LA show - Lindsey was fantastic, Stevie was not

[dontlookdown]

Here's my quick thoughts on the first LA show....

Lindsey Buckingham is at the top of his game - he was fantastic - the best I've seen him play - and I've been watching him play for a long long time.

Stevie, on the other hand, turned in the worst performance I've ever seen her do. I thought she looked tired and her vocals were really weak. In general, something was a little off - as if she wasn't feeling very well. Most of her songs seemed rushed - a little "phoned in". It was almost as if she just wanted to get the show over with and go home and get in bed.

Other comments - the band sounded great - Mick was in top form as was John. I could have done without the extra drummers and guitar players. The piano player was so heavy-handed. It really made me miss Chris.

The whole experience made me long for another Lindsey solo album - or a tour without Stevie. What's so odd about Fleetwood Mac is these days is that Lindsey has grown so much as an artist, and Stevie seems to be treading water. In 1997 that was OK, because she had obviously worked so hard to regain so much vocal power. I don't know what happened on Friday night, but she was not singing well.

Highpoints for me: Say Goodbye - gorgeous, I'm So Afraid - one of the few times that it felt like the good old band, Big Love, all of Lindsey's solos - absolutely phenomenal.

My hopes for future tours: A Lindsey solo tour with Mick and John in small theaters. As for Stevie... I hope she takes a long needed vacation and gets back in shape. Whatever the problem was - it wasn't good.

[wondergirl9847]

Well that sucks that you didn't like Stevie's performance. It's funny because I was really excited to see FM as a whole band, and none of you may believe me, but I was looking forward to seeing Stevie too, never seeing her or FM live before, but Lindsey....he was just ON, he was LEADING the pack and they were all following him. He is REALLY overshadowing her on this tour (I would say something here, but won't. LOL) and at my Dallas show, I was kinda bored through some of her stuff, like Landslide (until the solo that is, hehe) and Silver Springs. The same old, same old...I LOVED hearing BC and GB tho...GORGEOUS..and GDW, which I love live anyways too was a fave along with Stand Back (THAT was JAM PACKED full of energy on the band's part!! WOW!!) I was bored through SYW because that's one of my least fave songs on SYW.

I guess I'm just majorly in dire need of a Lindsey solo album and tour. I love Miss Stevie, and I DID indeed enjoy seeing her live, she did some hand gestures during the songs and stuff, but Lindsey....he was ON FIRE!!!!

[dissention]

You know, I am kinda worried about Stevie.

In the beginning of the tour, she sounded AMAZING. But now, one night she'll sound great, then she'll be awful, then okay. I feel bad for her because she's going to be on tour for quite a long time while going through menopause, but in a way, I don't think she should be going on tour because of her health. Menopause puts a lot of stress on your body and mental well-being and she isn't going through it under normal circumstances.

People are paying to see a good performance and when someone goes on tour and charges lots of money to go to a show, you better make damn sure you're in top form. If you know you aren't feeling good and aren't going to perform that great, don't do it; people will be wasting their money on a sub-par show.

And, unfortunately, as the tour progresses, Lindsey's voice gets worse. Almost to the point where he sounds unlistenable on some songs. I love seeing them live as much as the next person, but WTWCT live is pretty bad with Lindsey's current voice.

I just don't understand how they're going to do this for supposedly another year and a half. They're still on the first leg, then they start another US leg. Then (supposedly), they are going overseas. I can only imagine what will happen to their voices from here until the end of the tour. Stevie won't be able to speak and Lindsey will sound like Stevie!

[GardenStateGirlie]

It's not easy being a woman!!! Not that it's an excuse when people pay a lot of money to see you but just the same as with a sport, you have your on days and you have your off days. You win some, you loose some. Not EVERYONE is going to be happy with the way Stevie is singing and as a performer, I'm sure Stevie knows this. I personally love her voice and I think It has definately matured in the past few years. I wasn't a big fan of some of her solo work but TISL....now THAT was AMAZING. And now...the songs on this new album?!?! I'm blown away everytime I listen. I saw them at the beginning of the tour so that may make some difference. However, as with every show on the tour, people give mixed reviews. Some people watch a show and think, that sucked, while others watch a show and see something entirely different.

