As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review

[junglered]

As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#0

Posted: 5/16/04 at 7:11pm

Hello All! Last night was a lovely one in Atlanta under the moonlight and magnolias of the outdoor concert venue at Chastain Park. The sold-out crowd assembled early to pay homage to the veteran rock band Fleetwood Mac. The members of the band (sans Christine McVie, who has retired from Fleetwood Mac) appeared onstage at 8:20PM and played until 10 minutes of the 11:00PM curfew. Not bad for so called old-timers! Fleetwood Mac has a vast assortment of material to pull from and their set list didn't disappoint. The only songs obviously avoided were the hits sung originally by Christine like "Say You Love Me" and "You Make Lovin' Fun". Fans of the classic 1977 album "Rumours" were in luck as the Mac played almost all the songs from it during the 2 and 1/2 hour show. In fact, they opened the concert with "The Chain" , quickly followed by the ethereal #1 hit "Dreams". Deeper album cuts like "Second Hand News" and "Never Going Back Again" were also performed in the concert. Newer songs from the band's most recent CD, "Say You Will" were also prominently featured, including the title track, "Say You Will" (it's very good, I might add) and "Peacekeeper". Stevie Nicks is one of the original 'rock'n'roll mamas' and for my money, she really defines the term. Stevie is still beautiful and although she doesn't quite have the range that she used to, proved that she could rock the house. Stevie's distinctive gravelly voice was highlighted on such gems as the witchy "Rhiannon", "Sara", "Gold Dust Woman" (a personal favorite), and "Silver Springs". Stevie dedicated the perennial favorite "Landslide" to a random member of the crowd and to all fans who have continued to support the band through the years. A real treat was hearing her launch into a sizzling version of her solo hit "Stand Back" toward the end of the concert. Stevie gave us some classic "whirling dervishlike" twirls and bangs on her be-ribboned tambourine during this high energy number. Stevie still has quite a bit of on-stage chemistry with her former husband and Fleetwood Mac singer and lead guitar player, Lindsey Buckingham. Lindsey proved all night that he is an accomplished guitarist with his incredible runs and riffs. His nifty guitar work was especially evident as he sang, played, and brought the house down on the night's closer, "Go Your Own Way". The audience called the band back for an encore and Fleetwood Mac was happy to oblige. Stevie and Lindsey sang "World Turning" which was lengthened by an extended drum solo in the middle performed by drummer Mick Fleetwood. Mick, the undisputed leader of the band, then thanked the band - giving special props to bass player and fellow original member, John McVie, as the "backbone of the band". Mick also recognized the supporting musicians and back-up singers for giving a great effort. Finally, the band launched into the popular classic Rumours era hit, "Don't Stop" (with Stevie covering the Christine's portion of lead vocals) to end the show. Before going home for the evening, Mick Fleetwood, looking - well - eccentricly dashing in black outfit, red shoes, and red top hat exclaimed that "The Mac is Back"! He again thanked the fans for coming to the show and urged us "to take care on the drive home, but more importantly, to take care of each other in our increasingly fragile world". Sage advice indeed, Mick.
-Respectfully submitted, Junglered

[thirdrowcenter]

re: As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#1

Posted: 5/16/04 at 8:06pm

Thanks for the review. Just one thing, Stevie and Lindsay were never married.

[DAME]

re: As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#2

Posted: 5/16/04 at 8:15pm

But was the crowd excited about the upcoming LIZA concert?

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[junglered]

re: As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#3

Posted: 5/16/04 at 8:32pm

My pleasure, Third Row. Thanks for the correction - I guess they just "shacked up" for awhile!

Dame - Yes, during the dream ballet encore, the frenzied Chastain crowd starting screaming for "Cabaret" and "New York, New York". Dream Ballet Stevie came out, said she was "Losing My Mind" (with many thanks to the Pet Shop Boys) and sang a bar or two of "Mein Herr" to calm everyone down. She apologized for not being able to do justice to Liza properly, but did remind everyone to come back in July to see the other diva then. She then did a signature twirl and left the stage arm in arm with David Gest singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".

[PB ENT.]

re: As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#4

Posted: 5/16/04 at 11:36pm

THanks! Great review for a GREAT band. The Simon and Garfunkle live in NY a few months back was also an amazing concert. Peter Frampton & Styx and Linda Ronstadt are also coming to concert in Philly this summer. I love how these classic performers are still knockin' em dead!

www.pbentertainmentinc.com BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"

[junglered]

re: As promised - my Fleetwood Mac Concert Review#5

Posted: 5/17/04 at 12:01am

Thanks, PB. I also caught Simon and Garfunkel on their re-union tour - last December and they sounded great. What harmony! - And Artie can still hit the high notes (a'la' Bridge over Troubled Waters). I agree that it is great that so many of the classic performers are touring.