Manchester 27th October

[vivfox]

Fleetwood Mac @ MEN Arena 27/10/09

It's a funny thing about Fleetwood Mac, when I hear them I'm instantly transported to a fantasy 1970s that most likely never even existed and it's all what I imagine it was like based on stuff I've seen on TV. I'm pretty sure I'm to young to actually remember Rumours when it was originally released, so just why it has such an effect is beyond me. But I like it.

I'm not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, and I'd never seen them live before but when I heard they were touring again I decided to get myself some tickets and check it out. The current line up is the same as the Rumours line up, but sadly minus Christine McVie and they're not promoting any new material so I knew it would basically be a greatest hits package, which suited me.

They're ****ing ancient. I swear I thought I saw Mick Fleetwood piped up to an oxygen bottle, and despite Lindsey Buckingham being full of energy he seemed to be getting a bit of gyp from a bad back. Stevie Nicks isn't exactly the siren she used to be, at one point some tight twat did shout out "Stevie ya fat git", which I thought was a bit cruel.

But they do still have it. Early in the set Nicks did a rather poor rendition of Rhiannon, and it seemed like she really wasn't going to hack it. In fact at the start of the show Nicks seemed quite absent, possibly pissed(?), and not really in the swing of things. Fortunately that was to change, maybe she just needed to warm up, or get a few shots of whiskey down her neck to lubricate the old voice box, because when she performed Sara, Landslide and Gypsy she was superb. Her distinctive vocals were spot on, she managed to carry them off brilliantly.

When you listen to Fleetwood Mac you really get a sense of the individual personalities within the group, some of my favourites are the songs Buckingham wrote. Last night they performed Second Hand News and Never Going Back Again, two of my favourites. Probably worth going just for them.

They let themselves down a little towards the end, Fleetwood did a rather poor drum solo during which he kept shouting out nonsense which I couldn't quite make out. The bloke's a nutter, and I just kept thinking of him presenting the Brit Awards with Sam Fox, and the chances he tried shagging all The Corrs when he was swanning round with them a few years back. Don't Stop was a bit of a let down too, for some reason it sounded like Chas and Dave were playing it. They really should've convinced Chritine McVie to rejoin.

Sorry the pictures aren't better, I really must try and figure out how to work that ****ing camera.

CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW PICTURES
http://www.morningstarr.co.uk/forum/...7-10-09-a.html

[Nico]

Originally Posted by vivfox

They're ****ing ancient.

Now, now. No need to say it with such extremeness.

I swear I thought I saw Mick Fleetwood piped up to an oxygen bottle, and despite Lindsey Buckingham being full of energy he seemed to be getting a bit of gyp from a bad back.

I hope this is all an exaggeration. I think the oxygen isn't news but Lindsey's now got a bad back? He better not neglect it and get some regular therapy in. I didn't intend on suddenly not seeing him rock hard on stage anytime soon, selfish as that sounds.

Stevie Nicks isn't exactly the siren she used to be, at one point some tight twat did shout out "Stevie ya fat git"...

Now that's just WRONG. Come on people. Fat jokes are old, lame, and the product of narrow-minded imbeciles. Let's represent FM with some maturity here people.

But they do still have it.

I know that's right. Though this reviewer needs to make up his mind already. He's bitching about ridiculous things these people can't help instead of basking in the greatness that is seeing a legendary rock band that still has IT, or most of the members anyway (especially one in particular).

[steve.uk]

I don't think that reviewer went to the same concert as me - but then I guess I could be biased!

[Phil Lee]

I've just uploaded a short video I shot during Landslide. The quality isn't great because it was shot with my iPhone. The sound is distorted because I was right on top of a monitor speaker. I'd have shot a longer video but didn't want to get a tap on my shoulder. Anyway, here's the video:

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by Nico

I hope this is all an exaggeration. I think the oxygen isn't news but Lindsey's now got a bad back?

Anyone who's seen Lindsey in the last two weeks will tell you there's NOTHING wrong with his back. What the hell are they on about?

And Stevie is looking seriously good these days.

[steve.uk]

Originally Posted by Sahara

And Stevie is looking seriously good these days.

Agreed!

[GoldDustWoman87]

Well it was my first FM gig (curse my youth!). Absolutely loved it. My only gripe was that Silver Springs was not played. I think my heart would have grown legs and walked right out of my chest if they had (perhaps a good thing they didn't then). Always been a huge Stevie fan but fell in love with her more seeing her in the flesh.

Fav songs of the evening... The Chain, Gypsy, Storms (nearly died when she announced THIS one), Stand Back (ditto - me and my friend had been joking about her doing this one before the gig, we hadn't seen the previous setlists), Go Your Own Way, Big Love and World Turning.

Oh, I had another gripe. My block was boring as hell. Me, my friend, and about 4 other people actually seemed to be enjoying it. Note to self: splash out next time and get to the front rows!

[Sahara]

^^
Great to hear you had such a cool time ... and welcome to the Ledge!

I know how you feel about boring blocks, by the way. Concerts where the audience are like zombies are no fun at all. Bet you shook 'em up!

[MacMan]

Never Going Back Again.... Nice!

[GoldDustWoman87]

Originally Posted by Sahara

^^
Great to hear you had such a cool time ... and welcome to the Ledge!

I know how you feel about boring blocks, by the way. Concerts where the audience are like zombies are no fun at all. Bet you shook 'em up!

Thank you! Yes lol I like to think so. We got to a point were we thought 'screw it, lets not let the boring ones drag us down!' - so we partied on.

Great gig. I hope I can see them again - ball's in their court I suppose!