Rock legend Nicks mixes her music with Mac’s

By DAVID DORSEY • news-press.com • June 13, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, FLA. — Her blond hair waving and her costumes flowing — and oftentimes spinning — Stevie Nicks mesmerized a sellout crowd of 5,000 fans with her mystical blend of classic rock.

Nicks, who celebrated her 60th birthday May 26, opened at the Hard Rock Live venue with “Outside the Rain” as she launched into an hour and 50 minutes’ worth of songs.

Nicks covered a mix of her own material and that of the band that made her famous in the 1970s — Fleetwood Mac.

But she also put her own spin on the works of others, playing the Dave Matthews Band song “Crash,” a Bob Seger cover and Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll,” the first song of the encore.

Performing with nine others on stage, Nicks took to the center, flanked by a guitarist, a rhythm guitarist, bass player, drummer, percussionist (he banged on African-style drums among other instruments), a keyboardist, piano player and three background vocalists, including her sister-in-law.

The two drummers came in handy, teaming for a drum duet that energized the crowd before being rejoined by Nicks and the rest of the band for the final song of the set — and her best song — “Edge of Seventeen.”

As the drummers showed off their skills, Backstage, Nicks changed into a white gown. When she came out and turned around and stretched out her arms, her back to the crowd, her arms resembled wings. She transformed herself into the image of a white-winged dove.

“Stand Back,” and “How Still My Love,” were included in her set along with Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon,” “Gold Dust Woman,” and “Landslide,” the latter of which she dedicated to her late father, with snapshots of her and her dad flashing on the big screen behind her.

The emotional moment drew a standing ovation, as did the final song of the evening, “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You,” a song she dedicated to injured U.S. troops who were stationed overseas.