Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Houston December 15, 2014

Fleetwood Mac brings songs, stories to Houston
By Joey Guerra
Chron.com

Photos by: J. Patric Schneider - View more at Chron.com

Never underestimate the power of the Mac.

Three songs into Monday night’s set at Toyota Center, Stevie Nicks promised the crowd she would “get this party started!” Until then, Fleetwood Mac had been pleasing and mostly polite: anthemic kickoff “The Chain,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Dreams” shifted to a lower key.

But something kicked into gear with “Second Hand News.” Lindsey Buckingham ripped into the song, all wild eyes and stomping feet. It reverberated through the sold-out crowd and energized Nicks’ take on “Rhiannon.” The party had indeed started.

Christine McVie, who rejoined the band after a 15-year absence, was still soulful and sweet on “Everywhere” and “Little Lies,” which both benefited from punchy arrangements; and oft-covered set closer “Songbird.”

“Now she’s been here, and it’s almost 40 shows. And now I think she’s gonna stay,” Nicks quipped. The band returns March 3 for another show at Toyota Center.

The enduring allure of Fleetwood Mac has been the story behind the music. The core unit — Buckingham, Nicks, John McVie, Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood – has continued to thrive both in spite and because of its tempestuous history. Life has informed music and vice versa.

Buckingham played up the sentiment, declaring that the band’s success is in its ability “to continue to prevail through the good times and the bad.” He called Christine McVie’s reappearance “the beginning of a poetic, a profound and a beautiful new chapter.”

For now, though, it was about the music. “Tusk” still brings the marching-band thunder. Buckingham indulged himself, as always, during a solo “Big Love” and several rousing crowd-pleasing guitar solos. Christine McVie ably steered the “Say You Love Me” harmonies. Nicks cast an alluring spell during “Sisters of the Moon,” an extended “Gypsy” (complete with shimmering shawl) and “Seven Wonders.” She performed the song recently on “American Horror Story” (and thanked the show for taking it to a new audience).

And, yes, something sweet and magical still happens when Nicks’ croons about getting older and snow-covered hills during “Landslide.” The entire venue seemed to sigh in unison.

Nicks introduced “Gypsy” with a lengthy story about meeting Buckingham, shopping for rock-star clothes and opening shows for Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Credence Clearwater Revival.

“Are you listening over there?” she asked him before twirling through the song.

And, yes, something sweet and magical still happens when Nicks' croons about getting older and snow-covered hills during "Landslide." The entire venue seemed to sigh in unison.

Long intros and instrumental breaks bogged down the show’s second-half a bit. But the padding was worth trudging through to hear “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop” and Nicks’ grand, gorgeous reading of “Silver Springs.”

THE CHAIN
YOU MAKE LOVING FUN

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Review: Sold-out enthusiastic crowd welcomes Fleetwood Mac to Texas

Photo by: Richard W. Rodriguez

Review: Fleetwood Mac at American Airlines Center
BY PRESTON JONES
Star Telegram

There was a moment Sunday night when Stevie Nicks began recounting all of the acts she and Lindsey Buckingham once opened for, prior to joining the ranks of Fleetwood Mac.

It was an impressive roster of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers — Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, et al — but also an anecdote making the refrain from Landslide (“I’m getting older too”) take on an extra, poignant dimension.

The years continue to accumulate (Nicks is 66), and bands like Fleetwood Mac begin to crumble and fall away — almost anything can be survived, whether it’s romantic entanglements or prodigious drug use, but no one can outrun time.

Such a feeling hung in the air Sunday at American Airlines Center as a sold-out and terrifically enthusiastic crowd welcomed Fleetwood Mac back to North Texas.

While the band itself was in town just last year, they didn’t have a key member in tow then as they did Sunday: Christine McVie, rejoining the ranks of the rock band after more than 15 years away, was a welcome addition to the core foursome of Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.

The familiar elements of a Fleetwood Mac performance were present in abundance — Fleetwood’s gaped-mouth timekeeping; Nicks’ mystical twirling and top hat; Buckingham’s incendiary guitar solos — but with Christine McVie back in the mix, the two hour-plus set felt slightly elevated, an extra, key ingredient making the well-worn (You Make Loving Fun; Little Lies; Say You Love Me) feel altogether revitalized.

Her lovely alto laid in alongside Nicks’ own gruff, feathery alto and Buckingham’s razor-wire tenor gave the show a feeling of balance, a restoration to the last, best possible version of the band beloved by the screaming thousands stuffed into the arena, something even Buckingham noted midway through.

