By Tom Hanson
Naplesnews
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Nicks didn’t sell out the 5,000-seat venue, but her vintage voice filled the void for the baby boomer-centric crowd. She might be 64, but her classic hits and signature sound never get old.
With her sing-along lyrics, trademark melodies, a handful of new tracks off her latest album and stories behind the songs, Nicks proved why she’s a legend. She also proved sequins, shawls, flowing black outfits and long blonde hair never go out of style.
She ended the two-summer tour with “Love Is,” as she explained, a customary piano ballad encore. And then she professed her love for creating new music, touring and her faithful fans.
“I’m going to leave my heart here,” Nicks said right before her final bow. “I look forward to some rest, but I am going to miss singing some of these new songs.”
Nicks started out the show by slaying Led Zepplin’s “Rock and Roll.” With a montage of rock legends from the Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney flashing on the video screen behind her, the Fleetwood Mac frontwoman fit right in.
She was stuck in the ‘70s and that’s not bad. It was a pretty good decade for the singer-songwriter. And when the band went silent for the final lonely lonely lonely lonely time, Nicks’ unmistakable voice popped, showing she can still rock after 40 years in the business.
Her vocals matched the long, gold chain around her neck and the shimmering silver bangles on her wrists as she rattled off her repertoire of chart-topping hits and peppered in a few new songs along the way.
And for every hit she had a story.
She said she was proud of writing Fleetwood Mac’s only No. 1 song just before belting out “Dreams.”
She showed off a gold-dotted shawl after singing “Stand Back,” stating that it was the original garment worn in the 1985 MTV video.
She stripped-down the beginning of “Rhiannon” and then told the crowd she wrote it back in 1973, two years before joining Fleetwood Mac.
(I love the little dance she does at the 4:20 mark where she spins around)
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She said 1973 was a great year for her as she wrote many hits that year.
She recalled sitting on the floor of a cabin in Aspen, Colo., in that same year. Back when, as she said, she wore platform shoes, had big curly hair and the perfect life. She asked to be left alone to write and immediately knew she had a future hit after finishing.
“I remember saying, ‘I think there is something to this song,’” Nicks said. “This little song turned into a ‘Landslide.’”
She said she remembered writing “Landslide” like it was yesterday. She sang it Thursday night like it was yesterday.
And for every new song she had a story.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Pre-show music: Stevie Nicks singing Not Fade Away a Buddy Holly cover found on the album Listen To "Me (Buddy Holly Tribute)" released in 2011.
Nicks said a visit to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed hospital in Washington, D.C., inspired a poem that eventually turned into the song “Soldier’s Angel,” a haunting tribute to the troops.
She explained she was a Twi-hard, a fan of the "Twilight" movie series, which explains her black-on-black vampire-esque wardrobe. She said she was in Australia at a theater watching the second installment of the 'Twilight' saga when she had an idea for a song. “Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream)” would give new light on her career. It motivated her to go back to the studio after an eight-year hiatus.
“In 2001, after recording ‘Trouble in Shangri-La,’ I gave up on the record business,” Nicks said. “I had enough, but this song brought me back.”
The song turned into an album and the album turned into the tour. She said it would be her final big-show solo tour. She sounded sad as she introduced her band and backup singers, many of whom had been with her for the 40-year journey, for one last time.
Fortunately for the fans, Nicks announced this summer that she would join Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood on a Fleetwood Mac Tour in 2013.
There’s no doubt she’ll soar, as she did Thursday night, at times twirling on stage with arms extended and the array of shawls acting like a cape. She ended her final set soaring like a dove with a perfect rendition of “Edge of Seventeen.”
And then Nicks made a final victory lap on the edge of the stage, literally reaching out and touching her fans.
She thanked them for embracing her new music and “an artist who is progressing and not vanishing into the past.”
What a beautifully written review. It completely catches the feeling we all had last night. I did not know it was the last night of the tour. I wish it had been recorded because it had everything I love about a Stevie show, the great songsl and the great storiesand the great lady of rock and roll.
ReplyDeleteHaving read the comments about fans singing at some of the last few shows, I couldnot help but think its funny the reviewer mentioned the "sing a long" lyrics. The debate continue!
The downer was event security who did not allow dancing and tried to block Edge Walk. It broke the spirit and she even remarked about it. Her bodyguard had to talk to security. They were just nuts all night :(
ReplyDeleteIS this really the LAST solo tour for Stevie?
ReplyDeletethat's what caught my eye too, it sounded like it was to be her last solo tour ever....I hope the reporter got his facts mixed up and it's just the last for this album. I know someday she will hang up the boots, shawls, tamborine and magical performances....say it isn't so yet!!!
ReplyDeleteDidn't allow dancing??Really? I was there and 95% of the floor was dancing and having a great time. I know there was issues within the first 3 rows and at the start of the edge walk. Was a fantastic show. She did say she had some smaller events planned but not any more 2 hour shows this year
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm saying, I thought she said that it was her last big show fort he tour. She said she will keep turing as long as people will listen!
ReplyDeleteBy the way can someone please tell me what was the prerecorded song playing with a cathchy drum beat with her singing it,while people were being seated, she was just about to come out on stage. Man she totally rocked last night. I am a huge Stevie fan for 27 years now!
The two songs that played right before the concert in Virginia Beach earlier this summer were "Your Not The One" Stevie wrote the lyrics and sings back up but its on Sheryl Crow record. The other one you might be asking about was "Not Fade Away" a Buddy Holly cover.
ReplyDeleteMy god... I really, REALLY hope the reporter is wrong and this ISN'T the final show. She said herself, that she'll be going well into her 70s as long as people keep listening.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that she means this is the last show of the In Your Dreams Tour. She was sad in 1981 when her first solo tour came to an end and had to go back to working with Fleetwood Mac for the Mirage album. Here's hoping that's what they mean here.. I'm really worried now!!
ReplyDeleteShe said these were the last "In Your Dreams" shows afte two years touring for the CD. She will tour again solo after next year's Fleetwood Mac tour. I am surprised though that the 2012 tour included no west coast dates at all. In fact hardly any middle of the country dates, mostly east coast only.
ReplyDeleteya u r right I am surprised too about mostly only east coast i am from eastcoast so very fouturnet to c 3 shows this summers of hers i am from nh and saw her in homdel nj and boston ma now estero fl witch i flew down too the last of inyour dreams full shows. all 3 shows were the 2:10 shows. but in regaurds to last solo show not true at all this album in your dreams meant alot to her and she did not want to end this tour. thats all she will be back as a solo artist for sure.
ReplyDelete