Dallas ~ roll call/reviews/pics, etc.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Livia

Why I hate the media...they make it sound like the AA Center is a virus-ridden dome with no escape...

No escape, no surrender. I am a bit sad to think that the swine flu is going to cut down on their ticket sales, which weren't entirely robust to begin with.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I loved all songs, specially Don't Stop, Silver Springs, I know I'm not worng, So Afraid, Monday Morning, OH WELL. STORMS was beautiful, I waited for that song (live) my whole life . Yes I will always miss Christine, but this was THE night. It really was. Finally I could see Fleetwood Mac so close, and enjoyed a great show. They say they are not promoting a new album... yet! So, we may still hope!! And Lindsey say goodbye telling us SEE YOU NEXT TIME !!!

I loved you sauntered down to the front, laden down with all your goodies and even a margarita in hand. You must have looked like you belonged there. I'm glad the show didn't disappoint you after you came all that way. The pictures are spectacular! Thank you.

Michele

[Steviefan49]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

Hey Jake, just like on july 3rd 2003.....I'll think about that when you guys are there tonight. Have Fun! Will Strand be there? And Livia?

That was ONE fun night - as I was there then too! I met all of you guys then! Not sure if you remember me or not? I came to meet up with Chris Fox.. and she introduced me to all of the fun Ledgies!!! That was the BEST night!

[MacMan]

Originally Posted by Villavic

IT WAS GREAT!!!! I stood up and walked to the stage, with my bag full of merchandise and my margarita. And I was getting closer to the stage,, and closer.. and closer.. and then I was there.. near the stage..

That's great! Better then an upgrade or re-purchase of tickets. And perfect for someone that came from so far... You also got some nice shots... And Mr. Buckingham in blue jeans.... Isn't he usually wearing black?

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Steviefan49

That was ONE fun night - as I was there then too! I met all of you guys then! Not sure if you remember me or not? I came to meet up with Chris Fox.. and she introduced me to all of the fun Ledgies!!! That was the BEST night!

that evening due to the unfortunate case of food poisoning I suffered via the Hard Rock Cafe.

[Livia]

Concert Review: Fleetwood Mac unleashes the hits at American Airlines Center

02:40 PM CDT on Friday, May 1, 2009
By MARIO TARRADELL Music Critic [email protected]

You could call Fleetwood Mac's current tour an oldies show. It is, after all, titled "Unleashed: Hits Tour 2009," which means the 23-song set consists solely of classic radio staples and album tracks.

There is no new CD to promote. In fact, the band hasn't recorded one since 2003's Say You Will.

But that tag completely sells this concert short. Fleetwood Mac, which packed the American Airlines Center on Thursday night, remains influential. Talk to any of today's popular country acts (especially the ones with a pop-rock musical bent) and the Mac is mentioned. Talk to many female vocalists of the last 20 years – pop, rock, country and otherwise – and they'll mention the group's longtime temptress, Stevie Nicks.

It was evident with Thursday's fiery show, which was more passionate than any has-been oldies act. Even during songs that didn't gel, such as Lindsey Buckingham's manic, robotic "Tusk," there was something to admire. In that case it was Mick Fleetwood's ferocious drumming, as if he were in a marching band.

But the highlights were many, particularly Buckingham's amazing rendition of "Big Love," which was just him at the microphone while he finger-picked an acoustic guitar at breakneck speed. The wall of sound was astonishing. Nicks' "Sara," "Gypsy" and "Dreams" brought back memories. Great songs never get old.

The lovely number "Sara" featured harmonizing between Nicks and Buckingham. At one point, Nicks walked over to Buckingham's microphone to sing. That led to a tender moment when each put their head on the other's shoulder. It was sweet, especially when you consider the rocky relationship those two have had.

If there's one message to take home from witnessing the over-two-hour gig, it's that maturity, experience and confidence can yield refreshing results. Buckingham alluded to this more than once. Nicks, in her beautiful and soulful take on "Landslide," did, too.

The 2009 members of Fleetwood Mac are naturally a bit more weathered vocally and maybe even musically. It's been a tumultuous 32 years since their artistic peak, the benchmark Rumours.

But time does heal, and in this case it also preserves.

[FMlex]

Originally Posted by michelej1

No escape, no surrender. I am a bit sad to think that the swine flu is going to cut down on their ticket sales, which weren't entirely robust to begin with.

Michele

In regards to that article: I think it's good to be cautious about this flu, but that doesn't mean that you should coop up in your house wearing a mask just living in fear.
Why didn't they mention the fact that you could have gotten in a car accident and killed on the way to AA Center? Or a bolt of lightning could have struck you down dead? (Lightning strikes maybe once, maybe twice.)

