Stevie's live performance: disappointing?

[blinker12]

I saw the Mac at Nassau Coliseum this past Friday, and Stevie's performance really confounded me. In general, her voice sounded less strained than I've ever heard it _ clear, not very raspy, with a lot of the girlishness it lost in the 90s _ and yet on many songs she seemed unwilling to take advantage of the improvement!
"Rhiannon" was the most uninspired version I've ever heard _ why did she even bother? She didn't do any wailing at all at the end.
This was the first time I've ever heard "Silver Springs" and NOT gotten chills. At the end, she didn't do the high harmony over "You'll never get away...," which took away a lot of the song's power.
And she didn't go for any of the high notes during "Gypsy."
I can't tell you how disappointed I was by the latter two songs especially. They're two of my favorites, and to hear them phoned in broke my heart.
On the other hand, she did turn in wonderful performances of "Beautiful Child" _ which sounded just like it did on TUSK _ and "Landslide." And on "Stand Back," mid-80s Stevie returned for a few minutes. She did some full-throttle skirt shaking and twirling and speaking in tongues. It was nice to see her come to life, even if it WAS on a solo song.
Anyway, here's what I can't figure out: She obviously has the vocal ability to do much better on some of these songs. Why doesn't she go for it? Is she just bored by them?
By comparison, Lindsey was a ball of fire all night.

[Tusk57]

From reading your review of the concert concerning Stevie's performance, I'm getting a little worried. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of Stevie's biggest supporters, but I can't figure out why she can't get into the shows full blast on every song like Lindsey obviously does. I know she's done those songs hundreds of times before and I can understand she would be bored with them, but she should give it her all each and every night for her fans. The only thing I can figure is she is pacing herself due to her age. That's why she cut out RTTG and DR early on. Lindsey on the other hand has to work a lot harder all throughout the concert, not only singing, but playing the hell out of his guitar. I wish I could go give Stevie a pep talk and tell her this just may be the last time she gets to go on a tour. You never know. One of these four people could up and die tomorrow....and that would be all she wrote. If she can't be enthusiastic about a particular song or two, just don't do it at all and sing something fresher, like a few new songs off of the latest album! She must know people are out there comparing her present performance of those old songs to what she used to do. She's only in her mid fifties. If she was 80 or 90 I could be more understanding. I can't wait to see them out here in LA. I sure hope she pulls out all the stops in her home town. I know Lindsey won't disapoint....or Mick or John for that matter. Bill

[Travis]

Check out this review. This guy obviously doesn't feel the same:

Nassau Review

ROCK REVIEW | FLEETWOOD MAC
Turning 40: Even Bands Get Older
By KELEFA SANNEH


UNIONDALE, N.Y., May 24 — In rock 'n' roll, there are few things less exciting than a happy ending. Just look at Fleetwood Mac, the Anglo-American conglomerate that will celebrate its 40th birthday in a few years. Members have come and gone, and so have romances, feuds, battles with addiction, even — most dangerous of all — solo albums. Compared with the group's long career, a presidential term is merely a passing fad: Fleetwood Mac was there in 1993, to play Bill Clinton into office, and the group was there eight years later, to play him out.

And what's the reward for persevering so long? Yet another concert — this one at Nassau Coliseum on Friday night — on yet another tour supporting yet another album, entertaining the same fans who saw the band last time and will, most likely, see the band next time.

The band members had plenty of help: Stevie Nicks was shadowed by two backup singers, Mick Fleetwood was joined by a backup drummer (sometimes two) and Lindsey Buckingham had as many as three guitarists playing with him. In fact there were easily enough musicians onstage to form two Fleetwood Macs, which might be one way to justify ticket prices that reached $138.

The current incarnation is led by Mr. Buckingham, which is a problem for anyone who doesn't enjoy histrionic guitar solos, overheated vocals and pious speeches. He announced that "Say Goodbye," from the group's new album, "SUay You Will" (Reprise), was "about coming to terms with the fact that there can be little gained without loss, and that there can be little healing without forgiveness." Mr. Buckingham certainly knows how to finger-pick an enchanting guitar line, but he spent too much of the night showing off; when he got really carried away, he would slap at his instrument with both hands, like a dog trying to unwrap a Christmas present.

