Out of the Cradle Reviews

[michelej1]

[Most of us have the audio from this one]

Orange County Register, December 11, 1992


HEADLINE: Buckingham makes history, music

BYLINE: Mark Brown, The Orange County Register

BODY:
One music-industry observer called it "history in the making. "

For those lucky enough to have tickets to see Lindsey Buckingham
at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday night _ and
tonight _ history didn't matter so much as the music.

And the music was more than just history or nostalgia.

Buckingham's ease and authority on stage belied his 10-year
absence. He showed the amazing range and depth of his body of work.

He also showed the range of his musical ability, roving from raging
guitar to subtle acoustics and near-whisper vocals, often in a
single song.

"You have the distinction for better or worse of witnessing the
first show I've ever done on my own," Buckingham told the crowd.

"As long as you don't call out 'Go Your Own Way' too soon, we'll
get along great. "

He was right. The crowd hung on every note, starting with his
solo acoustic version of the Fleetwood Mac hit "Big Love" totally
unlike it has ever been heard. Then straight into a slow, solo,
snaking reworking of his hit, "Go Insane. "

Fans seeing something new didn't have much time to gape.

Buckingham and a crack band of backing musicians broke into a
merciless version of "The Chain. " Can this song really be 15 years
old? Buckingham sang it with an angry intensity as if his lover had
scorned him only the night before.

His new solo work from "Out of the Cradle" held up well next to
the old Fleetwood Mac tunes, the audience hung on every note.

This was a show built for arenas shoehorned into a club. Powered
by a three-man percussion section, the band literally shook the
Coach House through a blistering version of "Tusk. " And an extended
guitar workout at the end of "I'm So Afraid" drew the first
standing ovation of the evening and left Buckingham drenched in
sweat.

Compare this show to Fleetwood Mac's last tour and it's
instantly obvious who the irreplaceable member of the band is. Even
songs closely intertwined with the band _ "The Chain," "Go Your Own
Way" _ were totally owned by Buckingham.

An encore of "Eyes of the World" pretty much confirmed that
Buckingham picked songs based on the opportunity to tear loose on
his guitar.

Opening the show was solo guitarist Susan James, whose style
might be best described as acoustic grunge. A set of gritty
originals was capped by a dramatic reading of "Eight Miles High. "
Who: Lindsey Buckingham
Where: Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
Background: The former Fleetwood Mac guitarist played his first
solo show
Next: Tonight at 9
Tickets: $ 35
Call: 496-8930