I just think it's ridiculous that the media is hyping this thing up. It's just like any other disease -- like your mama told you when you were younger: keep your hands washed and don't eat/drink after anyone.
GAH! Rant over.

Glad all yall had fun in Dallas - wish I could've been there, but I've got finals and it just didn't work out.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Livia

At one point, Nicks walked over to Buckingham's microphone to sing. That led to a tender moment when each put their head on the other's shoulder.

I saw that happen once in a circus contortionist's act.

Michele

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Maybe it's a photo for the liner notes of their new Rumours CD/DVD which will come out who knows when.

Fleetwood Mac: Our musical careers are none of your business!

Michele

ROFLOL!!! For real!

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by michelej1

No escape, no surrender. I am a bit sad to think that the swine flu is going to cut down on their ticket sales, which weren't entirely robust to begin with.

Michele

The AA Center was full last night. and all people were enjoying the show, dancing, singing along.. I guess nobody was thinking or worrying about the a possible presence of the flu there.

[darklinensuit]

I don't have time to post a full review right now, but since somebody brought up the surprising ease of getting to the stage, let me comment. (Forgive any poor grammar, spelling, etc. - I'm tired & hurrying.)

I have never been to a show with security like this.
The aisles had no guards whatsoever. The guards stood chatting with one another on the sides the entire time.
Anybody on the floor could come go up to the stage & take pics - in fact, when asked, guards took pics of anybody and everybody who wanted. Cameras were out in the open, & the guards looked delighted to help.

We got there early & took our seats right by Stevie's microphone. When a very large group of VIPs arrived at around 7:30, they stood in front of us & told us to come stand behind them. They were nice, but obviously those of us in the front row found this set-up strange & infuriating. Especially us, because we'd been sitting the whole time so that anybody could take pics at the stage without our blocking the view. In a blink, people from the rows behind us jumped in front as well. I was stunned - every time I've been in the front row, we had to wait for the guards to cue us when the lights went down before we could stand at the stage.
When the guy next to us had a fit that people were in front of the first row, I went over to security & asked why people were already allowed in front of the people in the front row. Guards told me - I am not making this up - that anybody in the first 26 rows (!!!) could go to the stage at any time - even 40 minutes before the band came out. They said it was first-come, first-serve, and policy is policy. (That's what I heard from security - concert-goers around me told me they heard it would be the first 12 rows or the first 20 rows.)
I returned, & my friend & I actually squeezed into a great spot at the stage (the VIP people were sympathetic), but otherwise I would have been pretty mad.

The absence of security enforcement was problematic. I know it is a Ledge tradition to complain about guards being too strict, but this was the other extreme.
A few songs in, one large, drunk woman shoved everybody out of the way - I mean SHOVED! - and screamed that she paid 300 bucks & wanted to be at the stage, & nobody was going to stop her. She made it all the way up (through many, many people) until she tried to shove me, and I wouldn't move - so she made it up to one person from the stage (me), just by hitting & shoving everybody else in front of her. (I guess she felt more comfortable fighting with women, because she backed down off of me pretty quickly.) She was screaming & dancing around when there was no room for that. Meanwhile, for the duration of two songs, she continued to fight with some of the VIP women around me (& constantly groped me pretty aggressively, rubbing my hair, back, thigh, rear end - not funny), screaming and arguing with the women behind me that she would kick their asses outside, and that she bet they couldn't name the song ("Tusk" that was playing). Then she suddenly left for the bathroom & never came back.
Later, a woman shoved through everybody & told me to squat down so she could jump on my back & get up on stage. I was so deaf from the music & screaming fans, I had to get the people behind me to translate. Later, the woman again shoved through & tried to force me down.
One strange woman from the VIP group literally jumped up on my shoulders a few minutes before the show started - I don't mean she sat there, but while I was talking with someone else, she sprang up from behind like I was a pommel horse - and I have a bad back. What the hell.

Most of the people around me were very nice, but there are always nutjobs at shows. In this set-up they were completely unfettered.
If anybody thinks I'm being overly sensitive about a few enthusiastic concert-goers, let me say that I've been at shows before where the constant shoving & jockeying for positions made things unpleasant. This was different - this was people throwing other people out of their way because they could, jumping on strangers, etc., & it was not cool.

Oh, the show was great; more on that later.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Steviefan49

That was ONE fun night - as I was there then too! I met all of you guys then! Not sure if you remember me or not?

Red hair, right?

- Jake

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I have never been to a show with security like this.
The aisles had no guards whatsoever. The guards stood chatting with one another on the sides the entire time.
- Jake

I admit I was surprised, too. Though I was lucky about it, and admit I thought about people paying around $700 for the vip packages.. well anyway I had no regrets of being where theorically I didn't belong to (but I did, cause am I huge fan!!

