Fleetwood Mac is proving no matter which way you go, sometimes you can go back again

REVIEW: A reunited Fleetwood Mac gives Sprint Center crowd a dose of nostalgia
By Timothy Finn
The Kansas City Star

Kansas City - March 28, 2015

Photo: Sprint Center - Facebook

This show ended not with a song but with two speeches. One was a short valediction from drummer Mick Fleetwood, a founder of the band, who thanked the huge crowd for its patronage, and the other from Stevie Nicks, one of its three songwriters and lead singers. She recounted the events that led to this reunion tour, which is what this show was: a reunion of this band’s most popular lineup.

Fleetwood Mac never broke up, but in 1998 Christine McVie retired, and for nearly 16 years, the band forged on. But it wasn’t the same without her. Sunday night, for the first time since 1987, the band performed in Kansas City with McVie, nearly filling the Sprint Center and delivering a show that was as rousing and satisfying as it was nostalgic and memorable.

The two-and-a-half-hour show was one steady barrage of hits, and the set list was front-loaded with favorites. The opener was encore-worthy: “The Chain,” a statement about solidarity and a song the crowd recognized from the opening heart-beat thud of Mick Fleetwood’s kick drum. They followed that with one of McVie’s signature songs, “You Make Lovin’ Fun.” Her voice isn’t as glossy or porcelain as it once was, but it handled her leads and harmonies adroitly. Next came “Dreams,” one of Nicks’ best-known songs, then “Second Hand News,” the fourth-straight song from the fabled “Rumour” album, now 38 years old.

There were many highlights. “Rhiannon,” Nicks’ trademark ballad about a Welch goddess, was one. The title track to “Tusk,” which included a sinister intro, was another. They embellished that with vocal trimmings -- some “da-da-das” that replaced the marching band’s horn section in the original. Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar wizardry was on full display during “Big Love,” which he performed solo. He and Nicks followed that with a lovely rendition of “Landslide.” By the end of that song, the two were holding hands. Then came “Never Going Back Again,” one of eight “Rumours” songs on the set list and yet another that showcased Buckingham’s considerable guitar prowess.

As an intro to “Gypsy,” Nicks told a story. Back before she was famous and wealthy, she went into a store in San Francisco called the Velvet Underground, where the clothes were too expensive for her meager budget. But it inspired her, she said, to pursue her music dreams and to one day return and buy whatever she wanted. “Follow your passion,” was the moral. They played that and “Little Lies” slightly unplugged, with Fleetwood sitting at a “cocktail kit,” as McVie called it.

Throughout the show they got support from three vocalists, a percussionist, a guitarist and keyboard player, all of whom operated in the shadows but added substantial heft to the arrangements.

The only disappointment of the evening: McVie didn’t perform “Songbird,” which was removed from the setlist several weeks ago.

The first set closed with two of Buckingham’s best. First, “I’m So Afraid,” which ended in a furious guitar solo, then “Go Your Own Way,” one of the most ebullient break-up songs ever. On that one, Nicks danced around wearing a big, black top hat. They returned for a three-song encore: “World Turning,” which featured a drum solo by Fleetwood, the ever-inspirational “Don’t Stop,” then “Silver Springs,” the band’s best-known B-side (to “Go Your Own Way”).

Then Nicks emerged and preached about McVie’s return -- at the age of 70 -- and re-dedication to a band that has persevered and sustained so much over more than 40 years: bitter romantic breakups, successful solo careers, McVie’s retirement, bassist John McVie’s battle with cancer. In 2015, Fleetwood Mac is proving no matter which way you go, sometimes you can go back again.

SETLIST:
The Chain; You Make Lovin’ Fun; Dreams; Second Hand News; Rhiannon; Everywhere; I Know I’m Not Wrong; Tusk; Sisters of the Moon; Say You Love Me; Big Love; Landslide; Never Going Back Again; Gyspy; Little Lies; Gold Dust Woman; I’m So Afraid; Go Your Own Way. Encore: World Turning; Don’t Stop; Silver Springs.

REVIEW Fleetwood Mac Live in St. Louis, MO - March 27, 2015

Fleetwood Mac gives fans what they want at Scottrade Center concert

By Kevin C. Johnson
St.Louis Dispatch

It only makes sense Fleetwood Mac would open its sold-out concert at Scottrade Center Friday night with “The Chain,” featuring the key lyric: “Chain keep us together.”

After years full of ups and downs, as singer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham pointed out, “we’ve grown and prevailed through the good and the bad.”

