Fleetwood Mac News

Monday, June 08, 2009

WINNIPEG PHOTOS OF FLEETWOOD MAC

Photos by: Dan Harper photo
Slideshow

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Salt Lake City Mac Attack

Mac attack is back

The demise of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" has been greatly exaggerated.

The material on the Mac's seminal album, recorded over 30 years ago during a period of intense intra-band emotional turmoil, still resonates today -- as evidenced by Wednesday's concert at EnergySolutions Arena.

With no new album to plug, Fleetwood Mac took a full lower bowl of fans -- the upper section of the arena was curtained off -- on a memorable two-and-a-half-hour journey through the band's greatest hits, with a few select album cuts thrown in for good measure.

It was no surprise then that "Rumours," the band's 1977 album that sold more than 17 million copies and spent over 130 weeks on the charts, received the greatest amount of attention in Wednesday's set, with eight songs claiming ties to that record. The album is clearly a classic and Fleetwood Mac, just as clearly, continues to breathe new life into them live.

Namesakes Mick Fleetwood (drums) and John McVie (bass) may be the historical and rhythmic backbone of Fleetwood Mac, seeing as how they are the only two constants in the band's 40-plus years history, but Lindsey Buckingham (guitars, vocals) and Stevie Nicks (vocals, tambourine and spellbound dancing) are the heart and soul. Besides the whole Buckingham/Nicks romantic dissolution that provided the lyrical fodder for many of the band's biggest hits, the pair remain the main focal point for live performances.

Buckingham and Nicks don't shy away from that connection on stage -- indeed they seem to go out of their way to play it up for the crowd. The two were the last members to take the stage Wednesday, pointedly walking out hand-in-hand to assume their positions in front -- a move they duplicated at the start of both encore segments.

In a sly nod, the band opened with "Monday Morning" -- the very first song on the 1975 album "Fleetwood Mac," which marked the debut of Buckingham and Nicks in the group. Traditional concert opener "The Chain" followed and set the tone for an enchanting evening.

For starters, it must be pointed out that Buckingham may be one of the most criminally underrated guitarists of his generation. Whether it is due to Fleetwood Mac being best known for its more pop-oriented fare or slick album production, Buckingham's guitar prowess is seriously lacking in recognition. Whatever the reason, he must be seen live to be truly appreciated.

Watching him Wednesday, it was driven home that many of his most dynamic solos do not come in quick minute bursts in the middle of songs -- where most guitarists insert their flashiest solo work -- but rather appear in extended passages that close out tunes with a building, blistering conclusion.

There was not a better example of this than "I'm So Afraid" -- which features a frenetic five-minute guitar clinic by Buckingham to close out the song. "I Know I'm Not Wrong," "Second Hand News" and "Go Your Own Way" also featured great rideout solos by Buckingham.

Besides being Buckingham's emotional foil, Nicks brings an ethereal presence to the mix with her lyrical poetry, sultry vocals and somewhat mystical stage presence and twirling dance moves. Rocking her flowing dresses, knee-high boots, various shawls and, at one point, a top hat, Nicks belted out classics like "Dreams," "Rhiannon," "Sara," "Landslide," "Gold Dust Woman" and her own hit single "Stand Back."

Buckingham and Nicks also offered extended introductions to several songs, taking the time to detail some of the history behind them. Nicks provided the most interesting intro -- for the song "Gypsy" -- by recalling the years 1963-65, when she was a teenager living in Salt Lake City. Her father's work, however, forced the family to relocate to California.

"I was devastated," Nicks told the crowd. "I really loved Salt Lake."

But California is where she met Buckingham, eventually joining his band. That band made only one road trip -- which happened to be to Salt Lake City.

"We drove in Lindsey's Skylark," Nicks said, noting that their band opened for Leon Russell and Quicksilver Messenger at the old Terrace Ballroom, and then returned to immerse itself in the vibrant San Francisco music scene. "Ten years later, I wrote this song to capture those memories."

Christine McVie (keyboard and vocals) is the one missing member of the band's core lineup, having retired in 1998. Fleetwood Mac didn't ignore her material Wednesday, performing "Say You Love Me" and "Don't Stop." On both songs, Buckingham and Nicks handled one verse each vocally, before dueting on the third verse.

