27/05/15 - The 02

[poetinmyheart]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I understand your "high." I had the same high after the Pittsburgh show. Please give us more details

I'll post my thoughts in a little more detail tomorrow but what I will say is the vocals, harmonies were on point. And don't get me started on L's playing. Big Love was incredible. He literally made his fingers bleed tonight - he said it's the problem with having 5-6 weeks off! Everyone was buzzing when leaving the arena, full of praise for all of them. 2.5 hours of pure magic. Simply brilliant. I was overcome with emotion at the end and I'm not ashamed to admit, I may have shed a tear or two

[poetinmyheart]

The Telegraph Review is up already - 5 stars.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...aordinary.html

The Chain made for a suitably dramatic opening, showing off the restored Fleetwood Mac to full effect with that fantastic bass, thunderous drums, blood quickening guitar solo and gorgeous wall of harmonies insisting the chain cannot be broken. Going straight into You Make Loving Fun drove the point home, showcasing Christine McVie's smooth vocal and funky keyboards. "I think we can safely say our girl is back" trilled Stevie Nicks.

This tour marks the full reunion of the classic line-up, with the return of Christine McVie after 16 years. The band have become almost the definition of a heritage act in her absence, regularly touring sets of their greatest hits to nostalgic audiences, so you can't really say she was missed. But there is no doubt she restores some balance, both in musical and pop cultural terms.
Musically, she takes some of the weight off virtuoso guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, her smooth, lush pop songs softening his sharper arty edges. Flowing gems as potent as Everywhere, Little Lies and Songbird were restored to their rightful place in the centre of a Fleetwood set and for that alone audiences have reason to be grateful. But there is a sense too that the dysfunctional family is back together, healing old wounds with the balm of time and music, a message that, in itself, speaks volumes to lifelong fans.

Fleetwood Mac make much of their history of "ups and downs" as Buckingham puts it. Now that Christine is back playing again with ex-husband bassist John McVie there are three former couples on stage, if you take into account that drummer Mick Fleetwood romanced singer Nicks behind the back of Buckingham. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Buckingham insisted, and seemed intent on proving it with a playful yet dramatically full blooded duet with his ex on Never Going Back Again.

The soap opera has always lent a certain depth and texture to Fleetwood Mac but, frankly, a little less chatter and a little more playing would be my only suggestion. There were speeches even after the encores. Yet it feels churlish to complain. Precious few bands have contained the range of vocal, stylistic and songwriting talent of the Mac, and even the inevitable inclusion of a new song didn't start a queue for the toilets. With that taut, explosive rhythm section, Buckingham's imaginative flair, Nicks' wildcard charisma and Christine McVie's singalong soulfulness restored to the heart of the matter, there is really no way this band could be anything less than extraordinary. A lusty mass singalong of Don't Stop spoke volumes about how their audience felt about the return of the Mac.

[tango87]

From the Telegraph review above:

"even the inevitable inclusion of a new song didn't start a queue for the toilets."

Just to clarify, there was no new song. Perhaps the reviewer had never heard I Know I'm Not Wrong before...

[poetinmyheart]

Originally Posted by tango87

From the Telegraph review above:

"even the inevitable inclusion of a new song didn't start a queue for the toilets."

Just to clarify, there was no new song. Perhaps the reviewer had never heard I Know I'm Not Wrong before...

Yeah, I meant to comment on this. New song! We should be so lucky

[Macfan4life]

Were there any dancing ponies to Everywhere?
I am assuming because if its recent silver status it was received even better in London?

[poetinmyheart]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Were there any dancing ponies to Everywhere?
I am assuming because if its recent silver status it was received even better in London?

Haha. It's funny you should say that- during Everywhere, I turned to my friend and said I wish that they would acknowledge the dancing pony and play it on the screens.

The song was very well received, as expected. The majority of the arena was on their feet. Everywhere gets a fair bit of radio air time over here.

Christine really was wonderful tonight. So lovely to hear her songs added back into the setlist. She was beaming the whole night

[nicole21290]

Also, Florence Welch and Adele both got pictures with Stevie backstage, with the LS dedication going to the latter. And Harry Styles going AGAIN clogged up my search.

[Rubyking]

Hi
Does anyone know why the Manchester show was cancelled ?
Many Thanks.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by poetinmyheart

Yeah, I meant to comment on this. New song! We should be so lucky

If they performed a new or less traveled song I would be so riveted to stage, even if it meant peeing in my pants. Why is it always assumed that unknown songs are so alienating that it signals people to head to the bathroom. I don't get it.

I'm always appalled at shows when people starting leaving before the show was over (presumably to beat the traffic). It seemed so careless and rude. A genuine fan would never sacrifice missing the last two songs.

[elle]

Originally Posted by poetinmyheart

And don't get me started on L's playing. Big Love was incredible. He literally made his fingers bleed tonight - he said it's the problem with having 5-6 weeks off!

poor baby, he seems to always completely take his time off and not play any guitar during the break so first shows back after a month+ he's bleeding all over the place. and just powers through.