And these days the band is prevailing with returning keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, making this late-career run of the band, on its “On With the Show” tour, a must-see (16,000 fans attended at Scottrade Center). She’d been out of the fold for 16 years.

McVie’s return reunited Fleetwood Mac’s most popular lineup — Mick Fleetwood, Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, John McVie and herself.

Backbeat - Photography
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Christine McVie’s presence was welcome, as evidenced by the applause she got with the opening line of “You Make Loving Fun” (missing from the band’s 2009 show at Scottrade Center), allowing songs such as that and “Everywhere” and “Little Lies” into the setlist again.

Buckingham told the crowd McVie’s return presented a “profound, prolific and new chapter in the story of this band, Fleetwood Mac,” while Nicks reveled in girl power being restored to the band.

McVie did come off second fiddle to Buckingham and Nicks, undeniably and not surprisingly. But her presence was an important one, and she held up her role well.

Photos by Jeff Curry
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Over a lean and briskly moving two hours-plus, the great Fleetwood Mac offered fans exactly what they wanted, which was nothing but a barrage of hits including “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop” and “Never Going Back Again,” performed to perfection with perhaps a few backstories thrown in — including a lengthy one from Nicks about the day she received a call from McVie saying she wanted to come back.

“Dreams,” “Second Hand News,” “Rhiannon” and “Everywhere” kept the show’s early going moving, and the pace never let up. It’s to the band’s credit it could afford to stack hits throughout the entire set without wedging in any filler.

Zach Dalin Photography
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“Tusk” was the percussive delight it always is; “Big Love” was a quick reminder of the power of a solo Buckingham on guitar; and Nicks brought her requisite twirl to “Gypsy.” The psychedelic
finish to “Gold Dust Woman” was appropriately trippy, while Fleetwood on drums is a whole other trip. He was like a beast trying to fight its way out of its cage.

During a middle portion of the show focusing on Nicks and Buckingham, Nicks had a quick emotional moment during the still-exquisite “Landslide” and acknowledged it at song's end.

Fleetwood addressed the crowd at the end of the night, after encore songs “World Turning,” “Don’t Stop” and “Silver Springs,” telling everyone to love each other in this crazy world, and concluded with: “Remember, the Mac is definitely back.”

Truer words couldn’t have been spoken.

Interview: Mick Fleetwood on what the future holds for Fleetwood Mac

Return of the Mac
Mick Fleetwood talks new album, Christine McVie, and the end of Fleetwood Mac

Vancouver Sun - March 28, 2015

By Francois Marchand
Vancouver Sun

Never say die once wrote Black Sabbath.

For pop-rockers Fleetwood Mac, the saying couldn’t be any more true.

The band recently reunited with long gone singer and keyboardist Christine McVie, who rejoined Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood after 16 years away.

If you ask Fleetwood, the founding drummer of the group, reuniting with McVie has reinvigorated the Mac, whose members have had well-documented complex and drug-fuelled relationships, especially around the time of their 1977 classic album Rumours, which remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.

In a recent conversation with The Vancouver Sun, Fleetwood, 67, opened up about returning to the studio with McVie in tow, the band’s most recent string of tour dates, and what the future holds for Fleetwood Mac.

Q: We just saw Fleetwood Mac in Vancouver in November. How does it feel to come back to our neck of the woods so fast?

A: It feels good. You can’t go anywhere unless you’re wanted. (Laughs.) So that’s a good feeling for us old “gigsters.” And we happen to adore that neck of the woods anyhow. We always love coming back (to Vancouver). It’s a beautiful place. It’s one of the towns where you go, “Oof, if only we had two days off there.” As a musician, this tour has unfolded beyond anything anyone might have thought, including ourselves. So it’s gratifying — it’s nice to be loved. Off we go again: It’s the never-ending tour.

Q: So you don’t see an end in the foreseeable future for Fleetwood Mac in its current incarnation?

A: Not in terms of “the end of the band” or saying goodbye. No. Unless I don’t know something. (Laughs.) I feel thoroughly employed. We’re working all the way through next Christmas. That’s almost far enough. We’re talking and feeling really excited about creating new music. It looks like a viable future ahead of us, as far as I can see.

If you want a more philosophical answer as to, “Do you ever see this coming to an end?” Yeah, I think we’d all be fairly crazy at this point (not to think about it). But then you start thinking about the Rolling Stones or Elton John and you go, “Hmm.” And you start looking around — you don’t want to be Tony Bennett touring at 85 years old (Bennett is in fact 88).

