REVIEW: A Defiant Fleetwood Mac Lights Up The Night In Boston

Concert Review | Fleetwood Mac rises to occasion at TD Garden
By Dan O’Leary
Tuftsdaily.com

Fleetwood Mac held its first concert in Boston since 2009 last Thursday at TD Garden, and effects from Monday’s events could still be felt as concertgoers entered the building. Attendees faced increased security checks and ushers waved flyers printed with the suspects’ faces as they scanned tickets. It all led to the question: Is there a place for music in all of this? The band’s answer to this was a defiant “yes,” as Fleetwood Mac rose to the occasion and put on a powerful concert that was highly appreciated by the nearly sold-out crowd. Lead singer Stevie Nicks summed it up best in her early remarks to the crowd:

“When I used to run into hard times I’d ask my mom, ‘What do I do?’ And she’d say ‘You can sing for them, you can give them music.’ So that’s what we’re going to do for you tonight.”

And sing they did. Fleetwood Mac’s commitment to delivering that night for Boston was evident from the concert’s opening one-two punch of “Second Hand News” into “The Chain.” Drummer Mick Fleetwood kicked off the evening playing the song’s drum intro with a manic energy, leading into a jubilant rendition of the opener from the band’s classic “Rumors” (1977). The energy level remained high with the band firing on all cylinders for “The Chain,” displaying all the impressive aspects about Thursday’s concert, with harmonizing between Buckingham and Nicks, impressive guitar-work by Buckingham and a rock-solid rhythm section — John McVie’s iconic bass riff on the track rumbled and shook the building.

As to be expected, with no recent album to promote, though the band played two new tracks from an upcoming EP, the setlist was quite heavy on material from “Rumors.” One of the most pleasant surprises of the evening, however, was a mini-set devoted to “Tusk” (1979), the band’s underrated “Rumors” follow-up. Buckingham kicked off this portion of the concert with energetic takes on “Not That Funny” and the title track, which allowed for an impressive display of his trademark fingerpicking guitar style.

But what was easily the highlight of the “Tusk” mini-set was Stevie Nicks’ haunting take on the gem “Sisters of the Moon,” a song that hasn’t been performed by Fleetwood Mac in over 30 years. While Nicks’ voice has lost some of its range due to age, she knew her limits and played it to her advantage, giving “Sisters” a brooding quality. Nicks was spot on in many of her signature songs throughout the night, with highlights including a beautiful version of “Dreams” and a powerful take on “Gold Dust Woman.”

The other MVP of the night was Buckingham on guitar, who had as many show-stopping moments as Nicks. The peak of Buckingham’s performance came in an incendiary 10-minute performance of “I’m So Afraid,” with Buckingham letting loose a passionate guitar solo that brought on a standing ovation once the song was finished. Buckingham performed with this passion throughout the night, coloring many of the concert’s songs with inventive playing, such as his impressive solo acoustic take on “Big Love.”

Regarding Buckingham and Nicks, many in attendance were there to see the chemistry between the former partners. The history between the two has been a theme throughout Fleetwood Mac’s career, and Thursday’s concert offered a glimpse at a pair that finally seemed to be getting along. This relationship was best reflected in the evening’s final encore, where a beautiful rendition by Nicks of “Silver Springs” led into “Say Goodbye,” leaving the two alone on stage and giving a sense of closure to the evening.

Despite any reservations about holding a concert so soon after the Boston Marathon, Fleetwood Mac delivered in spades and provided those in the crowd a brief respite from the tension that had filled the week, with a concert marked by many emotional moments. While dedicating a song to a wounded Iraq veteran in the crowd who Nicks had met many years ago, she became visibly teary and choked up as she said the final words of her intro.

“And that’s what your city does, they called him back [to life]. I would want to be in this city.…I love this city.”

And with that Nicks went on to perform a perfect rendition of “Landslide,” leaving many members of the audience in tears as they sang along. This moment showed why Thursday night was more than just a concert; it showed the power of music to uplift, even in the face of something as horrific as Monday’s events. And based on their wildly enthusiastic reaction to a triumphant version of “Don’t Stop,” dedicated to Boston, it seemed like the crowd agreed.

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Uncasville, CT "The current Fleetwood Mac tour should be prioritized as a "must see."

Fleetwood Mac Live in Uncasville, CT 
at Mohegan Sun Arena - April 20, 2013
by John Voket - SoundSpike Contributor

After enjoying modest success as a hard rocking blues band throughout the late 1960s and early '70s, Fleetwood Mac catapulted its presence to the center of the rock-and-roll radar screen in 1975, after acquiring the talents of a pair of musical star-crossed lovers -- Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Thirty-eight years and several personnel changes later, Fleetwood Mac is on the road again, headlining a world tour that will see them playing shows through October.

While the rhythm section of band co-founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie continues to anchor the band's material -- including a couple of brand new songs -- the talents of Buckingham and Nicks were a driving force behind the band's satisfying two-and-a-half hour show Saturday (5/20) at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena.

