to Mick and said, "We hadn't been going together for a long time in 1971.." and they both laughed.

Gold Dust Woman was amazing. I don't even have words for the ending. Stevie was so, so into it. When it was over, she and Mick stood there looking at each other like, "Wow."

Sisters was also great. Very intense (but not silent).

Lindsey killed I'm So Afraid, as usual. Fantastic.

I was very impressed with both Gypsy and Sara. Those are 2 that I sometimes am not crazy about live, but they really pulled them off well and I thought they sounded superb. The best I've heard them in recent times, really.

Go Your Own Way was super energetic and a definite crowd pleaser. I got to strum Lindsey's guitar. That reminds me: I'm not sure when, but at some point Lindsey was standing close to the edge of the stage and I remember someone to my left reaching out and touching his shoe. There's not really a point to that other than I found it amusing.

I actually really enjoyed Mick's drum solo, although the "Take it easy, take it slow, don't be shy, etc" chanting was slightly creepy.

When Stevie and Lindsey came out for the second encore, I held up my Tusk album again with a pen against the top of the stage. Lindsey walked over to his mic, then saw my holding it up and came and got the pen from me and signed it as I held it. Thanks, Lindsey! Now it's got both Mick and Lindsey's signatures.

Stevie seemed to put a lot into the ending of Silver Springs, which was nice. She was almost screaming (in a good way).

Stevie and Mick gave their usual goodbye speeches and that was it.

I'm sure I'll remember more tomorrow but this will have to do. Overall, not bad for a first Fleetwood Mac concert. I have videos of the Landslide intro, the ending of Landslide, part of Sara, the intro to Without You, and final bows.

[deluge]

Wildhearted, enjoyed your review. I was just to your left - and I got a photo of Lindsey signing your Tusk album cover.

You've got my business card, get in touch and I'll email it to you. A nice momento to go with your autographed album!

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by deluge

Wildhearted, enjoyed your review. I was just to your left - and I got a photo of Lindsey signing your Tusk album cover.

You've got my business card, get in touch and I'll email it to you. A nice momento to go with your autographed album!

Yes, I surely will! Thanks!

[bluecalmsea]

Great review Wildhearted!

I have a random question for you- I was thinking to bring an album for an autograph at my meet and greet too. You said you also got it signed by Lindsey- so were you holding onto it the whole concert? Did you have a backpack or something? I'm just trying to figure this silly little detail out for myself

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by bluecalmsea

Great review Wildhearted!

I have a random question for you- I was thinking to bring an album for an autograph at my meet and greet too. You said you also got it signed by Lindsey- so were you holding onto it the whole concert? Did you have a backpack or something? I'm just trying to figure this silly little detail out for myself

I was right against the stage all night, so I just put the album (along with my purse) on the floor by my feet. Luckily since I was right there, there wasn't really anybody bumping into me or anything and no one to step on my stuff.Then, when the time came, I just reached down and picked it up

[bluecalmsea]

Originally Posted by deluge

Thanks to helpful advice from Ledge members "FMLex", "juniper", and "elle", I was able to stand front and center at the stage for last night's Atlanta show. My favorite location for Fleetwood Mac. Thank you Ledgies!

Nice story!! What advice helped you get to the front of the stage? Just curious...

Originally Posted by WildHearted

I was right against the stage all night, so I just put the album (along with my purse) on the floor by my feet. Luckily since I was right there, there wasn't really anybody bumping into me or anything and no one to step on my stuff.Then, when the time came, I just reached down and picked it up

Oh that worked out perfectly for you! Thanks!

[deluge]

Thanks to helpful advice from Ledge members "FMLex", "juniper", and "elle", I was able to stand front and center at the stage for last night's Atlanta show. My favorite location for Fleetwood Mac. Thank you Ledgies!

I think it's awesome that the band wants and encourages fans to stand at the stage. Makes for a much better energy.

I'll leave it to others to review the set list song by song. A few thoughts from front & center:

- The band was tight. Gold Dust Woman in particular was intense.

- During a Stevie Nicks song, while Lindsey was standing front and center and he was looking at the audience in front, I made eye contact with Lindsey, and I motioned that he has heart. And we did that thing that guys do when they make eye contact and nod heads in respect to each other. Guys, you know what I mean. Maybe it was my black v-neck tshirt that I was wearing - I wear them all the time, it's my signature shirt (not because LB wears them, but because I just like them), and it cracked me up wearing it to the show, knowing that LB would of course be wearing the same.

At one point between songs, Lindsey seemed to be having problems with his right hand - he had to shake it out. Not sure if that was a problem with the tips of his fingers (problem he had on his last solo show in Atlanta) or if his hand was bothering him. After he shook it out, he soldiered on.

