Nicks brilliant, despite guitarist

MacMan · #1 07-04-2007, 06:54 AM

Wednesday, July 04, 2007
By DONNIE MOORHOUSEMusic writer
Masslive.com

Backed by an over-indulgent seven-piece band and buried in a sound mix that seemed more conducive to Ozzfest, Stevie Nicks barreled through a 90-minute set at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Sunday night.

The show was unnecessarily heavy-handed and loud. There are bands who believe the value of music can only be measured in decibels that don't play this loud.

Blame guitarist Waddy Wachtel, longtime Nicks collaborator and current musical director, who seemed to take the opportunity of this particular show to turn up his own guitar and self-showcase with several over-the-top, Spinal Tap-like solos. All of the arrangements heavily favored his favorite instrument to the detriment of the real star of the performance.

For her part, Nicks was brilliant.

Highlighting the hits, the Fleetwood Mac songstress sounded better than ever as she harmonized with three backing vocalists and howled over Wachtel's guitar lines.

Nicks opened with "Stand Back," blaring through the song with all the bells and whistles, and followed it up with "Enchanted." Even a love song, "If Anyone Falls In Love," was delivered in brutish fashion and the long piano intro to "Rhiannon" was soon replaced with shredding guitar.

Nicks took time to discuss the origins of many of the songs, including her hit "Dreams," which apparently came about as a result of being kicked out of a Fleetwood Mac recording session.

She changed shawls for "Gold Dust Woman" before covering Tom Petty's "I Need to Know," referring to him as "my favorite rock star."

Nick's dedicated her hit "Landslide" not only to her father but "to the world," and made it through the song without a Wachtel guitar solo (he was finally playing acoustic). It was the single subtle and reflective moment of the night.

"Edge of Seventeen" was a 20-minute extravaganza that began with a five-minute drum-percussion workout and ended with Nicks shaking hands across the front of the stage. The encore included a fun take on Led Zeppelin's "Rock'n'Roll," and Nicks imploring the crowd to save the music business.

"The music business is dying," she said. "We need your help. Go to shows, buy albums, not just singles. Save the music business."

Apparently the whales, children in impoverished nations and the environment are getting enough attention elsewhere.

Vanessa Carleton opened the show with a 40-minute set.

SortaSavageLike · #2 07-04-2007, 07:11 AM

I'm just glad that I'm not the only person out there who thinks that Waddy is a hack.

Sahara · #3 07-04-2007, 08:03 AM

Blegh, that was a little harsh...!

Although in fairness, I can't really comment since I haven't seen a show... what do you guys think?

Ghost_Tracker · #4 07-04-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahara

Blegh, that was a little harsh...!

Although in fairness, I can't really comment since I haven't seen a show... what do you guys think?

I just glanced at this review but what I saw, I totally disagree with. I was at the Jones Beach show and I definitely didn't feel that it was "too loud," as rock concerts go. I found Chris Isaak to be much louder - annoyingly so. But it's a freaking rock concert - the reviewer doesn't expect it to be a little bit loud?

I also happen to be one of those people that are actually amazed by Waddy's guitar playing - especially his intro to edge of 17. Easy? Just repeating the same notes over and over? TRY it sometime...

And I didn't find any of the rest of the band to be "hackneyed" or anything like that - I thought they were all great, and I felt the harmonies between Stevie and Lori/Sharon/Jana were very well-done.
Glad he called Stevie brilliant but I feel that she would agree that her backup musicians are an important part of the show.

carol7lynn · #5 07-04-2007, 09:03 AM

The music critic, quoted above, seems, to me to be the hack. Sometimes critics go over-board, I guess, because they may just think that if they don't put something critical-read negative-in their review, then they haven't done a "fair/adequate" job.

In defense of Waddy, I have seen him many times over the years, both with Ms. Nicks and without, and he has always given a stellar performance. Remember whose guitar lick is the signature sound of Edge. If his guitar was too loud then, in all fairness, there just might have been a problem with the sound-system or the sound engineer.

And as for "fairness" that does not seem to be the primary objective of this critic in this instance. It almost appears as if the critic had a hidden agenda as he/she tended to wage a personal attack on Waddy, questioning his musical talents at too great a length. Personally, "I think thou (re: the critic) doth protest too much!" I'd wager to guess the critic has never even picked up a guitar let alone been named musical director for any band; let alone Ms. Nicks.

