Pittsburgh show

[jmn3]

Fantastic show tonight! Despite liking this band essentially all 34 years of my life, I never saw them until 2009...they were great in 2009 and 2013, but with Christine, they are another level altogether. She adds great songs, vocals, humor, and overall, balance, to the show.

The setlist flows fairly well (it's so much better to judge these things when you're at the show, vs. posts online and Youtube videos). The first dog, IMO, is I Know I'm Not Wrong. A lot of momentum seems lost on a mostly clueless crowd who doesn't know the song at all.

Sisters seems much better this year. Stevie's vocals altogether seem stronger (on most songs) than last year. Really enjoyed hearing Seven Wonders, although Stevie still is getting the lyrics mixed up (missed again, "if I hope, and if I pray..."). I think this song in particular, would be the place for her to do her "Storytime with Aunt Stevie" shtick that she has going with Gypsy. We heard a Gypsy story in 2009...with the mattress on the floor, etc. Seven Wonders is one of those forgotten songs in her catalog and there were a lot of audience members who seemed to not know it, or were trying to remember it. And I heard a lot of "huh what?" about American Horror Story when she thanked it at the end...I think a little introduction about how AHS brought the song back to her and she resurrected it for the first time since 1988 would be better than hearing about Gypsy again.

The acoustic set, despite it's redundancy for the super fans, is a huge hit with the audience. Even NGBA, which seemingly plods along at a snail's pace these days, drew an incredible amount of applause.

Over My Head is the second dog for me...it just seems to be wrongly placed in the set. And it's followed up with the Gypsy story, which is then followed up by another mehhh rendition of this great song. I'm sorry, this one should be dropped. As phenomenal as Stevie sounds on other songs, she just seems to struggle with Gypsy in particular. I'd take Sara for it any day of the week.

Little Lies...I just friggin love this song. When I was 6 or 7 I used to hear it on the way to soccer and I loved it then, and I love it now. It really sounded great and the little jam at the end was awesome. I am so thrilled they resurrected this - Christine's voice sounded great throughout the show!

GDW/ISA/GYOW/WT- awesome as always

And then Mick introduces everyone and forgets to introduce John! Chris was counting out Don't Stop and got to 3 and Mick starts waving his sticks at her. John of course shrugs it off, but Mick was embarrassed and couldn't believe he forgot. The crowd loved it...Mick brought it up again during his finale speech, said it was "the worst thing I've ever done!" Oh Mick, I'm sure you've done worse

Getting to see Christine close a show with Songbird was amazing. It is so incredible that she is back and that those of us who were either too young, or too stupid, to see the full five of them, have this opportunity in 2014.

I hope everyone else who is planning to see them at future dates on this tour enjoys the show as much as we did tonight!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by jmn3

Sisters seems much better this year. Stevie's vocals altogether seem stronger (on most songs) than last year.

Glad you enjoyed the show and thanks for the detailed review. I agree about Sisters and look forward to hearing it again in November. It could rock harder musically, but I think vocally, Stevie does make it intense.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

The concert had several snafus that added to the evening. During Sisters of the Moon Stevie began to sing holding the microphone. She commented at the end "did you see the microphone problem? That is something I rarely do so it is something new" The microphone slipped out of the stand but she continued singing holding it in her hand. It was something to see!!!

That mic drop sounds like it was pretty interesting. I'd have loved to have seen the look on her face.

Oh, being able to feel the saliva of the guy behind you is a definite deal breaker. Shudder.

It really sounds like it was a fantastic show. Thanks for the review.

I know it's just one of those things that happens and no big deal, but I feel really bad about John's omitted introduction. It's a little hard to read about, even if it generated laughter during Mick's profuse and heartfelt apologies. Michele

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

The concert had several snafus that added to the evening.

Those make for the best shows!

There was another screw up during Say You Love Me. The same problem at Chicago where the beginning did not start properly. I thought they were going to stop the song and begin again like Chicago but the band played on like nothing happened. At the end Christine commented "sometimes this thing works and sometimes it doesn't." This new technology is ruining concerts IMHO.

AKA the mini-Mac...

But the biggest mistake of the night was ground breaking. Mick Fleetwood forgot to introduce John McVie during band intros. After introducing the members Mick started Dont Stop and Christine counted down....1, 2 , 3 until they stopped and realized Mick forgot John. Mick had a huge apology. He said he was firing himself from the band. Christine joked when it was time to start Dont Stop..."should we start now?"

John's SUCH a secret weapon, Mick forgot about him. THAT'S SECRET!