Having said that, we’re a working band and we’re working harder than we did when we were in our 30s. So go figure. The enthusiasm to do it is very much alive. But time itself speaks to you and you go, “Do I actually think in all sensibility think that any of us — and I can only speak for myself — that we’ll still be doing this 10 years from now?” No. “Do I visualize I’ll still be a musician enjoying playing in some shape or form?” Yes. It’s what we do.

Fritz Band Founder Q&A On Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham

Before Fleetwood Mac: Fritz Band Founder Q&A On Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham
By Mary Avila
Santa Monica Mirror

It is Fleetwood Mac’s 40th anniversary together as a band. How fitting it is that they are touring throughout North America and Europe for this occasion. Christine McVie is back with the band. Now, it is time to also say goodbye to Fleetwood Mac. They recently announced this is their last tour.

But, it was long before Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were in their first band. And the young man in High School back in 1967 who founded the band Fritz is Bob Aguirre. He recruited former band mate Javier Pacheco (they had played in a couple of bands previously) along with fellow senior classmates Lindsey, Jody Moreing, and her cousin Cal Roper to form a band to play the Senior Talent Assembly.

By 1968, Cal left for college, and was replaced by Brian Kane, and Jody quit to join another band. After a few failed attempts with other female vocalists, Stevie was asked to join. Now the band had all the pieces in place. Brian Kane (now on lead guitar, vocals), Javier Pacheco (keyboards, vocals), Bob Aguirre (drums), Lindsey Buckingham (now on bass, vocals), and Stevie Nicks (lead vocals, percussion)

Today, I have the honor of speaking with Bob Aguirre, whom has watched the musical journey and legacy for Lindsey and Stevie.

Hello Bob, first I want to thank you for this interview. You have quite a legacy as founder and drummer of Fritz. You also were with The Curtis Brothers, Dr. Hook, Buckingham and Nicks, and The Trailer Park Troubadours.

Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Atlanta - March 25, 2015

Fleetwood Mac bewitches at Atlanta encore performance
By Melissa Ruggieri
ajc.com

Not many bands can sell out Philips Arena in December and return three months later to another rapturous response.

Then again, not many bands can weather heartbreak, divorce, drug addiction, affairs and every other kind of kitchen sink upheaval and still stand in each other’s shadows – seemingly happily, too.

But that’s the beauty of Fleetwood Mac. Their dysfunction is to our benefit.

The original quintet – Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and the ageless Christine McVie – revisited Philips Wednesday night for an encore performance that didn’t quite match the magic of its late-2014 appearance (that show was my pick for the best of the year).

But Fleetwood Mac bringing its B+ game is still better than most live acts in peak form – and on its 69th show of the tour, no less.

Not much tinkering has been done with the set list other than nixing a couple of songs (personally, I’d take “Seven Wonders” over “Sisters of the Moon”). But those catching the “On with the Show” tour for the first time couldn’t have much to quibble about with the otherwise solid song selection.

Full Review at ajc.com

Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Orlando, Florida - March 23, 2015

Fleetwood Mac Rock Orlando With ‘On With The Show’ Tour

It’s only been six years since Fleetwood Mac last paid a visit to Orlando, but they were missing

something when they played the now demolished Amway Center in April of 2009. Original bandmate Christine McVie was absent, leaving the sole female presence for the show to fall on the capable shoulders of Stevie Nicks. And while that’s not a bad thing, particularly for the many fans of Nicks, it left a significant number of songs off the setlist.

All that has been remedied with the current On With The Show tour, which played Orlando’s Amway Center last night. All of the hits were there, from Christine’s taking the lead on “You Make Loving Fun” to the witchy ways of Stevie on “Rhiannon” and “Gold Dust Woman.”

While McVie’s voice seemed to have some difficulty, particularly in the upper registers, Nicks was in amazing voice, seemingly finally figuring out how to adeptly mask those upper notes which she may now be missing. But the real star of the show was guitarist, and former Nicks paramour Lindsey Buckingham. Buckingham is a true rock star, giving his all on every number where he took the lead. As drummer Mick Fleetwood noted at the end, Buckingham barely left the stage for the entire show which clocked in at just under three hours.

An amazing thing about attending concerts in this day and age are the number of people who obviously fancy themselves amateur photographers and videographers. With so many of them out there, and the shareability of their results so simple, it makes it even more fulfilling to just sit back, live in the moment, and enjoy the show to its fullest extent. Sooooo…here are some of the show’s best Amway Center moments as captured by local YouTubers.

The show opened with “The Chain,” one of the most iconic anthems from the Rumours album.

Setlist and more from the show at 105.9 SunnyFM.

Source - SunnyFM

THE CHAIN
SISTERS OF THE MOON
TUSK
EVERYWHERE