Newcastle Journal review, Nov. 24

[Les]

A nice review (with picture) from the Newcastle Journal:

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0...l&siteid=50081

November 24, 2003

Fleetwood Mac set the world turning
by Kevin Overbury

They came in their thousands to see and hear the best of Fleetwood Mac at the Newcastle debut of their British tour on Saturday and that's what they got - in spades.

The group might have been the best part of an hour late on stage and there might sometimes have been a hint of cheesiness in the look-into-each-other's-eyes vocals between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. But, hey, this was Fleetwood Mac. And it was good.

It was loud, too, with banks of around 100 speakers pumping out vibrations you could feel, let alone hear. And helping along the Mac's core four were up to seven other musicians and vocalists.

With a huge stage rig, state-of-the-art lighting and video effects and decades of some of rock's best music to pick and choose from, this night at the Telewest Arena was bound to be an event to remember.

Fleetwood Mac's history has not always been easy, as Lindsey Buckingham acknowledged - but added: "The point is, we're still here."

He was also looking young, handsome and surprisingly fit despite a troubled past. Stevie Nicks still has the looks, sexiness and amazing voice to hook the men in the crowd while Mick Fleetwood and John McVie continue to hold their own as rock supremos despite their greying beards.

As to the music, it was everything you'd expect, from the measured and tuneful Beautiful Child through to the near-manic jungle intensity of World Turning and Don't Stop.

This was a showpiece performance that mixed the very best of the old with songs from the new Say You Will album - new tracks that demonstrate how today's Fleetwood Mac can produce music that's bang up to date yet has every element of their tremendous legacy there as well.

Whether it's the incredible Buckingham guitar playing or the ferocious Fleetwood drums there was a rawness and earthiness that was designed to connect with the crowd - and boy did it!

Lindsey Buckingham producing sounds from his guitar that the instrument was never meant to make had the crowd dancing in the aisles.

And Mick Fleetwood's electronic drum machine, worn round his waist like body armour, let him strut around the stage to produce one of the longest and best drum solos I've ever heard.

Two-and-a-half hours of some of the best rock around - a truly great show.

[strandinthewind]

Thanks for finding and posting!!!!!!!!!!