Review: Songs From The Small Machine "Lindsey Buckingham’s six-string tapestries are jaw-dropping"

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DVD Review: Buckingham Earns Respect
By Scott Smith
Times Record

"The women ruined Fleetwood Mac.”

That ongoing, mean-spirited joke that claims Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie sabotaged the artistic integrity of one of rock’s most-loved groups is frustrating and puzzling. Those who pass that tired joke along are commenting on the skyscraper-level success Fleetwood Mac enjoyed immediately after Nicks and guitarist-singer Lindsey Buckingham joined the group.

But those armchair critics, while leaning on that anti-Nicks sentiment, really are missing the point entirely. Yes, Fleetwood Mac originated as an all-male blues band in the late 1960s before becoming co-ed chart-toppers in the mid- and late-1970s, but the Buckingham-Nicks version was — and still is — just as daring and critical as almost any punk-rock band.

A quick spin of Fleetwood Mac’s beautifully flawed LP “Tusk” — the LP is jagged, nervy and completely different than its safer, bazillion-selling predecessor, “Rumours” — reveals Buckingham to be as much as a lone-wolf, do-it-yourself artist as Johnny Rotten, the late Joe Strummer or any leather-jacketed Ramone.

The same can be said of Buckingham’s new DVD, “Songs from the Small Machine — Live in L.A.,” which gives sharp focus to Buckingham’s immaculate guitar playing. Filmed on the front end of his recent “Seeds We Sow Tour,” the DVD presents some of the most unique — and wildly inspired — finger-picking from any guitar player.

Buckingham’s six-string tapestries are jaw-dropping on his trademark, one-man version of “Big Love,” and his fingers and right thumb also succeed in aweing fans on more recent work like “Seeds We Sow,” “Under the Skin,” “Shut Us Down,” “In Our Own Time,” “Stars Are Crazy” and “End of Time.”

The Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer also breathes new venom into Fleetwood Mac’s “Second Hand News,” a still-impressive track that contains a galloping rhythm and the best lyrics ever about romantic adventures found in tall-grass fields.

Format: DVD/CD combo
Studio: Eagle Vision
Rated: Not rated
Running Time: 142 minutes
Grade: A
Other formats: Blu-ray and stand-alone DVD

REVIEW: Stevie Nicks Canberra, AU

Published by @Nickslive at nickslive.blogspot.com for Fleetwood Mac News and Reviews

Queen of rock rolls with career's punches

Photo: Stuart Walmsley

Rolling Stone once dubbed her the ''reigning queen of rock and roll'', and while Stevie Nicks may no longer sit on the throne, she continues to influence those who do.  Artists like Sheryl Crow, Courtney Love and even the Dixie Chicks have cited her as an inspiration - not bad for a girl who was only added to Fleetwood Mac after then boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham insisted they came as a package deal.

The long, flowing skirts and tassles remain at age 63, but the feverish on-stage antics have given way to a slow twirl. She may be moving with less verve, but Nicks showed fans at the AIS Arena last night that her songwriting ability is far from on the wane.

Nearing the end of an Australian tour to promote her latest album In Your Dreams, Nicks only borrowed sparingly from her Fleetwood Mac days and past solo career, preferring new material co-written in 2010 with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame.

In Your Dreams has been widely lauded as her best collection of songs since the '80s and she told fans last night that the experience of making the album with Stewart at her Santa Monica home was ''the best year of my life''.

CONTINUE TO THE FULL REVIEW

BY STUART WALMSLEY
The Canberra Times

"Nicks of Time" Hobart Mercury

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Stevie Nicks looks back over her life and loves on her new album, says Helen Brown

(This article appears in the December 8th printing of the Hobart Mercury (Tasmania).  Article was originally published in The Telegraph in June, 2011

WHEN Stevie Nicks asked her 15-year-old god-daughter to take part in her new video – “playing me at 30, around the time I joined Fleetwood Mac” – the girl asked for a little direction.

“So I told her to twirl, talk to yourself, make like you’re crazy – be me,” Nicks says. “We put her in my vintage, evergreen tie-dye with my top hat. Oh, she looked so beautiful. My girlfriends laughed when we saw the dress. Were we ever that small? We must have been!” She may lament outgrowing her youthful stage gear but Nicks is still a rock-star Rapunzel at 63, blonde locks cascading over billowing, black chiffon sleeves.

It’s been a long and winding road for Nicks. She developed a huge cocaine addiction between the 1977 release of Fleetwood Mac’s 40 million-selling Rumours and her 1986 admission to the Betty Ford Clinic. Her recovery was “aided” by a prescribed tranquilliser, to which she became addicted for eight years.