CarolC

SNLB · #6 07-04-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carol7lynn

It almost appears as if the critic had a hidden agenda as he/she tended to wage a personal attack on Waddy, questioning his musical talents at too great a length. Personally, "I think thou (re: the critic) doth protest too much!"
CarolC

That is exactly what I thought as I was reading the review and kept seeing the same thing over and over again...how Waddy played too loud. Sounded like the critic just plain didn't like Waddy.

Hi Carol!!!!!!!!

goldie · #7 07-04-2007, 09:44 AM

I think he could have toned it down just a tad ...

Sahara · #8 07-04-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldie

I think he could have toned it down just a tad ...

Waddy or the critic?

danax6 · #9 07-04-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

Blame guitarist Waddy Wachtel, longtime Nicks collaborator and current musical director, who seemed to take the opportunity of this particular show to turn up his own guitar and self-showcase with several over-the-top, Spinal Tap-like solos. All of the arrangements heavily favored his favorite instrument to the detriment of the real star of the performance.

I can't say that I entirely disagree.

skuncles · #10 07-04-2007, 12:33 PM

You know it's funny, I was at the CT show, I thought the whole thing was incredible, didn't think Waddy was too loud, nor was anyone else, it was fine. The funny part is this is the first time I've read where Stevie gets rave reviews. In years past the band has been praised and Stevie was criticized. So this was a switch.
I didn't find Waddy to be a distraction at all. In fact at some points I never even noticed him. "Edge" has always been his chance to shine, and he did just that.

gldstwmn · #11 07-04-2007, 01:24 PM

No, no, no, no. Waddy makes the songs sound like they are supposed to because he was there when they were recorded. Other wise we are left to the smooth jazz new age stylings reminiscent of The Other Side Of The Mirror tour or the heavy metal Stevie tries to outsing the band stylings of the Whole Lotta Trouble tour. The Enchanted band was good but I can only dream of what might have been if Waddy had been on that tour. The only other person that I can think of that could fill Waddy's shoes as musical director would be Benmont Tench.
Maybe the mix was a little off at this show or this guy was sitting directly in fron of Waddy's guitar monitor?

gldstwmn · #12 07-04-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

Wednesday, July 04, 2007
By DONNIE MOORHOUSEMusic writer
Masslive.com

"... and the long piano intro to "Rhiannon" was soon replaced with shredding guitar."

Some one needs to direct this guy to a Youtube clip of Fleetwood Mac performing Rhiannon live circa 1975-78.

carrie721 · #13 07-04-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

No, no, no, no. Waddy makes the songs sound like they are supposed to because he was there when they were recorded. Other wise we are left to the smooth jazz new age stylings reminiscent of The Other Side Of The Mirror tour or the heavy metal Stevie tries to outsing the band stylings of the Whole Lotta Trouble tour. The Enchanted band was good but I can only dream of what might have been if Waddy had been on that tour. The only other person that I can think of that could fill Waddy's shoes as musical director would be Benmont Tench.
Maybe the mix was a little off at this show or this guy was sitting directly in fron of Waddy's guitar monitor?

yep, waddy was fantastic last night. i don't know what's up with the waddy haters ... the idea of benmont as musical director is pretty exciting, though.

Rickypt · #14 07-04-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carol7lynn

I'd wager to guess the critic has never even picked up a guitar let alone been named musical director for any band; let alone Ms. Nicks.

Just curious how this is relevant? The job of a critic is to critique a performance from his/her perspective. One doesn't need to be a guitar player to make comments like this critic did. I like Waddy, but think that Stevie's shows lack subtley and focus too much on heavy-handed-lets-rock-out backing music. There was no personal attack on Waddy in the review.

Hawkeye · #15 07-04-2007, 05:19 PM

I Love Stevies current band, and think Waddy is easily the star of that band. I love what they do to Gold Dust Woman and think have said it before and stick by it, I think Waddy plays better guitar on Rhiannon currently then Lindsey does. And while the people in the first few rows are shaking stevie's hand the rest of the audience get to listen to what I consider to be a really awseome musical interlude on Edge of 17. And then there's that awseome drum solo before, that's just electrifying, better then Mick's solos.