- Stevie doesn't seem to make eye contact with or connect with the audience. But she was pure Stevie Nicks, and perfect just the way she was. Loved her top hat that she wore occasionally. I didn't notice as many women dressed like Stevie Nicks last night, as compared with other FM shows I've been to in the past. I noticed a few times between songs when she was pressing her hand into her lower back massaging it, seemed to me that her back was bothering her.

- Mick and John were exactly the same as I've always seen them since the first Fleetwood Mac show I saw many years ago. It's comforting to know that some things in life don't change. Best rhythm section in rock n roll.

- I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be front and center standing at the stage last night.

- In particular, grateful to have had the opportunity to get to briefly strum Lindsey Buckingham's guitar during his solo during "Go Your Own Way" - for a fifth time in a decade!! I got video of the entire song, including extreme close up video as I strummed his guitar, and I'll post it on The Ledge later today.

- Got some nice photos, too. I'll add them to an online photo album, and share them later.

- All in all, a very enjoyable show. The fans up front were very good, too. It was a treat to be at the stage again. Being up front, it's easy to forget there are many thousands of people in the stadium, and it was almost like having the band perform just for me.

- A question for everyone: A roadie was nice enough to give me a guitar pick after the show. On one side of the pick, it has a drawing with an icon of a guitar pick with a red circle and slash around it (as in "no guitar picks" - we all know Lindsey doesn't use them). On the other hand it is printed "L.B." on top and "T.I." directly under that. I'd assume that "L.B." stands for Lindsey Buckingham. Anyone know what "T.I." stands for??!!

Thank you Ledgies for being so awesome!

In Atlanta,

Deluge

[elle]

Originally Posted by deluge

Thanks to helpful advice from Ledge members "FMLex", "juniper", and "elle", I was able to stand front and center at the stage for last night's Atlanta show. My favorite location for Fleetwood Mac. Thank you Ledgies!

you're so welcome, glad it worked and you managed to have nice moments of interaction with Lindsey.

Originally Posted by deluge

- A question for everyone: A roadie was nice enough to give me a guitar pick after the show. On one side of the pick, it has a drawing with an icon of a guitar pick with a red circle and slash around it (as in "no guitar picks" - we all know Lindsey doesn't use them). On the other hand it is printed "L.B." on top and "T.I." directly under that. I'd assume that "L.B." stands for Lindsey Buckingham. Anyone know what "T.I." stands for??!!

i'm so jealous!! i really don't care for physical mementos but i really want that pick! and i've never managed to get a pick out of Lindsey yet. last time i asked him at the stage during one of SN's songs in Philly, he said i don't need it or something like that and wouldn't give it to me.

LBTI stands for Lindsey Buckingham Touring Incorporated... i think. it's been a long time since someone told me what it was. people can correct me if i'm off in one of the words.

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by elle

you're so welcome, glad it worked and you managed to have nice moments of interaction with Lindsey.


i'm so jealous!! i really don't care for physical mementos but i really want that pick! and i've never managed to get a pick out of Lindsey yet. last time i asked him at the stage during one of SN's songs in Philly, he said i don't need it or something like that and wouldn't give it to me.

LBTI stands for Lindsey Buckingham Touring Incorporated... i think. it's been a long time since someone told me what it was. people can correct me if i'm off in one of the words.

I still think it stands for Lindsey Buckingham Turner I

[WildHearted]

Speaking of picks, he did throw one to someone in the audience and I guess they caught it, because he said, "Good catch."

[WildHearted]

Thanks deluge for sending me this! So awesome to have!

Here's Lindsey signing my album.

[wheart]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

Thanks deluge for sending me this! So awesome to have!

Here's Lindsey signing my album.

Great pic and still such a handsome man!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

He then went on to tell us about how he used to tour with Black Sabbath, about how Ozzy looked to him like a father figure, about how the drummer used to use an oxygen mask.

It's kind of frightening for Ozzy to look to Mick as a father figure. Makes Mick seem olllld.

I liked what he said about not being more present in his older daughters' lives. Well, he's a grandpa now. He can try to make it up with the grandkids.

I think the comment about not having been dating a long time in 1971 was hilarious.

I liked what you said about intense, but not silent.

I've seen people touching Lindsey's shoe and everything else they can reach! Wrapping their arms around his leg and what not. But a few weeks ago, I read that an audience member patted Beyonce's bottom. Luckily it hasn't gotten that bad with The Mac.

