Steve Winwood concert.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I couldn't agree more. Steve WinWOODEN. I also saw him on the "Roll With It" tour, and it was almost like watching one of those puppets at Disney World singing "It's a Small World." Just stiff and robotic- no eye contact or facial expression- there just seems to be nothing behind those deeply set eyes. Yes, he can certainly sing and play the organ, but that certainly does not equate to great showmanship. Maybe Kraftwerk has an opening for him.

It's so funny, but I feel and interpret the exact opposite accessment. I guess I let the music do the talking and don't care what his face looks like. But I agree the craftsmenship is amazing.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

AND they did not have the same potential as the 75 line-up.

That's really apples and oranges. In 1975, the band was an underground band with limited popularity and SOME exposure, they just added two relative unknowns, and they were working as one unit.

In 1995, the band had already conqured the world and their careers were in decline. They were old, yesterday's news. It could have been the "Rumours" band and it wouldn't have had the same potential as they had twenty years earlier. The sales of OOTC, SA, and "Time" combined were less than 500K. There just wasn't a great demand for Fleetwood Mac. That the "Time" band deviated pretty heavily from the general view of Fleetwood Mac wouldn't have helped sales. That they weren't working as a single unit wasn't really helping, either. Since Mick and John pulled the plug before they had a chance to tour behind the album, we'll never really know how well it could have done.

Having said that, I think with a few changes, it could have had loads of potential for an "old" band. Have Christine retire, lose Dave Mason, and bring in Mick Taylor, who doesn't sing. That way, only Bekka and Billy would be fronting the band. Their voices are so big that they don't need another vocalist. Since Mick Taylor was in the Rolling Stones during their country phase, I see him as being a force that could have found that happy medium between Mick and John's blues/rock tendancies and Bekka and Billy's country tendancies. They COULD have come up with a NEW Fleetwood Mac sound, instead of trying to mimic the old Fleetwood Mac sound.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Different Light
Bully
Cigano
Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
Send a Fax
Freedom Rider

He didn't do WKWTMB or "Freedom Rider." Hell, I wish he would have done WKWTMB, as that's one of my favorite Traffic songs. For that matter, "Means To An End" would be killer. Also on my wish list for a Winwood show would be "Had To Cry Today," but Blind Faith is one of my all-time favorite albums.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

It's so funny, but I feel and interpret the exact opposite accessment. I guess I let the music do the talking and don't care what his face looks like. But I agree the craftsmenship is amazing.

I think it's the classic art vs. entertainment debate. Fleetwood Mac is definately more entertainment, while Winwood is definately more art. I had to choose between Winwood or Nicks last night. In an earlier life, I probably would have chosen Nicks, but I'm COMPLETELY satisfied with my decision. It was just so refreshing to hear somebody playing a song as if it were for the first time.

[jbrownsjr]

That's just it. Steve Winwood played these songs like it was his first concert. FMac of today sounds forced. Not all of FM's concert but most of it just sounds so stale anymore.

I do think Stevie sounds a little more fresh in her solo tours than SYW. Wonder why?

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Also on my wish list for a Winwood show would be "Had To Cry Today," but Blind Faith is one of my all-time favorite albums.

As I proposed to you privately...since Winwood makes an appearance on Clapton's upcoming new album and Eric's reunion with Cream's drummer Ginger Baker, keep your eyes open for Eric to get the surviving members of Blind Faith back together for an Albert Hall series of shows within the next couple of years. (they'll need a new bass player, though, since Rick Grech sadly passed away a number of years ago)

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by chiliD

As I proposed to you privately...since Winwood makes an appearance on Clapton's upcoming new album and Eric's reunion with Cream's drummer Ginger Baker, keep your eyes open for Eric to get the surviving members of Blind Faith back together for an Albert Hall series of shows within the next couple of years. (they'll need a new bass player, though, since Rick Grech sadly passed away a number of years ago)

Lately Steve has been playing the bass parts with his organ pedals. Very cool to watch btw!

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by chiliD

As I proposed to you privately...since Winwood makes an appearance on Clapton's upcoming new album and Eric's reunion with Cream's drummer Ginger Baker, keep your eyes open for Eric to get the surviving members of Blind Faith back together for an Albert Hall series of shows within the next couple of years. (they'll need a new bass player, though, since Rick Grech sadly passed away a number of years ago)

Did you get my reply? I suggested another bass player. I bet you can't guess who. I'll give you a clue. Scroll all the way up and look at the upper left corner of your screne. Or, why not go all out and add Steve Winwood to Cream? Or, they could get Phil Lesh and say they've traded one dead bass player for another.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Did you get my reply? I suggested another bass player. I bet you can't guess who. I'll give you a clue. Scroll all the way up and look at the upper left corner of your screne.

Yep...as much as I LOVE John's bass playing, I don't think he'd be a good fit with Ginger Baker.

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Or, why not go all out and add Steve Winwood to Cream?

Which is pretty close to what Blind Faith WAS. If they were to follow with Fleetwood Mac's personnel rules, Blind Faith would've just been an incarnation of Cream.

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Or, they could get Phil Lesh and say they've traded one dead bass player for another.

That's REALLY funny

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

They COULD have come up with a NEW Fleetwood Mac sound, instead of trying to mimic the old Fleetwood Mac sound.

That's what I mean. A band with potential in 1995 COULD have come up with a new FM-sound, too. I'm not talking about sales, i'm talking about freshness, surprise. And they CERTAINLY did NOT have that. It was a rehash of old FM-styles with a lot less identity and spunk.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

That's what I mean. A band with potential in 1995 COULD have come up with a new FM-sound, too. I'm not talking about sales, i'm talking about freshness, surprise. And they CERTAINLY did NOT have that. It was a rehash of old FM-styles with a lot less identity and spunk.

On that point, I think everybody will agree, although I thought their take on GDW was refreshing. Personally, I can't fault Bekka or Billy for any of it. The Bekka & Billy album sounded MUCH better than "Time." I really wish Mick would have let them just be themselves. Also, I wish they would have limited the classic Mac songs to "Oh Well," "The Chain," "Don't Stop," and GYOW and have the rest be nothing but newer material (stuff from "Behind The Mask" and "Time").