For Blue Letter Archives: Mac at the Myriad 1980

[David]

Fine Fleetwood Mac Performance No Rumor
Fleetwood Mac at the Myriad, Oklahoma City
By Bruce Westbrook
Daily Oklahoman
Aug. 24, 1980

For a band that’s been touring most of the past year, Fleetwood Mac performed a remarkably long & inspired concert at the Myriad Friday night.

The group’s record sales may have waned—their latest album is nowhere near the history-making “Rumours” LP—but Fleetwood Mac’s concerts are still a hot ticket.

Several weeks ago, the Oklahoma City show sold out in two-&-a-half hours, although some seats behind the stage were later put on sale. That brought the total audience to about 12,000.

Only a few were in their seats when Rocky Burnette opened the concert, but that’s just as well. His material was undistinctive & his band was better than he was, yet Burnette boasted he’s “the son of rock & roll,” apparently since his father, the late Johnny Burnette, was a rockabilly legend.

Burnette could learn something about rock music from Fleetwood Mac, who played a well-paced, dynamic, nonstop show that lasted two hours, not counting the encores. The suspended sound system was good, the lighting was superb & the players’ professionalism was consistent & assured.

The dominant force all evening was the only band member who stayed onstage throughout the show—the talented & tireless Lindsey Buckingham.

Singer Stevie Nicks may be the sex symbol of the group, but Buckingham is the heart. With his obsessive vocal stylizations & his crisp, powerful lead guitar playing, he was the energized, driving force that kept the music moving.

The show’s opener, “Monday Morning,” was deceptively light & bouncy, because the next song, “The Chain,” was frenzied & compelling, even more dramatic onstage than it is on record.

Other “Rumours” hits followed, including “Don’t Stop” & “Dreams.” The latter featured Miss Nicks’ first solo. She often seemed bored with the older material & sang melodic variations to give the songs a new dimension.

An early highlight was “Oh Well,” a sassy rocker written 10 years ago by former Fleetwood Mac member Peter Green. Most of the newer material was performed much like the recorded versions, although “Sara” was played at a faster tempo & “Tusk” had a new vitality, with much more instrumental muscle from the band.

The rhythm section was consistently sound & solid, thanks to bassist John McVie & drummer Mick Fleetwood. They offset each other well. McVie looks serious-minded & subdued, while the 38-year-old Fleetwood flails at his drums with maniacal zeal.

McVie’s ex-wife Christine was impressive on several different keyboards & sang some soulful solos, especially for “Over & Over.”

Miss Nicks left the stage several times to change outfits, & everyone left the workhorse Buckingham alone for “Never Going Back Again.” The song was beautifully simplified, with Buckingham almost whispering the vocals while strumming an acoustic guitar.

With the band back, “Angel” featured the night’s richest harmonies, & after several more songs, “Go Your Own Way,” one of the group’s best concert songs, ended the set on an exhilarating note.