Endless Pre-Edge Filler Music

[Rickypt]

I'm watching the 5/10 Vegas show and, while I know this is certainly not a new observation, I'm curious why the percussion and guitar solos before Edge are so damn long.

Surely it doesn't take that long to put on a white skirt? Does Stevie need a break with the main set ending in just one song? Does she think people actually want to hear these solos as part of the show?

I, for one, would much prefer one or two more songs in the setlist. I don't go to Stevie shows to hear percussion solos, other than a nice short one before Stand Back.

What do others think of this, or has it already discussed to death? It seems like such a waste of time to me, especially since the Vegas show is so short anyway.

[jannieC]

Well, years ago, I think we all knew what Stevie was doing during the pre-Edge music.

Now, maybe she does need a break of some sort. Or maybe it's the anticipation of the song? Giving people time to rush the stage? I have no idea.

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I'm watching the 5/10 Vegas show and, while I know this is certainly not a new observation, I'm curious why the percussion and guitar solos before Edge are so damn long.

Surely it doesn't take that long to put on a white skirt? Does Stevie need a break with the main set ending in just one song? Does she think people actually want to hear these solos as part of the show?

I, for one, would much prefer one or two more songs in the setlist. I don't go to Stevie shows to hear percussion solos, other than a nice short one before Stand Back.

What do others think of this, or has it already discussed to death? It seems like such a waste of time to me, especially since the Vegas show is so short anyway.

Edge of 17 is a hard song to sing. Im sure she is just resting her voice. I mean she sings what..13 songs or so before it? Thats a lot on the voice alone.

[Ghost_Tracker]

Originally Posted by jannieC

Well, years ago, I think we all knew what Stevie was doing during the pre-Edge music.

Now, maybe she does need a break of some sort. Or maybe it's the anticipation of the song? Giving people time to rush the stage? I have no idea.

Uhmmm - what???
(PLEASE don't actually go there, I'm just making a little jokey. . . )
Personally I like your idea of "giving people time to rush the stage," but also
I betcha it's a good time for a makeup re-touch, to talk about how the concert's going, check her hair and clothes, maybe make a trip to the restroom, call her broker, call her niece and yell at her to get off the Internet and start doing her homework, etc.
Actually what I've found very interesting is that Stevie is perfectly capable of doing 22 songs with Fleetwood Mac in "Live in Boston," without any noticeable drop in energy level, but only does 12 songs on the Gold Dust tour. I caught the show on June 10 at Jones Beach on Long Island and was perfectly happy with it, but still, I felt the set list was noticeably short compared to the "Say You Will" setlist, counting the number of songs she performed on during that tour.

[DashingDan]

Yeah, she's always liked those protracted intros/outros...she used to be much worse about it about 15-20 years ago. Every song dribbled on and on and on....

Another thing is that there used to be this guy, Peter Michael, who was this dude who used to be her percussionist and he had the WORST solos...flying drumsticks, neon drumsticks...it was painful to watch. Mick's touchy-vest solos were/are a million times better, if you can imagine that.

[no_spoken_word]

That's why I love the version of Edge of 17 from Storytellers. All the beef, no filler.

[David]

I think it's just old arena-rock conventions: conga drum solos, bongo solos, drum solos, guitar solos (like the shreddy guitar solo Waddy used to do before Stop Dragging My Heart Around in 1983). These old conventions die hard among performing hippies from the Stone Age of rock. They're probably as useful as bathroom breaks for some of the performers as they are for the audience.

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

Uhmmm - what???
(PLEASE don't actually go there, I'm just making a little jokey. . . )
Personally I like your idea of "giving people time to rush the stage," but also
I betcha it's a good time for a makeup re-touch, to talk about how the concert's going, check her hair and clothes, maybe make a trip to the restroom, call her broker, call her niece and yell at her to get off the Internet and start doing her homework, etc.
Actually what I've found very interesting is that Stevie is perfectly capable of doing 22 songs with Fleetwood Mac in "Live in Boston," without any noticeable drop in energy level, but only does 12 songs on the Gold Dust tour. I caught the show on June 10 at Jones Beach on Long Island and was perfectly happy with it, but still, I felt the set list was noticeably short compared to the "Say You Will" setlist, counting the number of songs she performed on during that tour.

At a Fleetwood Mac show she isnt singing the whole show. at her solo show she is singing every song.....

[Rickypt]

I understand that she might need to rest her voice before singing Edge. I just think it breaks the flow quite a bit for her to go away for nearly 10 minutes when she's at the end of the regular set anyway. Maybe Edge should be the encore.

It doesn't really matter, as there won't be too many more solo tours, but it was just an observation while watching the Vegas show. I don't think she was offstage as long in the early years, just a couple minutes to snort snort and put on a white shawl.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by DashingDan

Mick's touchy-vest solos were/are a million times better, if you can imagine that.

Oy, that's not saying much. I enjoyed the vest thing in '87, but since then it only means time to get an $8 beer.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Oy, that's not saying much. I enjoyed the vest thing in '87, but since then it only means time to get an $8 beer.

...............

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I don't think she was offstage as long in the early years, just a couple minutes to snort snort and put on a white shawl.

When I saw her in 86ish? (Rock a Little), she went backstage between EVERY song for a long time. It was funny because we totally knew what she was doing.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

At a Fleetwood Mac show she isnt singing the whole show. at her solo show she is singing every song.....

That's a good point. On Live in Boston there are plenty of songs which Lindsey sings solo, and she usually re-emerges in a different outfit or whatever. That gives her time, but with the solo shows it's harder.

I liked the little piano thing on the Vegas show before Rhiannon [I think?] but the percussion solos I don't like generally .... the two-minute one on Stand Back on Live in Boston I virtually always skip. Get to the fabulousness already!!

[Ghost_Tracker]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

At a Fleetwood Mac show she isnt singing the whole show. at her solo show she is singing every song.....

Well, I had counted the number of songs Stevie actually sings on during
Live in Boston. ( I counted "So Afraid," but that one's kinda iffy 'cause
she doesn't exactly have a lot to do in that song )
Anyway it still comes out to just about double the number.
(F.M. vs. solo.)

Don Henley did half the songs for the first part of this past tour, of course - but I looked at the set list for the rest of the tour and it's still more or less true - Stevie performs on WAY more songs for Fleetwood Mac shows, than for her solo shows.

[DavidMn]

The only thing that annoyed me about this year's edge solo was having to look at the drummer's hairdo, whom I dubbed Umbrella head.