Fleetwood Mac Fulfills Dreams in Denver

Photo by Camille Breslin

FLEETWOOD MAC FULFILLS DREAMS IN DENVER

by: Alex Faubel

303 Magazine

Sometimes you get the chance to stand mere feet away from a band that had a hand in laying the foundation of your love for music. Most of the time they look different. Many times they sound different. But never do you take that moment for granted. My dad would probably say “back in my day” and trail off into a tangent about how great Fleetwood Mac was when he saw them in 1975. But it’s not often you get the chance to see a band you grew up listening to with the top down on your mom’s Volkswagon Cabrio going way too fast down residential streets. Go Your Own Way, right? And if that way has you on tour nearly five decades after the inception of your band, I’d say your way is one hell of a route.

Continue to the full review at 303 Magazine

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Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Dallas Dec 14, 2014 "much fanfare was made of McVie’s return"

Fully-staffed Fleetwood Mac takes adoring Dallas crowd on a roller-coaster ride
by Hunter Hauk
The Dallas Morning News

Photo: Jason Janik

Fleetwood Mac comprises former lovers, ex spouses, longtime friends and a tumultuous biography. Like any musical group that has survived decades of ups and downs, the members must constantly work at it to recapture their old chemistry.

That workmanlike spirit helped to define the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band’s sold-out show on Sunday night at American Airlines Center. Rejoined by vital vocalist and keyboardist Christine McVie after her 16-year-touring hiatus, the Mac leaned in admirably through a two-hour-plus performance that veered from soul-soothing to serviceable and back again.

Understandably, much fanfare was made of McVie’s return: Her warm, familiar vocals provided several highlights, from the smoky seduction of “You Make Loving Fun” to the melodic bliss of ’80s smashes “Everywhere” and “Little Lies.” Despite her solid performance, McVie was never one to bask in the spotlight.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, however, were more than happy to soak up the love of the audience on Sunday. With McVie on keys, her ex-husband, John, on bass and Mick Fleetwood behind his drums for most of the evening, it was up to the group’s two relative “newbies” to do the crowd work.

Buckingham kept the folks up front entertained by harnessing a twenty-something’s energy, frequently screaming out lyrical lines and jumping into rock-god postures. Nicks was simply herself — a twirling and swaying mystical sage armed with raspy power pipes and a streamer-clad tambourine.

Full Review at The Dallas Morning News

EVERYWHERE
DREAMS
LANDSLIDE

Fleetwood Mac - Denver: "Lindsey Buckingham’s six-string prowess is a sight to behold"

Fleetwood Mac Concert Review Denver, CO
December 12, 2014 - Pepsi Center,
by Ken Tomczak
995TheMountain.com

Photo: Ken Tomczak

When you go see a Fleetwood Mac concert, you’re immediately struck by how much talent is on the stage.  Stevie Nicks sings lead on classic hits like “Gypsy” and “Landslide,” but Lindsey Buckingham’s six-string prowess is a sight to behold – playing the entire concert in his signature plucking style with no guitar pick.  The legendary rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie always keeps the band rolling forward, but the story of Friday night’s "On With The Show" tour stop at Pepsi Center was the return of Christine McVie after a 17-year hiatus from the band.

The nearly sold out crowd was thrilled to see the classic Fleetwood Mac lineup back together, giving McVie extra applause when she performed “Over My Head,” “Little Lies” and “Everywhere.”

“A very good evening, Denver!” McVie yelled to the crowd.  Stevie Nicks added, “She’s back!” and then quickly screamed “Let’s get this party started” before the Mac launched into “Dreams.”  Additional musicians and three background vocalists helped supplement the sound, making their trademark vocal harmonies that much more lush.

Buckingham was jumping around the stage from the opening notes and McVie quipped “That was fun!” after finishing “Say You Love Me.”  The band was exceptionally tight and it was apparent they were having a good time on stage.  Stevie Nicks’ signature vocals were especially strong on “Seven Wonders.”  Buckingham took some extra time to introduce “Big Love” off 1987's Tango In The Night explaining the tune was originally written about “boundaries” but it has since taken on a new meaning about “the importance of change.”  Lindsey performed the song by himself, showcasing his immense talent.

The stage production wasn’t anything to write home about – minimal lights and random images projected onto a backdrop.   Fleetwood Mac isn’t about lasers and pyro, they were happy to let the music do the talking.  And many fans were talking about the band already announcing another Pepsi Center gig.  If you missed this concert, tickets for their April 1st return appearance go on sale this Monday at 10am.

But the feel good story of the concert was the return of McVie, punctuated by the final song of the evening “Songbird.”

Mick Fleetwood Interview "Stevie and Christine, they're a funny couple, a lot in common, and yet nothing in common"

Mick Fleetwood Interviewed by Mike The Intern on 104.7 The Cave Pure Classic Rock