Mr. Fleetwood's jolly crowd-baiting was a welcome antidote to Mr. Buckingham's self-seriousness, not least because it came in smaller doses. Near the end of the night he stepped out from behind the drum kit for an unusual solo, creating rhythms by tapping electronic pads affixed to his waistcoat and breeches.

Most of the best moments, though, belonged to Ms. Nicks. Her voice may not have the power and reach it once did, but it still has that marvelous texture, hard in the middle and girly around the edges. During "Landslide," she let out a half-smile when she sang, "But time makes you bolder/ Even children get older/ And I'm getting older too."

Ms. Nicks has long been mocked for the tassels that hang from her microphone stand, for the shawls she wears, for her twirling dance, for the way she spreads her arms and wiggles her fingers as if she were auditioning for a hand cream advertisement.

And yet Ms. Nicks's act has aged remarkably well, and she is now the only member of Fleetwood Mac (besides the reliable bassist John McVie) you can watch without wincing. She sang a gentle version of "Beautiful Child," from "Tusk," and the concert ended with a hushed rendition of "Goodbye Baby," a song by Ms. Nicks from the new album.

All night you got the feeling that Mr. Buckingham was desperately trying to infuse old songs with new energy. But Ms. Nicks took a more lighthearted approach, and a more appealing one. When she sang, eyes closed and fingers wiggling, she seemed content not to rejuvenate the songs, but merely to enjoy them.

[blinker12]

I know, I saw that review. It's nice that s/he liked Stevie's performance.
For my part, though, I can't help but compare her renditions of "Gypsy," "Rhiannon" and "Silver Springs" to the far more enthusiastic versions I've heard in the past. This reviewer seems to praise the low-key nature of her performance. While low-key is fine in small doses, I prefer Stevie with a bit of her old fire _ especially on passionate songs like "Rhiannon" and "Silver Springs"!

[Les]

Critics are funny creatures sometimes.

"All night you got the feeling that Mr. Buckingham was desperately trying to infuse old songs with new energy."

That is something to criticize? Oh well, to each his own. What do I know?

[strandinthewind]

I know - I love Stevie, but she sometimes (not often mind you)just looks bored onstage. I do think, however, that she is careful now in FM concerts not to take as much of the attention as she could by acting like she did in the early 80's etc. So, I cut her some slack. I do agree, however, that she should let the vocals rip through the songs.

Come on Stevie - get up on it baby

[Cour]

Originally posted by Les
Critics are funny creatures sometimes.

"All night you got the feeling that Mr. Buckingham was desperately trying to infuse old songs with new energy."

That is something to criticize? Oh well, to each his own. What do I know?

My thoughts exactly!

I guess it's the same thinking as.. 11 songs for $19 on a cd are a much better value for a fan, than 18 songs for the same price. I'm surprised they didn't comment that the set list was too long.

As far as Stevie's performances. I don't think anyone is going to see Stevie doing some of the songs the same way she did during previous tours in the 70's and 80's. Personally, I think her vocals and performances are much better than anything I saw during the Dance, Enchanted and TISL tours. IMO she's learned how to use her vocals and her range much more effectively now and I was very surprised at how much better she sounds on this tour.


As far as SS goes, she's not singing it the same way and there is no dragging the mic anymore, but she is giving a great performance, just different. Perhaps the words and sentiment of the song ring a little differently for her on this tour, just a guess on my part. I do think Lindsey coaxes her with some of his looks during that song and it looks like it takes her somewhere she might not go if he didn't do it. It's hard to explain but it's similiar to what he does during the Dance video.

[Johnny Stew]

I think the "problem" that occurs is that so many fans have certain expectations where Stevie is concerned.
They want her to be the same way she was when they saw her in 1977, or 1983, or 1986, or whenever... rather than being a bit more open to the progression and maturation process found in Stevie's performances.

I guess that's why we find some fans feeling she came off as listless or bored, while others are referring to her current performances as exciting and dynamic.