In Peru vip or super vip sections are limited by fences, with hard securitys. But pictures are "allowed". For Gloria Estefan we all jumped and danced, but we who danced near the stage were only of the first 2 rows. behind the 2nd row there was a small fence. I thought I would find something similar at the AA center, but miracously not.

The only security I found was the x ray and detectors and entrances.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I admit I was surprised, too. Though I was lucky about it, and admit I thought about people paying around $700 for the vip packages.. well anyway I had no regrets of being where theorically I didn't belong to (but I did, cause am I huge fan!!

In Peru vip or super vip sections are limited by fences, with hard securitys. But pictures are "allowed". For Gloria Estefan we all jumped and danced, but we who danced near the stage were only of the first 2 rows. behind the 2nd row there was a small fence. I thought I would find something similar at the AA center, but miracously not.

The only security I found was the x ray and detectors and entrances.

Well, it sounds like you had a marvelous time and I'm so happy to hear that!

BTW: your pics are great. The very first one, of Lindsey, is my favorite. I think it was the perfect pose for a pic! Nice one...

[Kayt1234]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I don't have time to post a full review right now, but since somebody brought up the surprising ease of getting to the stage, let me comment. (Forgive any poor grammar, spelling, etc. - I'm tired & hurrying.)

I have never been to a show with security like this.
The aisles had no guards whatsoever. The guards stood chatting with one another on the sides the entire time.
Anybody on the floor could come go up to the stage & take pics - in fact, when asked, guards took pics of anybody and everybody who wanted. Cameras were out in the open, & the guards looked delighted to help.

We got there early & took our seats right by Stevie's microphone. When a very large group of VIPs arrived at around 7:30, they stood in front of us & told us to come stand behind them. They were nice, but obviously those of us in the front row found this set-up strange & infuriating. Especially us, because we'd been sitting the whole time so that anybody could take pics at the stage without our blocking the view. In a blink, people from the rows behind us jumped in front as well. I was stunned - every time I've been in the front row, we had to wait for the guards to cue us when the lights went down before we could stand at the stage.
When the guy next to us had a fit that people were in front of the first row, I went over to security & asked why people were already allowed in front of the people in the front row. Guards told me - I am not making this up - that anybody in the first 26 rows (!!!) could go to the stage at any time - even 40 minutes before the band came out. They said it was first-come, first-serve, and policy is policy. (That's what I heard from security - concert-goers around me told me they heard it would be the first 12 rows or the first 20 rows.)
I returned, & my friend & I actually squeezed into a great spot at the stage (the VIP people were sympathetic), but otherwise I would have been pretty mad.

The absence of security enforcement was problematic. I know it is a Ledge tradition to complain about guards being too strict, but this was the other extreme.
A few songs in, one large, drunk woman shoved everybody out of the way - I mean SHOVED! - and screamed that she paid 300 bucks & wanted to be at the stage, & nobody was going to stop her. She made it all the way up (through many, many people) until she tried to shove me, and I wouldn't move - so she made it up to one person from the stage (me), just by hitting & shoving everybody else in front of her. (I guess she felt more comfortable fighting with women, because she backed down off of me pretty quickly.) She was screaming & dancing around when there was no room for that. Meanwhile, for the duration of two songs, she continued to fight with some of the VIP women around me (& constantly groped me pretty aggressively, rubbing my hair, back, thigh, rear end - not funny), screaming and arguing with the women behind me that she would kick their asses outside, and that she bet they couldn't name the song ("Tusk" that was playing). Then she suddenly left for the bathroom & never came back.
Later, a woman shoved through everybody & told me to squat down so she could jump on my back & get up on stage. I was so deaf from the music & screaming fans, I had to get the people behind me to translate. Later, the woman again shoved through & tried to force me down.
One strange woman from the VIP group literally jumped up on my shoulders a few minutes before the show started - I don't mean she sat there, but while I was talking with someone else, she sprang up from behind like I was a pommel horse - and I have a bad back. What the hell.

Most of the people around me were very nice, but there are always nutjobs at shows. In this set-up they were completely unfettered.
If anybody thinks I'm being overly sensitive about a few enthusiastic concert-goers, let me say that I've been at shows before where the constant shoving & jockeying for positions made things unpleasant. This was different - this was people throwing other people out of their way because they could, jumping on strangers, etc., & it was not cool.

Oh, the show was great; more on that later.

- Jake

So sorry to hear about those nutjobs, Jake. Nothing is more upsetting than seeing these people be allowed to take over and get their way, simply because they are acting up and acting violent. I've had to encounter that every so often at shows and it really does take away from the experience. I hope that the shows I go to have security around! You obviously don't security to be really strict but nothing's more rewarding than seeing those drunks thrown out on their butts! Looking forward to your review!