If they were smart

[DrummerDeanna]

I agree with the Blah sentiment....and with the push the envelope thing...I was excited about the concert...but honeslty, if I find out they're doing like a ton of old stuff and a few news things it's not worth my money...ok...well it still would be...hahaha...I'm wishy washy...But dangit!!! I want NEW stuff...!!!!!! NEW!!!!

[Mike B]

Originally posted by Phil

Big Love (acoustic rehearsal shown on Dateline/Today)

And I'm disgusted that Lindsey is planning on doing this one live again. What is the deal? It's not as if this is GYOW or Rhiannon we're talking about. It was a minor hit, not something that everyone is expecting to hear.

What irks me is if he's doing Big Love, I can't imagine him doing Red Rover, which would have a similar feel when performed live. Why bother creating new songs if you're never going to play them? I guess we can expect Go Insane to be included along with it again as well.

Ugh.

[PenguinHead]

It's very interesting reading the different perspectives on the subject of the band's set list. I've always found it very perplexing and frustrating on how -- for a band with such a vast catalog of hits/classic album tracks/etc.. -- that their set lists were always so safe, stale and predictable. Same goes for Stevie -- although I give her credit for recently breaking out live versions of rare songs like Rose Garden, Sleeping Angel and Twisted, and peforming a good chunk of Trouble In Shangri La.

Funny thing is, back when Stevie first went solo with Bella Donna, Lindsey made a publically quoted quip about her live act. He mentioned that it "bordered on a lounge act," in regard to the fact that she included many of her Fleetwood Mac songs. I must admit, I experienced a "cringe factor" hearing classic band songs such as Gold Dust Woman, Rhiannon and Dreams recast in a solo format for the first time. Over time, I became more reasonable. Hey, she wrote them. They are her songs. She can sing them with or without Fleetwood Mac. But then she never stopped singing them!!!!!!!!!!!! A lounge act, indeed.

I think of all the other bands I love, have followed and seen in concert throughout the the last several decades...bands with lesser success or even big bands like U2, REM, solo artists like Elvis Costello, Aimee Man, Neil Finn etc...they continually and radically change their set lists, often night to night.

Fleetwood Mac, especially evident in recent comments by Stevie and Lindsey, seems to have some sort of self-imposed restrictions on what they feel they have to play. Because of that thinking, we get Dream, Gold Dust Woman, Rhiannon, etc...for the millionth time.

I don't understand fans who get angry if the band doesn't play a certain song. Don't you want to see an unique, fresh show?! I don't want to hear a juke box. I can get the best versions of those songs of the The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac.

Let's face it, the band's live versions of well-worn classics like Rhiannon are not what they use to be. Mostly they are by-the-numbers pale facsimiles. I wish they would retire them for new stuff (or new old songs) in which they would invest more spirit and energy. For instance, would anyone truely miss "I'm So Afraid" if they performed "Come" instead?

[seteca]

Originally posted by The Tower
Enough with the retreads- let's hear some great stuff!!!

Django/Races Are Run
Sara
Sisters of the Moon
Storms
Walk a Thin Line
Eyes of the World
Tango in the Night (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Second Hand News


Shake it up a little bit, people!!!!

Those tracks would be absolutely AWESOME!!! Someone from FM please be reading this post!!lol!!

[secondhandchain]

Big Love was not a minor hit. It made the top ten. I would rather hear that live then Dreams, Rhiannon (again) or even I'm so afraid. But on the other side, there are alot of songs that could take it's place to show off his finger picking. Say goodbye, would a GREAT replacement for Big Love.

[seteca]

Originally posted by secondhandchain
...there are alot of songs that could take it's place to show off his finger picking. Say goodbye, would a GREAT replacement for Big Love.

Absolutely!! And it's also A LOT harder to play (especially the chorus)! So if there is only time to play one of the two (preferably I'd like to see both!!) and showing off is what he wants to do......Say Goodbye to Big Love Lindsey!!

[wondergirl9847]

I would be appalled if they didn't do ISA. LMAO!!

Actually...I am going to DIE if I don't hear Red Rover...I have been thinking about this concert and OMG...I was SOOOOOO bored watching them do Rhiannon and GYOW...sorry folks who love those live, but they are boring to me. I'm ready for the NEW stuff and even tho I'm gonna DIE just seeing them step on that stage, I will be MORE excited to hear NEW and RARE stuff!!!!