I think Seven Wonders and Little Lies sounded better with Billy Burnette and Rick vito in 1987. The intro to Little Lies in 1987 and 1990 was keyboard based like the album version. Lindsey created the guitar intro which sounds classic but I prefer the 80's version. I also think the Mac did Seven Wonders better in 1987. But I would not trade Lindsey for the world and the Mac is lost without him.

That's the beautiful thing about music. Lindsey's great, but EVERYBODY has their place. Lindsey's great at many things, but not every thing. OOTC was great in many ways, but it was obvious that he needed Mick and John as much as Fleetwood Mac needs him.

[Macfan4life]

Another thing I found interesting is that I rarely heard the background singers. It's almost like they heard our complaints. Always heard Chris and Lindsey backing stevie.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Another thing I found interesting is that I rarely heard the background singers. It's almost like they heard our complaints. Always heard Chris and Lindsey backing stevie.

I couldn't agree more...they seemed toned down a lot as compared to previous tours. Loved hearing the three back each other up with some toned down fills from "the girls"

[jonnmac]

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music...s/201410150114

Concert review: Christine McVie's return makes Fleetwood Mac a whole lot of fun

October 15, 2014 12:00 AM

By Scott Mervis / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Sweet, wonderful you."

They were the first three words we clearly heard from Christine McVie Tuesday night at Consol Energy Center, opening the second song, "You Make Loving Fun," and it got the ecstatic greeting you would expect from the packed house.

It was the first time we've heard that voice here since September 1997 (at Star Lake), a year before Ms. McVie left the group after 27 years due to her fear of flying. Now, at last, she's back on board and the band saluted that by hitting the stage with a rousing version of "The Chain," a rocker about unbreakable bonds.

"Welcome, Pittsburgh!" Stevie Nicks shouted. "And welcome back, Chris! She hasn't told us what she's been doing the last 16 years, but I'm sure she will. ... The story will come out at some point."

Ms. McVie's extended absence left Ms. Nicks alone with the boys -- singer-guitarist/ex-flame Lindsey Buckingham, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie (Ms. McVie's ex) -- and also left a number of the band's classic hits out of the set list. Of course, with Fleetwood Mac, there were plenty left to fill a two-plus hour show, but it sure was nice to see the revival of "You Make Loving Fun," "Say You Love Me," "Over My Head" and others.

Ms. McVie, one of three Brits in the bunch, is known for her warm, smoky vocals, to go with the raspy, husky ones of Ms. Nicks. At 71 and 66, respectively, they don't sound like they did on the records, which is to be expected, but there's still so much beauty, melody and character in those voices.

Ms. Nicks' "Rhiannon," for instance, is rough around the edges, but more haunting than ever and, clad in black with her flowing shawl, she remains just as bewitching. "Dreams" was a gem, as was "Seven Wonders," which she dedicated to a character in "American Horror Story." She only got better as the show went on, soaring to the rafters on "Landslide," "Gypsy" and "Gold Dust Woman," a show-stopper with tortured wails and a witchy dance in sparkly golden shawl.

Ms. McVie hasn't worked that vocal muscle as much over the years, and it showed, but her songs do call more for a simple purity of tone that she was able to muster. Three backup singers in the shadows added some extra heft to the harmonies. (There were also two backing musicians, and a percussionist hidden behind Mr. Fleetwood.)

Lindsey? My goodness. At 65, he's still a kid, still the energy force in the band, with blazing chops and a voice that can cut through a fog. He ran wild on the percussive romp of "Tusk" (with the USC Marching Band on the screen) and was practically pogoing as he blew through "Second Hand News." Once again, he sent them all off for "Big Love," his passionate exercise in acoustic speed metal, did magical finger-picking on "Never Going Back Again" and all but ripped off the strings on the maniacal "I'm So Afraid" solo.

He introduced "I Know I'm Not Wrong" saying, "Fleetwood Mac is a group that continues to evolve, continues to prevail, through the adversity and the good times, especially now with the return of beautiful Christine. We have begun a beautiful new chapter in the history of Fleetwood Mac."

For now, this chapter is infusing new energy into a bottomless catalog of classic songs, romantically entangled hits that truly hit home with adoring fans raised on '70s radio.

As usual, they were generous with them, going well beyond the two-hour mark and powering the climax with the likes of a knock-out "Go Your Own Way," a percussive "World Turning" with Mr. Fleetwood’s drum insanity and celebratory "Don't Stop."

And let's hope they don't, because these five amazing musicians, who somehow found each other across an ocean and a continent, still have the ability to take us to paradise.







