FANS ARE NOW RATING THE SHOWS AS WELL

1-5

5 BEING THE BEST

Rated "5" by Tobi Schmitz aka tobischmitz

I just wanna say that it was one of my Top3 concerts I have ever seen. Lindsey rocked the house and it was a pleasure to hear I know I'm not wrong and Holioday Road live!!! So all I can say is that it I enjoyed my trip to the US with a highlight attending this concert. Btw - after the show some of the people stood outside the parking place and waited for Lindsey. The only one who appered was Taku, but he was very friendly and talked to some of us.

Rated "5" by T.E. Boone

Many years ago, Peaches and I were fortunate enough to see Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham on his first solo tour. It was a pretty amazing show with a backing band consisting of five guitarists, three drummers, and probably a bassist and keyboardist. I may be off on the numbers, suffice it to say, the tiny stage at the Bayou in Georgetown was pretty crowded. It was one of the most intense shows we'd seen. It focused on his then-new solo album, "Out of the Cradle," and he played nearly every song from that album. But he also played the now (almost) legendary acoustic versions of "Go Insane" and "Big Love," two tracks that I love in their full studio versions. The acoustic renditions are frightening, haunting, and pour salt on the raw nerves at the hearts of the tunes.

Buckingham has always been the critic's darling, a musician's musician and an artist in the truest sense. His contributions to Fleetwood Mac's legacy have largely been overshadowed by Christine McVie's perky pop-lite and Stevie Nicks' sexy, mystical persona. Comparisons to the post-hippy SoCal light rockers or the mad genius of Brian Wilson or the smarmy folkiness of the Kingston Trio tell only part of Buckingham's story. His solo work has largely been criminally ignored. The simple truth is that he builds his songs in the studio, not unlike a painter layering his oils, touching the most painful, heart wrenching emotions, crafting perfect pop melodies over a subtext of despair and hopefulness. So there's nothing simple about him at all. And the Mac's attempts to replace him fell flat. Twice.

Now, he seems to have found some peace with Fleetwood Mac. A new collaboration with the band is, apparently, not out of the question, but then, neither is a future solo album. I have not had the pleasure of hearing his new, acoustic solo album, "Under the Skin." Recorded and written mostly in hotel room's on Fleetwood Mac's last tour, I pre-ordered the CD when I bought tickets for the concert, but it has somehow failed to reach me before the show. Nevertheless, I have heard his first single and it could easily have fit on Mac's "Tusk." And for me, that's a great thing. A couple of other tunes, including "Down on Rodeo," were previewed on a Soundstage DVD release last year and all have the classic tone of Buckingham's best works.

Peaches and I hit a nice little Italian bistro before the show and had the world's biggest Ceasar salad. Delicious. Not surprisingly, Buckingham's band mates were eating in the restaurant, as well. They were all very gracious when I interrupted their dinner to say hello and wish them a good performance. They even seemed pleased when I told them I recognized them from Lindsey's concert DVD. Nice guys.

Buckingham's concert at The State Theater in Falls Church, Virginia, neatly interspersed several new songs with classic Fleetwood Mac tracks, and some pretty unusual choices, too. Overall, his arrangements of "Big Love," "Never Going Back" and "Red Rover" didn't stray much from the way he's been playing them recently on the Mac tour. "Second Hand News" was much tougher and punchier and "I'm So Afraid," already a plodding blues number, was slowed even more. Imagine Chris Isaak meets the Cure, drenched in echoey guitars. It worked, as did the frantic drum solo/techno tripout during "World Turning." "I Know I'm Not Wrong," a gem from the "Tusk" album, featured the band making the song's keyboard hooks with their voices, a funny bit for those familiar with more than just a greatest hits disc.

Solo tunes included the only major hit of Lindsey's solo career, "Trouble," and also the immediately recognizable "Holiday Road," from the Chevy Chase "Vacation" movies. That one ended with Lindsey and the band howling and barking like dogs. From his new album, he played "I Am Waiting," a cover of an old Rolling Stones song, "Under the Skin," and the incredibly beautiful "Cast Away Dreams" in which the old stubborn artist Lindsey is finally able to let go of what he dreams should be, mourns those dreams, and learns to dance on the remains.

Buckingham ended the show with "Show You How," but then seemingly, spontaneity struck, and alone, he turned in a moving version of "Bleed to Love Her." Lindsey's set was fast and furious. He played for about an hour and fifteen minutes and the show was done. Most of all I'm grateful he had no opening act. I'm not sure who decided people feel like they get their money's worth when they have to listen to someone they don't care about before the main act. I don't think I've EVER heard an opening act that I cared for or remember. Fortunately, the new Lindsey, father and family guy, playing for adults with real concerns and children, played his heart out and delivered a first rate rock and roll show and really left you wanting more, but with a satisfied mind.

Rated "5" by Thomas Dean

There's no question that this sort of venue was made for Lindsey Buckingham. He brought the house down during Second Hand News - then he got into it himself and I could tell he enjoys playing live.

When he walked out on stage unannounced, the crowd went wild! I was standing about 10 feet from the stage right under his mic. His assistant handed him his guitar and he wasted no time getting the first song rolling.

The white spot light was blinding him at one point and he asked it be toned down. He was seeing "dots." Another glitch was his guitar not plugged in securely and it fell out during the fourth or fifth song. At which time he kept on singing while his assistant fixed the problem.

Not far into the show (in between songs when it was quiet), someone yelled out, "Buckingham Nicks!!" Lindsey paused for a second, then walked up to his mic and said, "Do you want that album on CD?" The audience starting screaming "yeah yeah" with clapping. Then he said, "We're working on it!" The more cheering!

He cut is long guitar solo short on "I'm So Afraid." I wanted his usual four minute one - I love it everytime I hear it.

To the woman I was talking to in line outside the building about me having a recording of his show from '93 at the Bayou in Georgetown, drop me a line sometime at thomasalexolivia@hotmail.com We need to go out sometime! And, congratulations on quitting smoking!

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