Wednesday, October 01, 2014

REVIEWS | VIDEO: Fleetwood Mac Live in Minneapolis

Fleetwood Mac Live
Minneapolis, MN
September 30, 2014

Fleetwood Mac Kicks Off New Tour, with Christine McVie Back on Keyboards
Photo: Jerry Holt - View Gallery

Fleetwood Mac was at the Target Center in Minneapolis Tuesday night, kicking off their latest tour -- the first with longtime singer/keyboardist Christine McVie since 1998.

According to TwinCities.com, drummer Mick Fleetwood noted McVie’s return by telling the 17,000 fans in attendance, “Our songbird is back,” a reference not only to the 71-year-old singer-songwriter, but also to "Songbird," one of her contributions to Fleetwood Mac's celebrated 1977 album, Rumours. Fittingly, the band ended the night's show with the song.

The nearly two-and-a-half-hour performance opened with “The Chain,” followed by “You Make Loving Fun.”

Christine McVie celebrated her return by thanking the band and the fans, saying, “It’s a dream come true, a chance you don’t often get in life.”

Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham all took time out to praise McVie. Buckingham told the crowd, “This is a band that continues to evolve through good times and adversity.  This is just, I guess, the latest chapter.”

Buckingham continued, “It’s a beautiful, profound, poetic new chapter now that this lady is back with us. And it’s a chapter that is going to go on for a while. A chapter that is going to yield much fruit. We are very, very excited.”

The band’s next concert is Thursday night at the United Center in Chicago.

Fleetwood Mac's On with the Show tour runs through a December 20 concert in Tampa, Florida.

ABC News


The full Fleetwood Mac is back with McVie
by: Jon Bream
Star Tribune



REVIEW: This heyday incarnation — reassembled after some rocky years — came across as a democratic, respectful, polite and mostly sparks-free.

You look for those little moments at a Fleetwood Mac concert.

Like when Christine McVie, back in the fold after a 16-year retirement, cracks a smile as the sellout crowd gives her a huge ovation after she sings her first line of the night. Or when Stevie Nicks and her ex, Lindsey Buckingham, exchange a glance, grasp one another’s hand and even share a hug. Or when McVie slaps her ex, John McVie, on the shoulder in a fond way.

Because Fleetwood Mac is rock’s famously fractured fivesome, you looked for those little signs Tuesday at Target Center, where the Rock Hall of Fame band launched its reunion tour with McVie.

Nicks hasn’t sounded this good since the early ’90s. Buckingham didn’t hog the spotlight as he did last year in St. Paul. McVie held her own, though her voice clearly doesn’t have arena oomph. And the band sounded terrific, as always. What a rhythm machine and what an articulate and emotional guitarist Buckingham is.

But, ultimately, this heyday incarnation — reassembled after some rocky years — came across as a democratic, respectful, polite and mostly sparks-free Fleetwood Mac. There weren’t any opening-night glitches. And the performance was never really tentative. But it was never really lived in. You’d love to see this band at least 10 shows into this 40-concert On With the Show Tour, especially because Tuesday’s opener was so encouraging.

The key thing that seemed to be missing was palpable camaraderie. Each lead singer stayed in his or her own space each time they sang. There were no sparks or even darts between Buckingham and Nicks, whose romantic tension has fueled Fleetwood Mac to superstardom since they joined the long-lived British/American band in 1975. To be sure, there were a couple of times on Tuesday when they turned toward one another — though they stood a good 20 feet apart — and sang pivotal lyrics as if they meant them. She was shooting lasers at him during “Silver Springs” as she proclaimed, “I know I could have loved you but you would not let me.”

Maybe a more telling moment about their relationship and this night came during “Landslide,” which is essentially a duet for them. Buckingham crept closer to Nicks than usual and when she hit the high note on “snow,” she rolled her eyes in disbelief that she could actually reach that note. He broke into a smile and suddenly there was an exchange of genuine emotion between them — even if their grasping of hands at the end seemed as much about showbiz as deep fondness.

The principal emotion during the nearly 2 ½-hour performance was the joy of having keyboardist McVie back in this group of graying veterans (who range in age from 65 to 71). She brought high harmonies and several songs, including “Little Lies,” “You Make Loving Fun” and the closing “Songbird,” back into the repertoire.

When drummer Mick Fleetwood introduced the band members, McVie received the night’s loudest and longest ovation. And Nicks, Buckingham and Fleetwood told the 17,000 fans how elated they were to have her back.

