Originally Posted by elle
[url]http://www.soundspike.com/story/5238/concert-review-fleetwood-mac-in-uncasville-ct/[/url
Two new songs that Buckingham teased would be on a soon-to-be-released EP were well received. The medium-tempo "Sad Angel" showcased some great tight harmonies between Nicks and Buckingham, while "Eyes of the World" was amped up by Fleetwood's thundering drum rolls.
The show also featured "Without You," a long lost ballad that Nicks said was recently rediscovered. She explained that it was not only the song that convinced Mick Fleetwood to ask the duo to join the band, but also represented the epitome of love songs generated between herself and Buckingham when they were young lovers making their way into the music business in 1970.
"Rhiannon," "Sisters of the Moon," "Sara" and "Gypsy" provided additional opportunities for Nicks to do what she does best, delving into the character of each subject and articulating the material as though it was being sung from a first-person perspective. Her vocals on "Landslide" were almost overpowered by the audience singing along, but instead of tolerating it, Nicks embraced the accompaniment graciously thanking the fans and complimenting them for their enthusiasm.
Despite Nicks' costume changes and occasional break away spin dancing, Buckingham consistently remained centerpiece of the show, switching between acoustic and electric guitars and mesmerizing with blistering leads and staccato rhythm playing.
His solo take on "Big Love," was unmatched, as a huge banner unfurled behind him serving as a giant vertical projection screen and amplifying his slight frame to three story high proportions. Buckingham also approached "Tusk" differently, taking a couple of verses in slow, free form before the familiar drumbeat and blaring horn samples kicked in.
The Nicks solo hit "Stand Back" represented the band's single departure from the Fleetwood Mac catalog, but it seemed to get the entire band rejuvenated, including bassist McVie, who up until that point, remained glued to the right of Fleetwood's drum kit. The chugging bass line saw McVie moving back and forth to the beat, apparently enjoying the novelty groove.
The first encore provided a chance for Fleetwood to take an extended drum solo, which proved he still has the stamina to churn an audience into a primal frenzy. The second encore brought the energy level back down as the band closed out the show with the sweet strains of "Silver Springs" -- a number that was intended for inclusion on "Rumors," but originally saw the light of day as the flip side to the "Don't Stop" single.
With all of the choices available to music fans and concertgoers this spring and summer, it might be easy to relegate Fleetwood Mac to the "been there, seen that" category. But based on the sheer quality of the band's performance during stop nine of this extended tour, and the quantity of hits they are stacking into the setlist, the current Fleetwood Mac tour should be prioritized as a "must see."
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04-23-2013, 04:53 PM
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