I've come to grips with the fact if he doesn't do ISA...I'll be okay with it...because I have MANY mp3's of the song and the Mirage concert and the Dance concert I can watch ANYTIME I want...so....BRING ON THE NEW SONGS, FOLKS!!!!!!!

[secondhandchain]

P.S. Big Love is one of Lindsey's few top ten hits, so ofcourse he would want to do it. We should'nt forget that Chris had most of the actual hits. Lindsey: Go Your Own Way, Tusk and Big Love
Thats' it folks for Lindsey's hits. He has many other "known" songs from airplay on Rock stations, but singles, no. Before you get all crazy on me, LIndsey is my FAVORITE in the band. I am not trashing him.

[wondergirl9847]

EVIL BASHER!!!!!!!!!

Kidding. LOL

Seriously, you are right...Christine has the most hits for FM under her belt. Lindsey's songs aren't hits because they aren't SAFE pop tunes. Radio is SCARED TO DEATH of Lindsey's stuff. LOL I almost crapped when I heard that PK was the first single...WHAT?? A Lindsey song? You are kidding me!!! LOL

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by jwd
AND I would be personally disgusted if they did not do Rhiannon.


Joe

That's already happened.

[Mike B]

Penguinhead - Amen! I agree with your entire post. You've summed up exactly how I feel!

In the msnbc audio chat, Lindsey says this, and I couldn't disagree more:

"We're not one of those bands like REM who may just decide to do a different set every night; that can be fresh and fun for the band but it can also border on being self-indulgent because sometimes the arch of those songs... it really doesn't work. You're kind giving your audience a hit or miss proposition there."

I think he underestimates the audience. They don't have to do an entirely different set every night. But why not rotate out songs with similar rhythms or atmospheres - Monday Morning/Blue Letter; Dreams/Sara; Big Love/Red Rover - from night to night. Especially if they are doing 2 consecutive shows in 1 city. I don't know why they feel that once they nail down a setlist, it can't be played with at all. I guess it has alot to do with Lindsey being a perfectionist and not wanting to leave room for any surprises. But at this point, why not go for it? Try some stuff out and see if it works.

Originally posted by secondhandchain
P.S. Big Love is one of Lindsey's few top ten hits, so ofcourse he would want to do it.

Good point! I forget that it is one of Lindey's best known songs. But how about this - instead of acoustic, why don't they do a full blown electric version of the song? Then showcase his acoustic abilities with Red Rover or whatever...

[Tusk57]

Penguin Head you made a lot of valid points that I agree with as usual. However, I too remember Lindsey's comment about a "lounge act"---but he was referring to Christine's solo act, not Stevie's. That was in Rolling Stone magazine many moons ago. Also, about changing up the set list from show to show....I see a problem about it. If I heard that they were playing some fantastic songs that I would die to see them perform live and then they finally hit my town and they skipped them for something I didn't much care for, I'd be pissed. Stevie did that to me on her last tour when she didn't sing Planets of the Universe. That was my favorite new song of hers too! I'm still ticked off at that. I wonder why she stopped doing it? On the other hand, being a little selfish, since I'm going to see them four times in July at Staples and at the Pond, I wish they would change it up each night. The only song I would really miss is I'm so Afraid. I can't get enough of that guitar solo! Add in Come and Murrow and I would probably pass out.

[ERigby818]

Originally posted by Tusk57
The only song I would really miss is I'm so Afraid. I can't get enough of that guitar solo! Add in Come and Murrow and I would probably pass out.

Hehe, that totally sums up how I feel about the new tour. The only Stevie classic I want to see is Gypsy. But other than that I really won't miss anything. Bring on the guitar solos!
-Sonia

[myndpeace]

Originally posted by Tusk57
Also, about changing up the set list from show to show....I see a problem about it. If I heard that they were playing some fantastic songs that I would die to see them perform live and then they finally hit my town and they skipped them for something I didn't much care for, I'd be pissed.

My thoughts exactly. These tickets cost $125. I doubt that many people other than super hardcore fans are going to more than one show. I personally cannot afford any more than that, nor can I take the additional time off of work. Furthermore, recall that it has been six years since anyone's seen Fleetwood Mac live, so its not like FM's simply hashing out the same stuff again and again. I personally have never seen FM live (I missed the Dance and was way too young in 1988), so I'm looking forward to hearing the classics.

[estranged4life]

like to see a mix of old and alot of new and TONS of stuff that was never played live (ie-Storms...)...

And I would like to see FM pull a Pearl Jam and record the whole concert tour and release the shows...Hell, I would pay for some of the shows if each show was varied setwise, But I doubt that will happen...Brian J.