Fleetwood Mac Live in London
September 27, 2013
Photos by Peter H.
When Stevie swoops down in front of the audience during the Stand Back twirl, she comes so close to the edge of the stage and the audience almost tauntingly, telling her subjects to "Stand Back" She almost grazes the tops of peoples heads with that cape!
Which brings a smile to Lindsey's face after a quick check to see what it was..."Go Your Own Way" taken to another level... Just when you thought you've seen it all... You haven't.
For a better view of the weapon check this video out at about 3:52. Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac Live in Birmingham Sunday, September 30, 2013 - LG Arena
by Robert Heller Bloomberg
Fleetwood Mac’s tour is a triumph of inspirational rock, new songs and band hugs.
The band that created “Rumours,” a classic album of impeccable 1970s rock, was always likely to deliver the songs and the playing. The group’s history of divorces, disagreements and excess made the hugs less certain.
The tour features four of the key musicians from “Rumours”: Mick Fleetwood on drums, John McVie on bass, Stevie Nicks on vocals and Lindsey Buckingham on vocals and guitar.
There’s always the chance of an appearance by McVie’s ex-wife Christine, who turned up on stage last week at London’s O2 for the first time in 14 years for an encore of “Don’t Stop.”
They’re aided by two additional musicians and two backing singers. The set draws primarily on mid-1970s albums “Fleetwood Mac,” “Rumours” and “Tusk.”
The band bonhomie isn’t immediately obvious. Buckingham sings “Second Hand News” and “The Chain” with grit and snarl. The latter’s bassline is as mean as ever.
Nicks is dressed in a long black skirt and black velvet top. A tambourine, strewn with flowing ribbons, is draped on her arm. (Buckingham is dressed in utilitarian blue jeans and a black leather jacket.) Her voice is simple and unadorned, more folk than soul, full of emotional nuance and subtle phrasing.
“Sad Angel,” a chirpy new song from this year’s “Extended Play” EP, is easily enjoyable. Buckingham talks about the band’s return to the studio, hinting at new recordings: “There are quite a few more chapters left in the book of Fleetwood Mac.”
Eloquent Anger
The demented riffs on “Tusk” bristle with an eloquent anger that would not be out of place at a psychology clinic.
Usually the acoustic section is a signal to head to the bar. Not with Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham sings “Big Love” armed only with an acoustic guitar. His performance generates a raw electricity that electronic-dance artists would melt their synthesizer circuitry to deliver.
Nicks sings “Landslide” with her ex-boyfriend Buckingham behind her shoulder. Their dynamic is thick with the flirtation of musical communion.
With a recurring set list for the shows, the rest of the concerts are a whirl of pop-rock pleasure. Fleetwood’s drumming provides the mid-tempo beats with a volcanic power while McVie’s bass playing is supple. (Both are dressed in white shirts and black waistcoats.)
Buckingham’s guitar playing is a wonder, bringing flamenco dexterity to acoustic numbers.
After the quiet of “Say Goodbye,” Mick Fleetwood comes to the front of the stage to thank both the band and the audience with 1970s sentiments and a pristine English accent.
“Be kind to one another,” he says. “We love you very much. And remember: The Mac is back!”
Fleetwood Mac Live in Birmingham Sunday, September 29, 2013 - LG Arena
by Enda Mullen Birmingham Post
Big personalities and classic songs give fans an evening of pure energy
Fleetwood Mac might be middle of the road musically speaking but the soap opera that’s the story of the band is about as rock ‘n’ roll as it gets.
It’s a saga characterised by battles and broken relationships and the kind of hard living that would put even the most notorious rock star to shame.
The hell-raising might be no more but the love/hate relationship of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham lives on in many of the songs.
And what songs they are too, with the band producing a soundtrack for a whole generation.
This was a concert of epic proportions, 23 songs in total and not far short of three hours from start to finish, with the band on fire as they plundered the riches of their amazing back catalogue.
There was room for a new song in the shape of Sad Angel, which sounded good but didn’t really get the crowd to their feet in the way The Chain, Rhiannon, Tusk and Landslide did.
Given the big personalities and talents of Nicks and Buckingham it would be easy to overlook founder members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie who give the band its beating heart and clearly still relish playing live.
Other musical highlights included Sara, Big Love, Gypsy, Gold Dust Woman and Don’t Stop, although Say Goodbye, while an appropriate song to end on, didn’t offer the kind of rousing finale the show deserved.
After an evening of pure energy and exemplary musicianship that would put many bands half their age to shame Fleetwood Mac signed off with a lingering farewell that made one wonder whether it may be the last time they take to the stage.
Forget Downton Abbey, if you wanted Sunday night drama then the LG Arena was the place to be this weekend, as Fleetwood Mac offered another episode in rock’s longest-running soap opera.
The Anglo-US act will forever be remembered for Rumours, one of the greatest and biggest-selling albums of all time, which was inspired by the band members’ dissolving relationships - and for some reason they feel compelled to milk the melodrama at every opportunity.
Singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist-singer Lindsey Buckingham – whose break-up provided by many of the songs on that album - arrived on stage holding hands, turned to face each other during several poignant numbers and even shared a hug during Sara.
It was frankly overkill – as were some of the extended introductions – and detracted from an otherwise excellent show.
Sara itself was a highlight, and while Nicks can no longer hit the high notes on tunes such as Rhiannon (Buckingham largely did that for her), she remains a captivating performer with a great set of pipes, gloriously exemplified on Landslide, Silver Springs and new – but old – song Without You.
That said, Buckingham was the undoubted star of the show, and while he remains a frustratingly pompous figure – he’s as aware of his talent as we are – there’s no escaping the brilliance of his guitar playing, notably during an extraordinary acoustic rendering of Big Love and electric wig-outs on I’m So Afraid and Go Your Own Way.
The band did just that on this gig – there was no room for a Christine McVie guest slot, as at the London shows – and with material as strong as Tusk, Second Hand News, The Chain and Don’t Stop, come the end no one in the packed house was quite ready for them to Say Goodbye.
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