Nicks, who looked encouragingly at McVie all night, admitted she would have bet all her money that McVie would never return. Buckingham talked about this being the beginning of a new chapter with much new material to be written. Fleetwood declared: “Fer sure, the Mac is back.”

But only time will tell if this On with The Show Tour is a full-blown reunion, merely a victory lap or just a sense of closure for a oft-broken band before it retires.

Full review and photos

Review: Reunited Fleetwood Mac a whole lot of fun at Target Center
by Ross Raihala
Twincities.com

Fleetwood Mac's sold-out show Tuesday at the Target Center proved one thing that everyone already knew: There has been a Christine McVie-size hole in the band for the past 16 years. Not anymore, though, as Tuesday's concert kicked off the first Mac tour to feature the entire "Rumours"-era lineup since 1998. Now 71, McVie has emerged from retirement looking and sounding like she hasn't aged a day.

Drummer Mick Fleetwood said it best, with 17,000 fans cheering him on: "Our songbird is back!"

McVie's return to the fold not only allowed the group to reintroduce "You Make Loving Fun," "Everywhere" and "Little Lies" back into the set, her presence brought fresh energy and excitement to the entire proceedings. The band, sans McVie, played St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in April 2013, but Tuesday night in Minneapolis, they felt like a different band altogether.

Early on, the set crackled with a certain nervous energy from the stage, especially during the rockers "The Chain" and "Second Hand News." It was charming to see a bunch of old pros actually sweat a little bit while missing the occasional note or chugging ahead a little too fast. Soon after, though, the band locked into a groove together, with McVie's vocals and keyboards adding an extra dimension throughout the show, which fell just short of 2 1/2 hours.

Each band member seemed to be operating at full speed, including rock-steady bassist John McVie, fresh from battling cancer last fall.

The oft-grumpy Lindsey Buckingham took the opportunity to focus on his blazing guitar work. "I'm So Afraid" ended with a solo that had middle-aged guys literally rushing up to the lip of the stage to cheer him on. Stevie Nicks turned in some of her finest Mac vocals in ages. She also took the opportunity to thank the cable drama "American Horror Story" after she wrapped "Seven Wonders." (That song, and Nicks herself, played a key role in the show's last season.)

An acoustic set midway through the set offered a trio of songs that had the audience swooning, and occasionally tearing up: "Big Love," "Landslide" and "Never Going Back Again." The vibes were so good, it was even easy to forgive Professor Buckingham for telling us he now sees "Big Love" as "a meditation on the power and importance of change."

The ageless McVie thanked the band and the crowd, cooing: "It's a dream come true, a chance you don't often get in life." Everyone on stage shared that jovial mood, with Nicks, Buckingham and Fleetwood each taking time out to praise her, with wide grins that suggested they were serious.

Fleetwood Mac has already started work on a new album, which means this probably won't be a one-off reunion.

As Buckingham himself said from the stage: "This is a band that continues to evolve through good times and adversity. This is just, I guess, the latest chapter. It's a beautiful, profound, poetic new chapter now that this lady is back with us. And it's a chapter that is going to go on for a while, a chapter that is going to yield much fruit. We are very, very excited."

Full review and photos

VIDEOS:
Love the stage... Love the backdrop graphics even more than last year... Christine looks and sounds fantastic!  Stevie and Lindsey look and sound amazing as do Mick and John. So happy John is doing better. He's trimmed down it looks like since last year... Lindsey's dropped the leather jacket look for a more refined cropped blazer type jacket.  Stevie, always in black doesn't seem to have any wardrobe changes except for her shawls or wraps. So great to hear these 5 playing together again!!

THE CHAIN / YOU MAKE LOVING FUN
The best way to open a show! John's monster bass prominent mid-way... Christine's first tune is the second song in the set... Hitting those hi notes!


RHIANNON / EVERYWHERE
Stevie does that little twirly thing mid-way through the song which I think is cool... And the shawl seems to have been toned down a bit.  So good to hear Everywhere!!  Christine sounds really strong vocally for being away from it for so many years... Wow!

SEVEN WONDERS / BIG LOVE
Hello... When was the last time you heard THIS live!  1987? 1988?  Sounds pretty good... Stevie gives a shout out the American Horror Story which sort of resurrected the song this past year with Stevie's appearance on the show.  Nothing much to say about Big Love... Great song.. Always a set staple the way Lindsey performs the song. A show stopper. He's the man!


LANDSLIDE / NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN
Nothing much to say about Landslide... perfect song in any set! Great audience sing-a-long. Never Going Back Again... Pretty much the same as in previous shows... Great song!