Opening with the upbeat "Second Hand News," Fleetwood Mac wove its way through a hit-laden set of material, inserting a few lesser-known cuts and reworking several others enough to keep things interesting, but not so much as to frustrate the fans.

Since the current tour is celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the monster selling album "Rumors," nearly a third of the songs played were drawn from that seminal project. "The Chain," "Dreams," and "Don't Stop," were delivered virtually note for note from the album.

But other cuts like "Gold Dust Woman," with its extended frenetic jam, the sprightly acoustic "Never Going Back Again," and explosive "Go Your Own Way," seemed to be infused with renewed energy that fired up both the band and audience.

Continue to the full review at the original site

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac "We brought you 2 1/2 hours of kick ass music Boston" - Stevie Nicks

Fleetwood Mac Live in Boston at TD Garden April 18th
by Matthew Shelter
Relix Magazine

Fleetwood Mac doesn’t really have to prove anything to anyone at this point in their career, but that doesn’t mean they are simply going through the motions. Bringing their 2013 tour to Boston on an unsettled night in the wake of the Marathon bombings, the four veteran members of the band – Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham – showed why their appeal has lasted as long as it has. They put on an old master’s performance before a welcoming crowd of 20,000 at Boston’s TD Garden.

The set list has not changed dramatically from their two previous tours, in 2009 and 2003, and includes most of the songs their predominantly Baby Boomer fan base will want to hear. Of course, it’s hard to argue with any set list that starts off with “Second Hand News,” “The Chain,” “Dreams,” and also includes the likes of “Rhiannon,” “Sara,” “Landslide,” “Gypsy,” “Gold Dust Woman,” “Go Your Own Way” and “Silver Springs.”

But there were some unexpected gems throughout the two-and-a-half-hour set. They debuted a pair of new songs – “Sad Angel” and “Without You” – that were both worth sticking around for (meaning don’t use them for the obligatory beer and bathroom run). The latter of these Nicks called a “lost track” from the Rumours sessions. “It was actually a poem I wrote to Lindsey before we even moved to L.A.,” she said, in the first blush of new love. “This was definitely before we hit the hard times.” Somehow she came across a demo of it recently on YouTube, of all places, and brought it to the band’s attention. After listening, Mick told her “These are the voices and the phrasings that we heard that made us want to have you in our band.” It’s an acoustic number that feels very 1975, and carries echoes of another California classic, the Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band.”

The middle of the show featured a solo acoustic version by Buckingham of “Big Love,” which has become something of a signature tune for him. It’s easy to forget just how good a guitar player Lindsey Buckingham truly is, until reminded of it by seeing him in concert. His fingerpicking guitar play seems only to get better as he ages, and he was the most energetic member of the band on the Boston stage, repeatedly moving to the very edge of the stage to play only inches from the front row of fans. He came close to stealing the show with an extended, fiery solo during “I’m So Afraid” – one that brought the crowd to its feet and, in his only nod to advancing age, forced Buckingham to put his hands on his knees and catch his breath for a moment or two at song’s end.

Stevie Nicks may no longer be the whirling gypsy of the late 1970s, but her singular voice has lost none of its emotional depth. Clad in a silky black dress and 4-inch heels, she did throw in a few twirls during “Gypsy,” as if to show that she’s still got it, and reached into the dress-up box for a gold shawl and black top hat during a stellar version of “Gold Dust Woman.”

The band made note at several times through the evening of Boston’s trying week; the show was the first major concert in the city following the Marathon attacks. “We’re so happy you all came out night,” Nicks said near the end of the evening. “We know what you’re going through. You and New York are the toughest cities. You are definitely Boston Strong.”

STEVIE NICKS:
"We brought you 2 1/2 hours of kick ass music Boston!... This party starts NOW!"

7 Day Forecast: Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks (The Week Ahead)

FLEETWOOD MAC:

Four dates coming up this week for Fleetwood Mac.  The first is their second Canadian date in Ottawa, Ontario at Scotiabank Place.  Then it's back to the New York City area for the Newark, NJ show.  The band then plays Pittsburgh, PA and continues to move west with a date in St. Paul, MN.

4/23: Tuesday - Fleetwood Mac Live in Ottawa, ON Canada - Tickets
4/24: Wednesday - Fleetwood Mac  Live in Newark, NJ - Tickets
4/26: Friday - Fleetwood Mac  Live in Pittsburgh, PA - Tickets
4/28: Sunday - Fleetwood Mac  Live in St. Paul, MN - Tickets

STEVIE NICKS:

Stevie's documentary continues to screen in various theatres.  This week you can catch the film for the first time in Boulder, Colorado and at the Newport Beach Film Festival where it plays for the first time April 28th. A second screening date is on May 2nd.  Tickets available for both on-line.

4/26: Friday - Stevie Nicks "In Your Dreams" screens in Boulder, CO - Tickets
4/28: Sunday - Stevie Nicks "In Your Dreams" screens in Newport Beach, CA - Tickets

inyourdreamsmovie.com

Fleetwood Mac Add Second Amsterdam Show - Oct 26th. Tickets on sale Friday

Fleetwood Mac Live

October 26, 2013

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ziggo Dome

After selling out the first Amsterdam show on October 7th within hours of tickets going on sale, it was announced today by concert organizer MOJO that Fleetwood Mac would play a second night at the Ziggo Domo in Amsterdam on october 26th.

