roll call april 15th philadelphia who's going?

[michelej1]

April 16, 2009
Fleetwood Mac hot and cold in Philly stop of greatest hits tour

By Katherine Reinhard

Perhaps it was because they had been on break for a few weeks. But there seemed to be two distinct Fleetwood Mac bands on stage at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia last night.

The first took up more than half of the two-hour plus show featuring greatest hits from the band's mid-1970s incarnation.

Sure, there was the trimmed down Stevie Nicks in a flowing gypsy black dress, killer boots and a mike stand draped in black scarves. Yes, the first three songs - "Monday Morning," "Chain" and "Dreams" - are among their best and could easily have filled out the end of the show.

But the performance was flat. You could barely hear Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham seemed to be trying too hard. Group founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were little more than wallpaper. And the back-up band and singers may as well been on another stage.

Ten songs in I was so bored that I seriously contemplated going to the bar area to watch the Flyers get hammered by Pittsburgh.

But then the second Fleetwood Mac band showed up when Fleetwood, McVie and the backup band and singers left the stage. It was just Buckingham and Nicks up there, like their pre-Mac days with Buckingham on acoustic guitar. Now dressed in a claret dress, Nicks' voice finally kicked in. It was a bit deeper than her early years, but it was still there. The duo performed "Landslide." The lyrics were not lost on the mostly older audience. "Children get older," Nicks sang.. "... I'm getting older, too." The crowd ate it up.

From then on it was a really good show. Fleetwood, McVie and the others returned to the stage. Fleetwood moved up to a small drum kit at the front of stage. When Nicks sang "Gold Dust Woman" it was as though she had moved into a different astral plane. Buckingham took on Peter Green's part in "Oh Well," the only song from the pre-Buckingham-Nicks day, and proved he still can play guitar like a '60s rock star.

By the time the band closed the show, playing "World Turning" and "Don't Stop," I wanted to stand up and demand a redo of the first half. I guess I'll have to wait for the next tour.

(Photo by Brian Hineline, Special to The Morning Call)

[wheart]

total bull****! The entire show was awesome. This guy needs to get his head out of his ass

[Angel69]

Originally Posted by wheart

total bull****! The entire show was awesome. This guy needs to get his head out of his ass

You are entirely correct, the show is awesome. However I do agree with her on one thing, Why is Stevie's mic turned down so low for the first couple of songs? I noticed that at all four shows I attended. Her harmonies on Monday Morning and The Chain are not audible at all. The sound guy has to notice this.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Angel69

You are entirely correct, the show is awesome. However I do agree with her on one thing, Why is Stevie's mic turned down so low for the first couple of songs? I noticed that at all four shows I attended. Her harmonies on Monday Morning and The Chain are not audible at all. The sound guy has to notice this.

Right, I could hear her on The Chain, but from day one, even though her lips are moving, I could hardly make her out on Monday Morning and this has gone on throughout the tour. What's the deal? The sound guy must know it and she must know it?

Michele

[Lee]

Originally Posted by wheart

total bull****! The entire show was awesome. This guy needs to get his head out of his ass

ITA, but I did wonder there a few times why I couldn't really hear Stevie. I had said to my husband before the show started that I never saw them test the mics. Usually that's the first thing they test. They tested the instruments.

Lee