A pair of album gems included "Oh Well," from 1969, and "Storms," off the experimental double album, "Tusk," the followup to "Rumours." Nicks said "Storms" had never been played live by the band before this tour.

The rocking "Go Your Own Way" closed the main set and "Silver Springs" was a great choice to end the entire evening. "Silver Springs," though it did not officially appear on "Rumours," was the B side to hit single "Go Your Own Way." It first surfaced on record with the 1997 live album, "The Dance."

There are rumblings that the band will return to the studio to work on new material once this tour is over. Fans hope those hints prove to be more than "Rumours."

Doug Fox
Daily Herald

A BLOGGER GIVES AWAY 4 TIX TO FLEETWOOD MAC BALTIMORE

[Text from from the blog]

Fleetwood Mac tickets are available for free

to friends of mine if they'd like them. I'll use a first-come-first serve basis. Leave a comment here if you'd like them. It need not be related to the band, but include a funny haiku for my entertainment if you so desire.

I have four tickets. Yes, they are free, but there are several provisos:

- The show is at 8PM on Wednesday, June 10th, at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, MD.

- I get the tickets at 1PM that same Wednesday, so you must come to pick them up from me, or we can arrange a convenient pick-up spot for us to meet (i.e. you're doing most of the legwork here, not me). Bear in mind that I work in Chantilly and live in Manassas.

- Tell me how the show was (if possible, take pictures)!

Ready...go!

POST AT THIS LINK HERE AND BE THE FIRST TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR TICKETS

WIN TICKETS TO FLEETWOOD MAC NYC

Win free tickets to FLEETWOOD MAC IN NEW YORK CITY

WIN A PAIR OF VIP TICKETS TO FLEETWOOD MAC AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN JUNE 11 COURTESY OF ILOVEACCESS.COM PLUS A MEET AND GREET, ACCESS TO A PRESHOW PARTY AND EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE.

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Win Tickets To Fleetwood Mac in Nashville

Magic 101.9 welcomes Fleetwood Mac!

An Evening with Fleetwood Mac

Saturday, June 20th

New Orleans Arena

Ticketmaster.com (prices: $45, $65, $85, $125)

The New Orleans Arena, Loews Hotel and Magic 101.9 are pleased to offer you a chance to win a Magical Night Out for Fleetwood Mac!

You'll Win:

2 premium tickets for the concert (valued at $250)
A one-night stay at the Loews Hotel with complimentary overnight parking for the night of the concert
$130 in gift cards towards Cafe Adelaide & the Swizzle Stick Bar
Total prize value of $628!

How to Win:

Enter HERE as often as you'd like until the contest ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, 6/14/09
We'll contact the winner on Monday, 6/15/09

Sunday, June 07, 2009

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Unleashed in San Diego

Fleetwood Mac - San Diego Concert Review
Full Review by: Ryan Cameron

"It was definitely one of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time and it was just one of the most magical evenings in a long time."

"the concert was phenomenal, probably as close to a religious experience as one gets for a non-church goer."

"Lindsey Buckingham was absolutely amazing on guitar all night long."

"Lindsey clearly deserves the right to shine and even though he took several opportunities to perform guitar solos, it felt conservative."

"It’s very clear these men are extremely talented when it comes to mastery of their instruments."

"It seems the only one not feeling the need to have a solo moment was John McVie."

"The audience was absolutely rapturous for Fleetwood Mac."

"The concert experience was definitely something to be witnessed."

"I think it was a great way to acknowledge Christine’s role in the band’s history"

BETTE MIDLER CALLS STEVIE NICKS

Kathy Griffin's 'D-List' adds some A-list star power for new season

Midler appears in tonight's premiere, entertaining Griffin in her Las Vegas digs during an extended concert appearance at Caesars Palace, where she good-naturedly suffers the indignity of Griffin's small talk. "When I'm around you, I look like I have class — which never happens," Griffin tells Midler.

"When you sit down with Bette Midler, you don't want to waste your time with small talk," says Griffin, who proceeds to ask Midler whether her 1990 hit, Wind Beneath My Wings, is about flatulence.

Griffin also bugs Midler for advice on how she can get her comedy album based on her popular stand-up act, For Your Consideration, a Grammy nod — a request that prompts Midler to phone Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. (Neither offers much help, but that album, which was eventually nominated, did not win at this year's Grammy Awards.)