Great review. Thank you for posting all of the details. Michele

[michelej1]

Access Atlanta 12:46 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013

http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs...-philips-aren/

Concert review: Fleetwood Mac enchants Philips Arena crowd

By Melissa Ruggieri



They’ve always been a crew of characters.

Mick Fleetwood, the wild-eyed co-founder and beat keeper.

Lindsey Buckingham, the perfectionist artiste with the gift for guitar.

Stevie Nicks, the mystical Glinda the good witch and poet.

John McVie, the stoic root of the rhythm section.

Even Christine McVie, before she departed Fleetwood Mac in 1998, played the part of the classy Brit whose keyboards added lushness and sweetness to the band’s sound.

Though Fleetwood Mac has toured sporadically during the past 15 years, it wasn’t always convincing that they were squeezing onto planes and tour buses and stages for anything other than a paycheck.

But now, after even more years of solo projects and time spent apart, it’s apparent that there is genuine affection tying the onetime soap opera-etic Mac together.

Buckingham and Nicks almost always entered the stage at Philips Arena together, holding hands like the king and the queen of the prom – the roles they’ve always filled within the band.

The songs from “Rumours” – seven of the 11 tracks from their landmark album made the live cut – at one time stung with hurt and betrayal, showcasing the most dysfunctional band in rock.

But as Nicks and Buckingham joined voices during the ominous creep of “The Chain,” with Fleetwood’s rattling snare drum bumping the song along, and Nicks unleashed her throaty warble on “Dreams,” the songs now sounded like beautifully constructed couplets from a musical era never to be duplicated. The music is as potent as ever, even if the impetus behind the lyrics has softened.

For 2 ½-hours on Monday, Fleetwood Mac enchanted a sold-out crowd at Philips – mostly happy middle-agers thrilled to see the gang one more time, or maybe for the first time – and unveiled a comprehensive, 23-song set list.

Since it’s the 35th anniversary of “Rumours,” favorites from the album – the opening “Second Hand News,” the grungy guitar shadowing “Gold Dust Woman,” the aggravated kiss-off “Go Your Own Way” among them – took center stage.

However, one thing Fleetwood Mac can brag about is recently releasing new songs (on the digital EP, “Extended Play”) that are well-suited for the band’s canon.

“It appears there are a few chapters left in the book of Fleetwood Mac,” Buckingham crowed from the stage.

“Sad Angel” is a driving pop rocker featuring those trademark Buckingham/Nicks vocals, while the “Peace Train”-like “Without You,” an unearthed demo from the pair, chugged along appealingly.

As for the rest of the hits, yes, some keys were modified to suit aging voices, but it was still a treat to hear “Rihannon,” perfectly complemented by images of a colorful moon on the high-def screen stretching the stage, and “Sisters of the Moon,” a song Fleetwood Mac hadn’t played live since 1981 prior to this tour.

The bond between Nicks and Buckingham was apparent throughout the show – she in her trademark uniform of black jagged-edge dresses and scarf-adorned tambourines and he in skinny jeans and black leather jacket – but most obviously during “Sara,” when Nicks laid her head on Buckingham’s shoulder and closed her eyes as he played, and the ever-poignant “Landslide,” which featured the two standing alone center stage.

While their dynamic is always a draw, it would be unfair not to underscore the awesomeness of Buckingham’s playing on every song, but particularly “Big Love” – he shook out his right hand before tackling the speedy chord changes in the song – and “I’m So Afraid,” which was raw and explosive. And Buckingham knew he nailed it.

By the time Fleetwood Mac – augmented by two musicians and Nicks’ two backup singers – started to wind down with the sunshine-and-rainbows anthem “Don’t Stop” (Nicks handled McVie’s verses), it became apparent that while the band can be dark, they’ve always found a flame of hope to guide them.

[elle]

great reviews everybody, thanks so much for sharing.

i especially love reading about casually-FM-liking people newly becoming big Lindsey fans - he's good in converting people!

Originally Posted by michelej1

I liked what he said about not being more present in his older daughters' lives. Well, he's a grandpa now. He can try to make it up with the grandkids.

I think the comment about not having been dating a long time in 1971 was hilarious.

I liked what you said about intense, but not silent.

I've seen people touching Lindsey's shoe and everything else they can reach! Wrapping their arms around his leg and what not.

Mick has 2 really young daughters too (tween age maybe?), and there has been a lot of pics of them going around with him on this tour. so it certainly seems he's enjoying being a dad to them and making up for all the stuff/time he didn't have with his older daughters at the time when he was so out of it.

yup, either the audience was really tame or you haven't paid attention at a Lindsey solo show if you haven't seen women and girls groping Lindsey's legs (and stage is not nearly as high at those shows usually, so they can get a bit higher than just shoes ).