OVER MY HEAD / GYPSY
This is from the white Fleetwood Mac album released in 1975.  Fleetwood Mac's first top 20 hit in the U.S.  Great to hear this back in the set again...

LITTLE LIES / GOLD DUST WOMAN 
What... 1990? Is that the last tour we heard Little Lies? Sounds amazing! Stevie with her crackhead dance during Gold Dust Woman which she started last year... Great addition to the song extending it out!

I'M SO AFRAID

GO YOUR OWN WAY

WORLD TURNING

DON'T STOP / SILVER SPRINGS
SONGBIRD
With Lindsey on guitar... Beautiful!!!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Fleetwood Mac kicked-off their long awaited On With The Show Tour in Minneapolis

Fleetwood Mac kicked-off their long awaited On With The Show Tour in Minneapolis, MN tonight. The classic line-up of Fleetwood Mac included Christine McVie who hasn't toured with the group since 1998. Over 16,000 people attended Tuesday night’s concert the first on what is expected to be a World Tour.




Above Photos: John Autey - View More Here






Above Photos: Dan Olson

Tonights setlist below:

Stevie's Secret...

 Billboard Magazine - October 9, 2014 (4 page layout)



STEVIE NICKS "24 KARAT GOLD - SONGS FROM THE VAULT"

UK OFFER Pre-order a signed copy of Mick Fleetwood's New Book - Chance to WIN Fleetwood Mac Tix

'Play On' by Mick Fleetwood pre-order
Just 500 signed copies available for pre-order

Purchase your signed copy of PLAY ON: NOW, THEN AND FLEETWOOD MAC by Mick Fleetwood – one of just 500 signed copies available for pre-order. There's an incredible reward for the person who brings the most other people in, too - a trip to Washington DC to see Fleetwood Mac in concert and meet Mick before the show.

This is a limited-time offer which closes October 6th so click through to HODDER & STOUGHTON pre-order the book and SHARE the offer as widely as possible now! Sharing the offer and bringing other people in moves you further up the leaderboard, which could win you an incredible reward.

The person who tops the leaderboard when the offer closes will be rewarded with the trip of a lifetime – a flight to Washington DC to see Fleetwood Mac play live on 31st October this year, and a meeting with Mick Fleetwood himself before the concert. The winner will receive return flights for them and one guest, along with an overnight stay in Washington DC and a pair of tickets to the concert. 

PLAY ON: NOW, THEN AND FLEETWOOD MAC will publish in the UK on 30th October, 2014. This is your ONLY chance to pre-order a signed copy. This offer is available to UK customers only.

This offer is available from 30th September 2014 at 12:00pm BST until 6th October 2014 at 11.59pm BST. Only one purchase per person.

The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over at the date of their entry.

 The competition prize is:

(i)  a return economy flight for two people from a London airport to Washington DC;

(ii) two guest tickets to see Fleetwood Mac at the Verizon Center in Washington DC on 31 October 2014, with a backstage pass to meet Mick Fleetwood; and

(iii) one night’s room only at a hotel in Washington DC (minimum 3 stars).

More Details and to pre-order your copy at Hodder & Stoughton

STREAM The NEW Stevie Nicks Album NOW! at AMAZON

Stream the new album
24 Karat Gold - Songs From The Vault 
Now at Amazon.
Listen to the entire new Stevie Nicks album (14 Song Standard Version) through October 6th.

Pre-order the mp3 version of the Album from Amazon for only $7.00 and receive 4 songs today 
"The Dealer", "Lady", "Starshine" and "24 Karat Gold". 




Pre-Order Deluxe Photo Book Bundles from Stevienicksofficial.com Available October 7th.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" Surges on UK Top 100 Albums Chart From No.104 to No.11


Google Play and Amazon had a pretty amazing sale on last week in the UK for Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.  The entire mp3 downloadable album could temporarily be purchased for 99p. As a result, the album surged on this weeks UK Top 100 Albums Chart from No.104 to No.11 with sales of 8,718 units. In Scotland the album also leaped up the chart to No.12 from No.113 the previous week. The last time "Rumours" reached heights on this scale in the UK was back in late January, 2013 after the release of the 35th Anniversary edition of Rumours when it reached No.3.


UK - October 4, 2014
TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART
# 11 (104) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

TOP 40 UK DOWNLOAD CHART
# 3 (153) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

SCOTLAND - October 4, 2014
TOP 40 ALBUMS CHART
# 12 (113) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

STEVIE NICKS "24 KARAT GOLD - SONGS FROM THE VAULT"