The Chain

You Make Loving Fun

Dreams

Second Hand News

Rhiannon

Everywhere

I Know I'm Not Wrong

Tusk

Sisters of the Moon

Say You Love Me

Seven Wonders

Big Love (Lindsey solo, acoustic)

Landslide

Never Going Back Again (Lindsey solo, acoustic)

Over My Head

Gypsy

Little Lies

Gold Dust Woman

I'm So Afraid

Go Your Own Way

Encore:

World Turning (Mick drum solo)

Don't Stop

Silver Springs

Encore 2:

Songbird

[jonnmac]

AAAAMAZING SHOW. was very worried after watching the pitchy performance on The Today show this past week...but from the first notes of The Chain...they are were in great voice. Stevie sounded great. Better than in recent tours. She really seems to be trying harder to give more. Lindsey was awesome, and Chris...well just hearing her voice blending with the rest of the band was amazing. A total dream come true.

[Macfan4life]

I forgot to mention something amazing to see. At the end of the show someone handed Stevie a sharpie pen and Buckingham Nicks album. Stevie took it to the top of Chris's piano and signed it and gave it back. I never saw her do that before even at solo shows. That was really cool!

[wheart]

thanks for the reviews! I love to hear the unique show tidbits from each city. Tonight is Philly...I'm ready!!!

[kak125]

I dont have a lot to add but the show was just so amazing last night. I was in 3rd row on Christine's side and was all ready to go up to the front when the security guy sent us all back and said only the 1st row was allowed up but in reality people on the other side of the floor were allowed to the stage so I was super pissed about that. There was this total jerkoff guy wearing a baseball hat in the first row that went around to all the security guys in sections 2 and 3 before the show and was complaining so that is probably why they did that. I have been at the front twice before and I really wanted my friend to experience just once it in her lifetime so that really made me mad.
Anyway Christine sounded amazing and just looked so radiant and happy. The whole band just seemed so much lighter and more relaxed than I have seen in past tours but I wish Lindsey still ran around like a maniac. He tones it down when Christine is there and I get it because he doesn't want to be too showy but I really loved that part of the concert where he used to go bonkers!
I was telling my friend how there wasn't much Stevie/Lindsey interaction and she was like oh I thought they were looking at each other all night but this was nothing compared to 2003/2004 -ha!
We were dying when Mick forgot to introduce John the look on his face was so priceless. I was waiting for John to just go over and smack Mick!
Stevie during Gold Dust Woman was just so awesome I love her crazy crack dance that was the highlight of the night for me besides finally hearing Little Lies and Seven Wonderes. Ahh I have loved those songs for so many years it was so nice to hear them live for once!
The gypsy story was different than in 2013 I think I heard her mention going to a music store called the Velvet Underground so that is where she got that line from but yeah Stevie just seemed so much more into the show this year so that was fun to watch.
The girl that got the vinyl signed by Stevie was in the row in front of me she was the only one that got past the a**hole security guy in our section. She was so cute too she seemed really young but I felt bad for her friend because she tried to get up there like me and got sent right back. That guy stood there until the very last note - insane.
All in all the show was so amazing and it was worth the $319 I had to spend on my ticket to see the 5 of them again. My friend and I are already planning to go to Cleveland. I swear something about the MAC is just so addicting its bad -ha!
I have tons of pics I will post in a bit.

[Macfan4life]

Security got rid of that beach ball that started flying around early in the show. The side by Chris in the arena was much more into the show than the Lindsey side. They never stood and danced much. I only wish Chris would have done one song from tusk.

[wheart]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Security got rid of that beach ball that started flying around early in the show. The side by Chris in the arena was much more into the show than the Lindsey side. They never stood and danced much. I only wish Chris would have done one song from tusk.

any balloons or was that just in NY?

[kak125]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Security got rid of that beach ball that started flying around early in the show. The side by Chris in the arena was much more into the show than the Lindsey side. They never stood and danced much. I only wish Chris would have done one song from tusk.

Oh wow I didnt even see the beach ball! Yeah the people in our section danced the entire time so that was cool and the guy that sat next to us came in from Australia for the concert. He was so nice we were telling him before the show all the stuff to go see while he is in Pittsburgh.

[Macfan4life]

I did not see any balloons. I may be an old fashioned Mac fan so it surprises me not to see flowers and stuffed animals given to Chris and stevie. None of that. In Pittsburgh it was always customary to throw a Pittsburgh penguin on stage. Or a Pittsburgh Penguin shirt for John. But none of that either. I guess I am old school. Lol. 2 cute moments were during everywhere stevie and Chris make their maracas and tambourine touch during the song as a way to say. Hey what's up. And when John finally got introduced stevie and Chris were bowing like we are not worthy. Cute!