“I’m still very angry about that,” she says. “I might have met somebody, had a baby, made three more amazing albums in those years.

“I’m pretty sure that had I not eventually checked myself into a hospital and stayed there for 47 days, I would be dead now. I would have OD’D on something crazy – over the counter.”

Photos: Stevie Nicks, Dave Stewart & Brian McFadden Wollongong

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Stevie Nicks | Dave Stewart | Brian McFadden 

WIN Entertainment Centre Wollongong December 5, 2011 

Gallery

Looks like a couple of wardrobe changes for both Stevie and Dave.  Stevie's red jacket on this night didn't include the long chiffon sleeves, instead she went for a gathered sleeve top similar or exactly like one she's been wearing in black. Dave in deep purple in a similar style to his yellow blackbird suit.

Photos by: shot2frame

Stevie Nicks brought her trademark ethereal feel to Wollongong

As a member of Fleetwood Mac she captivated a generation, and Stevie Nicks brought her trademark ethereal feel to Wollongong.

It was cold, windy and wet when the baby boomers fought for parking down by the beach and several blocks inland.

Many appeared to have arrived early enough to have quite a few drinks.

Surprisingly, many stayed outside drinking while Dave Stewart and his excellent band played a great set.

It was early though, they were playing a Eurythmics track when we arrived at 7:30pm.

Stevie announced at the start of her show that this concert tour was not a greatest hits show but to promote her 2010 album with Dave Stewart.  She then reassured us that there would be some hits interspersed with the new work.  The crowd was grateful.

Then, to sweeten us up, explained she'd never before visited Wollongong (which she correctly pronounced).

She praised the vista of entering from the escarpment: "Where the amazing ocean meets the mountain.

This is maybe where I find my house on the cliff".

"Yes!" we cheered, especially the Wombarra residents down in the $170 seats who probably thought more of the boost to their home prices than what sort of a neighbour Ms Nicks might really make.

A couple of new songs, the second with a video projection featuring Dave Stewart in black and young ethereal girls swirling around in swirly Nicks style dresses, cutting to images of a dark Stevie in black with very straight blonde hair.  The video background was quite distracting but reminded the crowd of Stevie's witchy persona.  In the flesh, she reminded us too of what she had been.

She wore a dark red, layered, ruched dress with tight bodice and the most amazing hair. Long, lustrous white blond locks had the 2011 Stevie, more beautiful than the tortured perms of the 70s and teased looks of the 80s but a little incongruous 30 years on.

The band launched into Dreams and the crowd sang along.

The expensive seats came alive with the lights of iphones: were they recording or waving their lighter app in the air?

Reviewed by Sarah Moss
Full Review at ABC Illawarra

Fleetwood Mac Founder Mick Fleetwood Gearing Up For Restaurant Opening - Now Accepting Resumes

Published by Nickslive.blogspot.com for Fleetwood Mac News and Reviews

Fleetwood’s On Front St. in Lahaina hopes to open in the second quarter of 2012 and occupy the 2nd
floor, roof and portions of the ground floor of the former Planet Hollywood building across from the sea wall.

Celebrity eatery takes huge space, long lease & plans to hire hundreds

Fleetwood’s Restaurant and Pub on Front Street has leased over 10,000 sq ft of second floor and rooftop dining at the old Planet Hollywood Building, and also plans to offer retail liquor sales on the ground floor. According to Project Manager Jonathan Todd, the new ocean view eatery located across the street from the sea wall in Lahaina has received two liquor licenses: one for upstairs service and a separate permit for ground floor retail sales. He said the dining areas are expected to seat hundreds will eventually be open for lunch and dinner. He also anticipates that hundreds will be hired to staff the new establishment.

Fronting the new venture is long time celebrity musician Mick Fleetwood who has Maui homes upcountry and in Napili.

“Mick’s been here for a while and he gets the needs of Maui,” said Todd. He said the menu is still taking shape but in its final incarnation “will be approachable yet sophisticated. We want it to have family appeal.”

The project manager said that HJP Restaurant Advisors of Santa Barbara has been retained to coordinate the opening.

“They’ll be on site 24/7 until then and as long after we open as necessary.” Todd said that Fleetwood’s is currently seeking resumes from those qualified for general manager, chef and other senior level positions. “When top staff is in place they will be responsible for filling the other positions.”

Those interested in submitting resumes of any kind should follow the links posted on line at www.FleetwoodsOnFrontSt.com and www.Facebook.com/Fleetwoods. He indicated that “hiring preference will be given to Maui residents.”

Maui Now