Stevie isn't in her 20s anymore and I don't expect her to act like she is. Fans complain because she isn't wearing her trademark platforms. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I don't know about you guys but i'll take Stevie whatever way we can get her. To me, I could care less if she's dressed in jeans and a cute shirt with or without the shawls, with or without the boots just as long as she's comfortable and singing her ass off. I think a lot of the stress she puts on herself is "if I don't wear the boots they'll be dissapointed...but i'll be hurting...but they'll be happy....but It might take away from my singing...and they'll be dissapointed..." In the All Access show you can even see someone handing her a handful of pills before she walks on stage. She's been having back problems as well as hip problems and it's evident at some points she's in pain but she sucks it up and deals because this is her job.

While I agree that this tour is Lindsey's time to shine (because we all know Marissa loves her some LINDSEY ), Stevie certainly does have her moments and she has reaffirmed for me with the shows I have seen just why it is that I love her music and her as a performer and a person so much.

As for how they're going to make it through to next year? I don't think they'll have any problems. They're going to get some time off with the end of this leg and i'm assuming they'll be getting some time off in February with the Grammy awards (because you KNOW they'll be nominated and will be making the rounds on late night once again) so I think they're going to be just fine. As far as Stevie's reaction and demeanor? I think she's happy to be home in the place it all began 30 years back. She's older now...and with that comes a lot of nostalgia. Stevie is going to be just fine

[Jo and Jensen]

Originally posted by dontlookdown
What's so odd about Fleetwood Mac is these days is that Lindsey has grown so much as an artist, and Stevie seems to be treading water.

I have to start by saying that I have been mainly a Lindsey-FM fan for quite some time, but after this tour I really think my feelings have changed to where I like Stevie more at the moment.

To reply to the above quote...since the Dance Stevie has had a boxset AND a new fabulous solo album while Lindsey has done...0. He's been waiting in his studio for Stevie and FM.

Also, I attended the FM show in Philly and East Rutherford, and I have to say that during the show I was really excited to see Lindsey. His energy was amazing! Stevie's voice was beautiful and Beautiful Child was THE song of the night, IMHO. She looks like she is enjoying herself very much on stage, too.

Something strange I noticed while watching a DVD copy of that Philly show...and listening to songs from other shows that I was able to download, though, is that Stevie's performances were still strikingly beautiful while Lindsey's seemed strained and TOO out of control. I couldn't believe that I actually cringed while he was singing Come because all it was really was him screaming. If Stevie were to sing like that, people would be knocking her. :-(

Plus, if you watch Come...Lindsey doesn't play the cool guitar. He only plays the solo. I would like him to do more of his own playing.

Stevie's songs and the way she performed them still had a lot of class while Lindsey's mostly showed a lot of showboating. I miss the classy Dance Lindsey that would SING a song and then act humble to the applause.

JMHO.

Love,
Jo

[Tusk57]

I saw both LA shows and will be seeing the other two at the Pond in Anaheim this week. I've been following the Mac for a long time and without a doubt, this is the best by far that Lindsey has played! He can showboat all night long playing like he is. Wow, what a show! He's the MAN! Come and I'm So Afraid were my favorites with GYOW and Tusk a close second. I'm a lousy critic, heck, I liked all of the songs. Stevie wasn't half as spectacular as Lindsey, but she gave a good effort and I enjoyed her songs too. In my opinion they do their best work when they are onstage together, not as solo artists in concert. It's fun watching them play off one another. Mick was Mick. He was nothing short of outstanding the whole night. John did his thing in the background, and did it very well. I also think having all those extra musicians is a good idea and works to flesh out the sound. What I think Stevie should do is drop some of the old songs that she and put in RTTG and EFO as well as some older stuff she never does. Beautiful Child was her best performance along with Stand Back and maybe GDW. I don't think she is going through menopause now. She is 55 for crying out loud! I think she should hit the gym in a big way and whip herself into to fighting shape like Lindsey is. I still love her anyway! I don't miss Christine at all. It gives it a more aggresive tone now, and lets Lindsey stretch out and do his thing. You gotta love it!!!

[FiercestCalmSea]

First off,I will agree that this is tour is almost all Lindsey.Everyone i know who has seen a show has been BLOWN away by him.I hate to say it but when i saw them in Worcester,i almost forgot what a huge Stevie fan i was,lol...My attention was on Linds for alot of the time.Now,i also have to say that i don't see this as a problem.I've seen Stevie 10 times solo..i've shaken her hand like 5 times..i KNOW what a great performer she is...how there is absolutely no way to describe leaning on the stage and watching her sing from less than 10 ft. away..so..she has nothing to prove to me..she's got me..I am a fan for life...no matter what she does.I think what is happening is that people are realizing how amazing Linds really is for the first time..he may have to be a bit more outgoing to get people to notice him,but dammit,he is finally getting his due..and i think that is awesome

[pwyll]

I was at both shows and thought Stevie was in top form. I love Lindsey...I even got to strum his guitar and meet them after the show, but I was blown away by Stevie too. Are you sure we were at the same show??

