Brisbane -11/10

[michelej1]

By Simon Holt Review: Fleetwood Mac, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, November 10, 2015


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/...#ixzz3r8kFvlhJ
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About 30 seconds into a song called Tusk, Fleetwood Mac stumbled. Like someone who'd lost their place on a page in a book, the band stopped.
"We're going to say we're not perfect, and we're going to start that one again, OK?" lead guitarist Lindsey Buckhingham said.
Until then, a full house at Boondall wanted badly for the show to be great. But it wasn't. It was pedestrian at worst, ordinary at best.


One of the world's greatest bands seemed to be going through the motions, playing like it was the 114th concert on a long two-year roadtrip.

Chart-toppers Rhiannon, Everywhere and Dreams had all been rolled out, and it was Fleetwood Mac. They had to be brilliant, right?
There was nothing horrible about the first few songs – it was certainly no Meat Loaf moment.

There was just no sparkle – at least not until the second the band hiccupped.
When the group hit silence – a musical brick wall – something magic happened.

It was like they'd been given a wake-up call, a nudge to say they were slightly off their game, an embarrassing kick in the guts.

Whatever it was, the on-stage mood changed. Their energy lifted. Each member of the band found something special. No longer were they motioning through a set of songs.

They began to engage – with the audience, and with each other.
Stevie Nicks, who was previously more worried about her ear pieces as she hobbled around the stage in platform heels a size too small, suddenly commanded the stage.

Her shoes looked like they fit again. The queen of rock was back, sliding around the floor, spreading the wings of her black and gold shawls, swinging her flowing blonde locks in front of the wind machine, and reminding everyone why her voice had been regarded such a distinguishable commodity for more than 40 years.

No longer was she just singing songs. She was telling stories, as songwriters of the '70s demanded their artists must do.

Tusk was the eighth song of the set. And while the first attempt was botched, the audience spreading at least three generations was highly forgiving.
Buckhingham ensured the second time around was superb, as was his Big Love guitar solo shortly after, befitting of a man Rolling Stone included in the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

The 65-year-old is not a household name like Nicks, but he is the musical brains behind the operation. And he reminded people that the band's imperfections were sometimes what helped them connect with so many people.

Part of the band's appeal, he said, was that they had put their personal lives – not always intentionally – "out there for people to scrutinise".
Buckingham and Nicks, who kissed and held hands through the performance, were of course once an item.

"We had to deal with those difficulties and one way was to write songs to each other, and about one another," he said.

"And we're still here. Within these five people, there's a great deal of love."
Christine McVie, the lesser-known voice of so many Fleetwood Mac hits, and before married to bass guitarist John McVie, had been in hiatus until this tour. Her voice too seemed to change a key after the Tusk mishap.
Her closing piano solo of Songbird was as beautiful as ever.

And Mick Fleetwood on drums, with his Santa Claus-type beard, receding hairline and grey pony tail, is quite simply the grandfather everyone ever wanted to have.

His black vest, red bandana around his neck, white T-shirt and bright pink leather shoes proved that while he might have lost a few follicles, he's lost none of his cool.

His drum solo which kicked off the encore during song World Turning was as epic as it was entertaining.

Fleetwood is a showman of the highest standard, and his closing line was apt: "One might say much fun was had by all."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/...#ixzz3r8l01XLx
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[michelej1]

I'm not sure that I would want Mick for my grandfather, actually. Although, I know he is a grandpa now and I'm sure the kid's not complaining.

Michele

[nicole21290]

[StreetAngel86]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Which was admitted in the Slow Dancing video.


Michele

It's really the only acceptable reason i'll buy for Stevie finishing Moonlight SD is prob her fave solo song

[nicole21290]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

It's really the only acceptable reason i'll buy for Stevie finishing Moonlight SD is prob her fave solo song

Question 141 - from Maureen in Phoenix
Stevie, in both music videos “Stand Back” and “Gypsy,” you slow danced. I read somewhere that during a concert, more recent than later, you and Lindsey slow danced to “Tusk” and I was just wondering…is slow dancing something you really enjoy doing?
THANK YOU so much!

Stevie’s answer:
ABSOLUTLEY! I like to slow dance whenever possible, I even slow dance by myself during my solo shows!

[michelej1]

Stevie and Lindsey used to dance during the SYW tour, when it started off. They'd pretend to fight and then it would end in an embrace and dance. It was terribly awkward to watch.

I mean, I know it was an interpretative dance, telling their history, but I don't need them mocking fisticuffs on stage. Of course, by the end of the tour they weren't doing it like they had in the beginning. Thank heaven, because in the beginning of the tour, Lindsey was swinging his guitar cord in her direction like a lasso. Heaven help me.

Michele

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by lovethemac1

That is so awesome. They are such a perfectly polished group, that when you get to see a little bit of difference, personality, and humanity......it's so refreshing.

yes.... though when they restarted Lindsey had to start back from his spot near the drum riser and do his walk to the mic from the same spot; he couldn't just start near the mic-- it's not in the script! He repeated the same hand motions, did the same 'evil' laugh, and he and Stevie both did their same holding the phone hand gestures in the exact same spot the second time as the first.