I think she tends to shy away from those manic, out-of-control antics now, because she's no longer a manic, out-of-control person. She still has the passion and intensity, she just displays it in a different way than people except to see.
I also think that Stevie has sort of reverted back to a bit of the 'Buckingham Nicks' mentality, when it seems she took a bit of a more subdued role... playing the yin to Lindsey's yang.

[TheMacAttack]

I think the reason she doesn't wail like she used to is simply her age. This is going to be a long tour and if she blew out her voice before it was over, that would be a huge problem. I don't expect her to sing Rhiannon like she did when she was 27. I still like the versions on this tour though I do agree they lack the intensity that they once did. But I think her voice is definitely stronger and clearer when compared to many of her past tours.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
... playing the yin to Lindsey's yang.

Should that be " . . . playing yin ON Lindsey's yang.



I just could not resist!!!!

[Regina]

I think Lindsey and Stevie are such different people--personally and professionally, and their styles are now quite different in songs that spotlight their solo attributes.
But I like that. I didn't see any called in performance in even the older songs...and to tell you the truth, I saw Stevie in concert 4 times during TISL--and I think she's much more energized during both Standback and Rhiannon than she was for her solo tour.
I just think Stevie has a real clear idea in her mind of who she is as a performer, and a real clear idea of what role she likes to play in Fleetwood Mac and she goes for it.
And I was very close to the stage in Philly. I saw what some of the fans were doing while Lindsey, for example, was singing. There were quite a few people who were doing anything to catch Stevie's attention--trying to hand her things, and talk to her and a couple of times she just shook her head and mouthed "I can't do that now." I really think she's very conscious of the fact that the band, at one time, did sometimes get upstaged by her and she is not willing to let that happen again.
If she even "let go" in her performances, she'd either be called on grandstanding or not "acting her age." It's a tough balancing act. I mean, Mick can go out there with dangling balls and slapping his groin and get away with it--Stevie has to live up to her own "legend" and also keep her dignity. She knows her limits and if she errs on the side of being slightly conservative, that's okay. She still does a wonderful job, IMO.
But I wouldn't miss them for the world. I think they are both unique and wonderful performers and together...a little slice of heaven.

[tamaraluvsFM]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
I also think that Stevie has sort of reverted back to a bit of the 'Buckingham Nicks' mentality, when it seems she took a bit of a more subdued role... playing the yin to Lindsey's yang.

Good view point. I totally agree. I think she is also doing the same thing since this concert gives a feeling of the BN era.
I also think her voice sounds wonderful on this tour. I think its stronger and she is able to get more higher.
I see no problem with her. She twirls, sings, moves her fingers, smiles, talks to the audience....what is the problem?

Tamara

[TheMacAttack]

I just could not resist!!!! [/B][/QUOTE]

[sarahw]

I was at the Meadowlands show, and saw 2 TISL shows....I have to say that seeing Stevie solo was very different than seeing her as part of the group. As part of the group I found her performance spellbinding....she has the ability to shine on her own songs, compliment the rest of the group during the more "group" songs and take a step back during Lindsay's songs. Seeing her solo, it is all her. No breaks. Maybe this is why her voice didn't hold out during the TISL tour. I also think she likes to see Lindsay get alot of attention. Maybe it is still a sore spot for them that she was the most popular member of the group.

I am not so sure I would want her to be as crazy on stage as she was in the 80's. I think she would be mocked and I just don't think she wants to portray that image anymore. But it is great fun when you get a snippet of what she once was. Sort of mysterious. I hope this makes sense......

It was my first time seeing them and I sit here hoping and praying they add shows at MSG or Hartford so I can see them again.

[ejof17]

I was at the Meadowlands show and Stevie nailed every song. Lindsey was the one straining to sing out of his range. Stevie's performance was spellbinding to put it in one word. I did notice she held back from Gypsy which was disappointing, but she did let go with Silver Springs more than I though she would. Beautiful Child was f l a w l e s s !!!!

It was absolutely the best performance I have seen her do. Much better than TISL. I agree, FM gives her a chance to rest a bit between songs, it does her well.