[skcin]

...that Stevie is letting Lindsey have the limelight this tour. She is hanging back a bit & letting him do his thing & playing the lead on stage.
I've heard there has always been some animosity from LB about Stevie getting a lot more attention in FM. Now look at the fact that LB is shaking hands & interacting w/ the crowd & signing pics - like she usually has done in the past.
No big deal to me, but I don't believe Stevie has lost "it", I think she knows EXACTLY what she's doing by letting LB take the lead this time. Who knows why? Paula

[dissention]

Stevie is going through menopause, she told People magazine a couple months back.

I think ever since AHI 2000 that Stevie's voice has changed a LOT. It is still the most unique and beautiful voice, yet it has become quite frail and weak. During the Enchanted tour, she was TEARING UP songs. I remember opening night, I was in awe. The show in Atlanta was absolutely amazing; she wailed and sang her hear out on all the songs, especially Edge of 17. But then the TISL tour came and she had health issues and I don't think she ever recovered vocally. All the damage that was done years ago is really starting to catch up and it isn't good. Just look at GDW or even Rhiannon from a couple of years ago at then look at it today; there is hardly any power in them at all.

Lindsey, as much as I love him, needs a vocal coach. He doesn't know how to sing properly live, so he tries to overcompensate for it by going buck-wild on his guitar.

[WednesdaysChild]

Someone was handing Stevie pills? I know they were probably pain killers for her back/hip problems...but I just worry she'll get addicted to those! I'm not trying to be funny or play on her past addictions but if you are a recovering addict from something, it's easy to get hooked on something else...plus pain killers are easy to get hooked on.

I saw Stevie for the first time on Enchanted..she was good. TISL was much better...but seeing her with FM for the first time, I don't know. I can't really compare them, because when she was doing TISL, she was solo and didn't have to share the stage (except the few songs where SHERYL came out--ew). All I know is that she doesn't seem as chatty as she did during both Enchanted and TISL...I just pray that she doesn't get really sick from being so tired and going through menopause.

Can you have relapses of Epstein-Barr--not sure if it leaves your body, or do you always have it? Also, her parents have heart conditions...I hope it's not hereditary!

Take good care of yourself, Stevie! I want to see you again...

PS. She should bring out the boots on stage, and plunk them down next to her and say, "You wanted the boots!?!?! YOU GOT 'EM!!!!!" LOL

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by WednesdaysChild
Can you have relapses of Epstein-Barr--not sure if it leaves your body, or do you always have it?

Epstein Barr is viral and can recur at any time without reason.

[rianbay1]

I think Stevie sounds MUCH better now than she did on the Enchanted tour or even TISL. It seems to me that Stevie is being very careful with her voice and is very much in control of it. The 7 shows I've seen have been the BEST fleetwood mac shows EVER. The performances have been getting stronger and stronger IMO, especially where Stevie is concerned. Unlike Lindsey, she seemed sort of reserved the first couple of shows. I think she has grown more confident as the tour has progressed.

BRIAN

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by skcin
...that Stevie is letting Lindsey have the limelight this tour. She is hanging back a bit & letting him do his thing & playing the lead on stage.

How silly. Anyone who saw Lindsey in the Cradle tour knows he is an amazing performer with or without Stevie. Also, if you look at the Mirage video, Lindsey tears it up in his spastic way. On the Dance tour he was more subdued, but he was just as outstanding with his playing. He doesn't need to have Stevie "let" him take the limelight.

As for how long the tour will last, there's no way they're going to keep this up another 18 months. This thing will get wrapped up by February, regardless of what they are saying now. Keep an eye on the economy.

[gypsysara]

I was at night 1 of the LA show, didnt go Saturday night. But am going this week to OC and then to SD on Saturday night, then onto Phoenix. It will be interesting to compare the shows.

IMO Lindsey was really ON. Stevie is going thru menopause, so I didnt expect her to be out there, as Lindsey is. She's not so young anymore, you know. I noticed her hands looked older to me. While I love seeing her as a grown woman, she is that, and not a young kid anymore. I love her regardless though, and treasure the memory of Friday night. IMO though, I felt her vocals were stronger on TISL. I saw her at the peak of her sickness, and when she was better at the AH-I benefit, the AH-I was by far and away a wonderful evening for her vocally.