[nicole21290]

[thedys]

Originally Posted by nicole21290

Poor unfortunate me was stuck up in a tiered section, Anyhow......

Hi Ledgies, new on the forum and first time posting; but long time Mac tragic!

Yes Nicole, the crew and I left Burleigh at 5.30pm to make Boondall, and finally got into that utter schmozzle of a carpark at 7.30pm...
We were up the back in the Nose-bleed seats [24A], but had a good central view of the stage. And those were the $160.00 tickets!

The show itself was fantastic, I think people forget that the band are all over 65+ years of age now, and perhaps expect them to hit the same vocal highs that they did 40 years ago - not the case, thus we must make allowances for this in our expectations.
As a result, some songs were performed in a lower musical-key to compensate the vocals, but we knew that would be evident dating back to the 1997 The Dance DVD recording.
But I'm sure you guys would have already observed that fact in other threads on the forum, going back through the years...

However, the band seemed to appreciate the reception and the vibe of the evening, banter with the audience, and they still certainly represent value for money ahead of many other over-hyped and over-rated international acts.

Personally, I had some issues with the sound mix; namely John's bass notes not coming through all that clearly, and getting lost in the mix for much of the evening.
Whether that was the fault of the engineers, or equipment itself, I'm not certain... Doesn't matter though - they vocals were fine, as was Lindsay's impeccable finger picking.

Would have liked to have heard Seven Wonders, Monday Morning and Hold Me performed ahead of some other songs selected, but you're rarely going to hear your dream-setlist at a stadium show, are you?
Ultimately we can be thankful that they are still making the effort to tour, and rewarding Australian fans for their 40 years of loyalty.

As Mick said after the encore: The Mac is Back!

[DoubtfulMiracle]

Originally Posted by Aussie W/Heart

I was sitting in the 5th row Lindsey's side, i have a crook neck from looking sideways. They started 20 min later than usual, but well worth the wait they were absolutely fantastic...

I'm the same, just the other side of my neck! I got distracted half way through going "Are the girls here? I think I can hear them but I can't see them." And I definitely didn't know there was a third one until band intros

Originally Posted by Aussie W/Heart

Security ushered a large group of youngish girls directly in front of Lindsey, we were told no crowd surfing to the front row, so my idea of sneaking up the front flew out the window The atmosphere changed way better when everyone was standing later in the set..

There's a shock! I was actually telling my brother about this when I was working out who I could schmooze to get up to the stage, but I decided that sadly I'm not even young enough any more

Originally Posted by James89

I can't work out what was wrong the first time around.

I loved John and Christine's improvised instrumentals when they stopped. That's a very British thing to do, trying to make light out of an awkward situation!

Haha, yes! It's funny that now I listen to it I can't really tell anything is wrong with the first go either, but it was very obvious at the time.

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

chugg if she plays with it MORE than once during the same song
honey you'd be drunk by the end of Dreams

It's funny because it's true! She's such a fusspot.


And Nicole, thank you again for your videos

[nicole21290]

[wheart]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

yes.... though when they restarted Lindsey had to start back from his spot near the drum riser and do his walk to the mic from the same spot; he couldn't just start near the mic-- it's not in the script! He repeated the same hand motions, did the same 'evil' laugh, and he and Stevie both did their same holding the phone hand gestures in the exact same spot the second time as the first.

I know, right? I noticed that also during Take 2! too funny. It was great watching it cause I had no idea that they were gonna start over. It was quite refreshing.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

yes.... though when they restarted Lindsey had to start back from his spot near the drum riser and do his walk to the mic from the same spot; he couldn't just start near the mic-- it's not in the script! He repeated the same hand motions, did the same 'evil' laugh, and he and Stevie both did their same holding the phone hand gestures in the exact same spot the second time as the first.

That was so awkward looking in the video and speaks volume to how scripted the shows are. Even in the middle of a flub they have to retreat to a full restart with the same hand gestures and starting points. Lol....who cares just start the damn song. Although personally, I can't stand the slow drawn out post-2004 Tusk beginnings and would prefer to just hear Mick start banging on the drums and get moving.

[AnthonyMI]

Christine is starting to play Sara the way she used to on the recent Live Sara on the remastered Tusk. Now to get LB to start to play his guitar more actively.

[StreetAngel86]

Originally Posted by nicole21290

Stevie’s answer:
ABSOLUTLEY! I like to slow dance whenever possible, I even slow dance by myself during my solo shows!

aaaaaaaaaah *le sigh*
i like the literal meaning yes.
but i have NEVER interpreted this song to be about actual "dancing"
likewise with Stevie's line in Say You Will smut city baby!

Originally Posted by michelej1

Thank heaven, because in the beginning of the tour, Lindsey was swinging his guitar cord in her direction like a lasso. Heaven help me.

Michele

not related to Stevie's "lasso" gestures was it?
by far the worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrst of all the gestures she ever did
give me air piano/guitar/drums any day
but not the lasso