Supergroup Fleetwood Mac reunites (review)

[MacMan]

Supergroup Fleetwood Mac reunites

By Paul de Barros
Seattle Times jazz critic

After a lackluster start, the reunited '70s supergroup Fleetwood Mac turned up the throttle halfway through its two-and-a-half-hour show at White River Amphitheatre Thursday.

Even at that, it was an average performance, with few memorable highs. Stevie Nicks, in particular, showed signs of wear and the band's energy felt forced, particularly during several long instrumental jams.

It was a lovely summer night, nonetheless, graced by a full moon, and the band's mystico-mellow brand of rock pleased, if it didn't quite ignite, the mostly 40-something fans.

The show was part of a reunion tour that has produced two new albums, "Say You Will" and "Live in Boston." The familiar foursome (Christine McVie stayed home) — Nicks, guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood — was backed up by two singers and five instrumentalists.

As always, Nicks' blond tresses, red lipstick and Gypsy lace shawls — she wore several as the show progressed — were the visual bull's-eye of the evening. Her voice, always odd, has gone a bit froggy and has acquired a hard, unpleasant edge. She and Buckingham, once the model of folk/rock perfection, sang together raggedly.

By contrast, bug-eyed, madcap Fleetwood, in waistcoat and knickers, played with crackerjack authority, though a prancing-across-the-stage solo with electronic drums hidden under his vest was tedious.

From time to time, singing songs mostly old but sometimes new, the band reminded us that its combination of complex beats, Celtic drones and sweet melodies was a creative cornerstone of rock's heroic era.

Dedicating the infectious "Landslide " to a niece and uncle in the area, Nicks stood behind ex-lover Buckingham and coyly tapped her red-painted fingernails on his shoulders as he played.

On the yearning ballad "Beautiful Child" and the pretty hit "Sara," Nicks' raspy voice took on a Marianne Faithfull-like pathos. "Gold Dust Woman" rocked. Buckingham, still in great voice and looking fit, offered some lively finger-picking on "Never Going Back Again." The pìece de résistance, of course, was the irresistible anthem, "Don't Stop" (thinkin' about to-mor-row), which brought down the house.

[sands of time]

that guy has to be the most worthless excuse for a critic in the history of music...

[WelshWitchPMD]

Originally Posted by MacMan

Supergroup Fleetwood Mac reunites

The pìece de résistance, of course, was the irresistible anthem, "Don't Stop" (thinkin' about to-mor-row), which brought down the house.

It just goes to show you how clueless he is if he thinks that was the show's highlight. Most fans go just to hear this song.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by WelshWitchPMD

It just goes to show you how clueless he is if he thinks that was the show's highlight. Most fans go just to hear this song.

I wouldnt even have went to any of their shows ("Don't Stop" grates on my nerves!)

Clueless indeed

[jwd]

WelshWItchPMD:

It just goes to show you how clueless he is if he thinks that was the show's highlight. Most fans go just to hear this song. :rollseyes:

If it was done any earlier in the set, I'd be off to defuel and refuel.

[David]

The mystery here is why the Seattle Times sent its jazz critic to cover a rock concert.

Thanks for posting this good little review!

[madformac]

Originally Posted by MacMan

The familiar foursome (Christine McVie stayed home) — Nicks, guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood — was backed up by two singers and five instrumentalists.

Hmm, you can't blame him totally. It's just that this guy is an average music critic who seemingly doesn't believe in researching his work before commentating on it. I just hope he does better with other articles than this one. He's obviously not a Fleetwood Mac fan so I can accept that but his review has no real point to it, nothing stimulating.

However, it NEVER ceases to amaze me how many times I read that Christine McVie is "staying home" or "sitting this tour out"..

Christine is as much a part of this band right now as Peter Green or even Bob Brunning.. She is a retired ex-member of the band and is not a part of this band anymore. If I get annoyed at these articles I can't even begin to imagine how LB feels everytime an interviewer brings the old chestnut of a topic up...

SHE IS RETIRED FROM THIS BAND!!! GET OVER IT AND CONCENTRATE ON THE CURRENT LINEUP!!!!

(Deep breaths... woooohsarrrr)

[Merf]

Originally Posted by madformac

SHE IS RETIRED FROM THIS BAND!!! GET OVER IT AND CONCENTRATE ON THE CURRENT LINEUP!!!!

(Deep breaths... woooohsarrrr)

Preach the truth, man!!!

I also agree it was a bit odd that they sent a jazz critic to cover a rock concert.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by Merf

Preach the truth, man!!!

I also agree it was a bit odd that they sent a jazz critic to cover a rock concert.

Can I get an amen??

[wondergirl9847]

I was gonna gripe about the fact he's a JAZZ critic, but David got there first.

All I gotta say is....PPFFTT.

[darklinensuit]

It's not often these days that a critic will say Stevie's voice is worse than in the past. Some point out her inability to hit high notes, but most of the writers seem to prefer her vocals to past performances anyway.

In any event, now I'm cancelling my Seattle Times subscription.

- Jake

[BrokenWing]

LOL, isn't the Post-Intelligencer the more reputable paper in Seattle, anyway? Or do I have that backward?

I work for a newspaper myself, and I'd guess that the regular rock reviewer was on vacation or something. Cross-beat assignments are a necessary evil during the vacation season, and with a subjective thing like a review, it's a little stickier than, say, sending the education reporter to cover the courthouse for a day. I'm rather more impressed that bigger city papers even have the luxury of reviewers dedicated to one particular genre. We only have one music guy who covers everybody from Britney Spears to Ozzfest. Oh yeah, that was the guy who spelled McVie as "McVee" when he reviewed the Ford Pavilion show. (Although, in his defense, I gathered after talking with him a bit about the show that he likes the Mac and is familiar with them--he knew about Mick having used the drums under his vest in the past. I think he's just not the best speller. )

Oh, and before anyone asks me why I didn't write the review: Trust me, you don't want me writing about Fleetwood Mac or any of it's members--I'm the obituary writer!

As far as Stevie's singing goes, I've only heard on recordings or videos how she sounded on past tours, but I was quite impressed with how her voice is holding up. I mean, maybe she can't quite belt out Rhiannon like she did on the 1980 live album...but after hearing remarks from reviewers about her voice deteriorating in recent years, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her last month, and it seems the critics are noticing the same thing.

Eileen

[squealy]

I don't see anything wrong with his review. I thought it was pretty accurate actually. It wasn't an exceptional show. The sound was quite poor for the first few songs. The vocals WERE pretty ragged in places (Lindsey's in particular) and Mick's drum solo WAS tiresome. I still enjoyed it for the most part, though, and so did the writer. Just because the review wasn't a complete rave doesn't mean the guy is a bad writer or an idiot.

[winnona Call]

Originally Posted by sands of time

that guy has to be the most worthless excuse for a critic in the history of music...

I.have.to.say.that.alot.of.the.comments.made.about.this.critic.is.just.
stupid.

I.am.a.big.FM.fan...but.I.am.not.so.blind.that.I.have.to.pick.at.people.
on.a.personal.level.if.I.dont.like.what.they.say

Was.everyone.there?
He.could.of.been.right
As.big.a.fan.as.I.am...unlike.some.here...I.can.accept.that.FM.cant.be.
perfect.all.the.time

Scott

[dissention]

Fleetwood Mac isn't always exceptional at live shows, that's simply a fact of life. Case in point, Mansfield back in May. That show was pretty bad. If the show this critic is reviewing is half as bad, his comments are justified. They've been on the road for a year and half, they need to give it a rest. They aren't in their twenties anymore.