FANS ARE NOW RATING THE SHOWS AS WELL

1-5

5 BEING THE BEST

Rated "5" by Michele Jackson aka mjackson866

Just returned from the show at the Grove of Anaheim.

I basically have no additional thoughts since seeing the Atlanta performance. I think Lindsey's voice has grown hoarser, but that's to be expected.

I believe this crowd was a little more sedate. It was quieter between songs and when people whooped or called out words in the intervals, it was more pronounced. There were 6 rows of seats in the front of the auditorium, but the rest of the seating was composed of dining tables. You got dinner as part of the ticket price and they stopped serving at 7:45.

For the intro to Never Going Back Again, Lindsey said you sometimes walk down a blind alley and described how you never know what life holds for you. He was born in Northern California but moved here to Southern California. If he hadn't moved, he would never have enjoyed a great musical career which, he says, is continuing today. But he also never would have met his wife. Well, I don't know about that. He left Northern California 35 years ago. If the whole point of leaving was to come here and meet Kristen, why in the world did Destiny think he needed a 30 year head start? She was a toddler when he left Northern California, so I'm not sure that's what fate had planned for him when he made the commute!

He says that he met her and has 3 wonderful kids. He said his wife and the oldest two children were in the audience tonight.

We commented on Sardonic World in the Boston threads. I'm not sure what the audience makes of it, but for me it's odd because it's really not linked to Go Insane, so I'm not sure why it always precedes it. On its own, the poem only takes me back to 1987 and that is so far away from where the band is at today, that -- well, the words haven't lost their significance, but they make me think that Lindsey still hasn't gotten over leaving FM. Those shades of regret don't fade away after all, or else he would have put the poem to rest.

When I hear him recite it, I don't feel restless, so much as I feel that that "survival move" must have killed him. Sometimes there just is no closure. Tears heal, such as healing is.

After the frenzied peak of I'm So Afraid, Lindsey ends the song, back at center stage, on the floor, strumming.

During the drum solo in World Turning I notice that Lindsey spends most of the time wiping his face. As scratchy as his voice is, I'd think he'd want to drink more water. When he finishes toweling off, he throws the towel at Brett in a playful manner. He rocks and gestures in time to the recorded rap at the end of the song.

The encores were Holiday Road, Show Us How, Save Me a Place. I thought it was over, but after the band departed Lindsey said, "Do you want to hear one more?" He then played Bleed to Love Her.

At the beginning of Holiday Road Lindsey says that he needs the audience's help at the end of the song, because the band doesn't want to lose their dignity alone. He says we'll know what he's talking about when he gets there. So, at the end, when the audience participates in the barking he says, "I notice you lost your dignity too. That makes us feel better."

Holiday Road worked a bit better when he did it as an encore during the OOTC tour, because the world was more familiar with it then. The Vacation movies were still current. Now, I believe a smaller part of the audience recognizes the song. Yet, Lindsey's audience skewers older, so maybe -- at any rate, I don't think it is as effective as it was 14 years ago. I love the song and love the video and actually think of it as a little bit more than camp. However, I could see something else in the set. Lindsey points out that Brett put the setlist together. I need to talk to Brett!

When he introduces the band, he credits them for supporting him when he goes "out of the box." In fact, he says he probably never would have made the album, if it hadn't been for them. When someone screams out Neale's name, Lindsey notices and indicates to Neale that he has a fan. Lindsey says that he has figured out that he and Neale have known each other for 17 years now. He discusses how he trusts Neale and when Neale says that he is veering too far off course musically, he always takes Neales advice and reigns himself in.

During the Vegas shows, Stevie said that she thinks that Taku is the most talented percussionist around. Tonight Lindsey said that Taku is now his favorite drummer. Hmmph! At least he had more sense than to say that Brett was now his favorite keyboardist.

When Lindsey talks about Brett's keyboard skills, Brett bangs the keys with his elbow. Lindsey says, "It worked for Question Mark and the Mysterians." Then he makes an expression which acknowledges that he knows how obscure (and dated) a reference that is.

To my surprise, Brett comes to his mic and points out the obvious, saying that there is no one like the one and only Lindsey Buckingham. Lindsey bows his head in acknowledgment.

Just before he leaves the stage, Lindsey yells, "Thank you Los Angeles and Orange County." I suppose that after a month of touring, he feels just as good to be home as I feel to see him here.

I'm not wishing the week away, but I have to admit I'm excited about next Friday's show most of all. I know that Lindsey will be especially hot for the celebrity home crowd.

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