Tickets for the newly added date go on sale this Friday, April 25, 2013 at 10am local time via Livenation.

I guess the logistical reason given for last weeks cancellation of the Helsinki, Finland concert on October 25th was to provide a window of opportunity for the band to add the second Amsterdam show.

Fleetwood Mac Comes to Prudential "The sound is tight, confident, aggressive"

Sunday, April 21, 2013
By Jim Beckerman - North Jersey

WHO: Fleetwood Mac.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24th
WHERE: Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark; 973-757-6600, Ticketmaster or prucenter.com.
HOW MUCH: $49.50 to $179.50.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: fleetwoodmac.com.

Some bands have a fan base. Fleetwood Mac has a clone base.

There they were at Madison Square Garden April 8, as no doubt they will also be at Newark's Prudential Center this Wednesday: The Stevies.

These are women – mostly middle-aged, but then so was most of the audience – who style themselves after the witch goddess herself, Stevie Nicks. Translucent shawls, hippie hats, tons of fringe.

Stevie herself, when she appeared onstage in New York as part of the band's 34-city world tour, was dripping with fringe. Fringe cascaded off her mike stand. Ribbons dangled from her tambourine. Even Mick Fleetwood's drum kit seemed covered in the stuff. Conspicuous among his accessories was the bell tree: that fringe of dangling tubes, gently brushed by the player to create a sprinkling of musical fairy dust.

All very '70s – as were the trippy kaleidoscopic images and Rorschach blots projected behind the stage, and Mick Fleetwood's funky knee-pants. It was in 1977, of course, that "Rumours" became one of the most successful albums of all time (31 weeks on the charts, 40 million copies sold, the sixth best-selling album in U.S. history).

Kept its audience

Launched in 1967 and reaching its pinnacle of success in the late 1970s and '80s, Fleetwood Mac has easily carried its audience – mostly from the 1970s and '80s also – along with it into the 21st century. Along the way, they've created hits, including "Go Your Own Way" and "Don't Stop," that seem likely to last as long as anything in the short-attention-span-theater that is pop.

Above all, they have a mystique: an odd one, maybe, tied in with moony mysticism and 1970s excess, but still real. "Puh-leeze, Mummy," says a toddler in a 1980s Tom Wolfe cartoon, tugging on the sleeve of her trendy mom. "Nobody wants to hear about coke, Acapulco, or Fleetwood Mac."

It isn't every band that inspires such loyalty. It's worth asking why.

One reason is clearly Nicks herself. She's one of the first, though not the last, of the Earth-mother-goddess-oracle rock stars that become the obsession of a certain kind of fan.

From her, arguably, descend all the Tori Amoses, Sarah MacLachlans and Sheryl Crows, with their breakup songs and Delphic lyrics and gypsy occultism. Now 64, Nicks' voice is a bit huskier than when she first sang "Dreams" and "Rhiannon" back in the 1970s, but in a good way: It's a voice with character. It sounds lived-in.

The show Fleetwood Mac did at Madison Square Garden, the same one they will presumably be bringing to Prudential and the first they've done since 2009, is in some ways a greatest-hits compendium: most of "Rumours," much of "Tusk," a few new songs and a few seldom-heard old ones, including "Without You" (a love song, from Nicks to guitarist Lindsey Buckingham), written in the early 1970s, and "Sisters of the Moon," not performed since the early 1980s. But the sound is tight, confident, aggressive.

Apart from the band's signature Mamas & the Papas harmonies, which perhaps lack a bit from the significant absence of singer-keyboardist Christine McVie (she's sitting out this tour), it's hard to imagine the group sounding better.

It's not every band that has a front person as strong as Nicks, and she isn't even the only one. Guitarist Buckingham, also up front, anchors the band every bit as much. Fleetwood Mac is the sum of many parts: key to its impact, and reflective of the odd way the band formed.

It started in the late 1960s as a conventional British blues band, with drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie (the Fleetwood and the Mac). Then it got cross-pollinated with Southern California-style pop when Nicks and Buckingham joined in 1975. Fleetwood Mac must be one of the few bona fide trans-Atlantic bands in pop history — half Brit, half American.

Lots of styles

The mix of personnel, and backgrounds, has led to an impressive range of sounds and styles. Fleetwood Mac can turn on a dime from bluegrass ("Never Going Back Again") to blues ("I'm So Afraid") to power pop ("Tusk," performed this tour with steamroller force, complete with faux horn section). There's room for Buckingham's superb finger-picking guitar ("Say Goodbye"), and also for an epic Mick Fleetwood drum solo ("World Turning")

To many fans, the drama onstage is augmented by the drama behind the scenes: who was married to whom (John McVie to Christine McVie), who was an on-again off-again couple (Nicks and Buckingham), and who caught whom on the rebound (Fleetwood, romancing Nicks).

No wonder Nicks spins around onstage. It's enough to make anyone dizzy.