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My fears, for the most part, proved unfounded. I thought the highlights of the night were, in no particular order, "Say Goodbye", "Beautiful Child", "Come", "Never Going Back Again" and "Gold Dust Woman". I was both pleased and surprised that "Beautiful Child", "Never Going Back Again" and "Eyes of the World" were chosen, (three more obscure songs that never get their due), and I thought the band blended the new songs with the classics fairly well...and as an aside, Lindsey should NEVER take his acoustic version of "Big Love" off future Mac setlists. I found it to be as awe-inspiring now, as I did 5 years ago! Stevie and John seemed to have a hard time "getting into" the concert. I didn't think Stevie really was focused, until about the 4th or 5th song. From that point on however, she was great. John, always stays in the back anyway, but I really wish the band would throw into its setlist one of the early 70's blues based songs that really showcases his talent.
In closing, if you're a Fleetwood Mac fan, go see this show. You'll miss Christine's melodies, but Lindsey and Stevie have built up more than enough of a catalog to fill a night up...and you'll come away more envious than ever of how Lindsey can bend those strings without picks!
I've been a Mac fan for about 3 years now. I started listening in college so I'm the second generation of fans in my family. My dad and I went to the concert last night and were immensely impressed. It's hard to believe that the members are as old as or older than my parents and they can rock out that much. I was blown away by Lindsey's mastery of the guitar. It was as if he were in his own world. I wondered if he even remembered that people were watching him- he was that into it. Of course, Stevie Nicks was inspiring. She writes some of the most touching music and sings it with her whole heart. Gives me chills. I have new respect for the band and I am so grateful that they reunited so I was able to see these living legends in concert.
Not a chance.
This was absolutely one of the best concerts I've ever seen. My wife said of Stevie, as we were exiting the arena, 'she sounds better than she ever has". Her performances of Silver Springs, Landslide, and, especially, Gold Dust Woman, had the entire crowd in the palm of her hand. LB was a madman on guitar, and Mick is still as maniacal as ever. John stayed in the background, but his bass riffs kept everything driving forward.
Others have run down the setlist, so I'll just say that the 15,000 people in the crowd last night saw one of the best concerts they'll ever see.
Earlier today we went to the hotels in the area looking for FM but no luck. So around 6:55 we left for the show. I live in the South Side which is about 5-10 minutes away from Mellon Arena so we got there around 7:05 and went inside. The merchandise lines were very crowded but I did manage to get a Say You Will keychain. I wasn't crazy about the merchandise because I wanted a fitted t-shirt but they didn't have any of those. Oh Well.
Around 7:30 we took our seats and I knew then that the night would be amazing. We were in section 2 row g seats 11 and 12 which were directly in front of Stevie microphone.
FM came on around 8:20 and the show was even more amazing than I could have hoped for. So here is my review:
Set List:
The Chain - from those first beats I knew that we were in for something special. Lindsey and Stevie came out holding hands and looked like they didn't ever want to let go. They sounded so good on this song and this is the first time that I realized that FM is freaking loud in concert. When I saw them on the Dance tour they weren't this loud. The chain rocked and everybody went crazy. They even sold tickets behind the stage which I thought was strange but the place was packed. It had to have been a sell out.
Dreams - what can I say about this song except that Stevie was in top form. She sang her heart out and everybody loved it.
Peacekeeper - this song sounded so much better live and rocks way more than it does on TV. You know the part where Stevie sings "leave a trace" two times in a row? Well she must have forgot to sing it that time cuz you heard her voice and her lips werent moving. HA HA.
Eyes Of The World - this song sounded great even though it isnt one of my favorites.
Say You Will - god, I love this song. Something about the way that she sings it makes me so sad. I remember looking at my husband thinking that I am so lucky to have somebody special in my life. Stevie looked at Lindsey a lot in this song and that made it more sadder.
Never Going Back Again - this song rocks. There was this part where Lindsey sings "I've been down two times" and Stevie held up three fingers which was funny cuz I think she wasn't paying attention or something.
Rhiannon - Stevie changed into this sheer black top with long sleeves (like back in the day) for this song and it was AMAZING! I dont miss the piano intro at all cuz she rocked the house on this song. She got really into it and for a moment I thought it was 1975 because she looked and sounded really young at that moment. I wasn't even born by then but something about the way she looked when she was singing this song that I knew I was watching something very special.
Come - WOW this song kicks some serious ASS!! People started to sit down which pissed me off because this song is so hard but they were on their feet by the end of it and he got a standing ovation for this one. After the song my husband leaned over to me and said that his ears hurt after this one. Lindsey was a madman running around the stage and pulling at his guitar strings. It is amazing that he didn't break one but now I can see how he has been doing it so often.
Gypsy - what can I say about this song except that it was beautiful. I felt that with some of the songs though that they could have turned up Stevie's microphone a bit more. I had a hard time hearing her sometimes.
Big Love - LINDSEY ROCKED out to this song. He had everybody on their feet once again and my husband is in total awe of him after hearing this song live. Who couldnt be right?
Landslide - Stevie got such a wonderful reception for this song. I think that everybody in Mello Arena was singing this song cuz I could barely hear Stevie but it was soooo good. At the end Lindsey came over to hug Stevie and he said "I'm so sweaty" (my husband caught this one) and she hugged him anyway and he kissed her. It was sooo cute. I still think those two need to be together but that is another topic.
Say Goodbye - WOW this was definitley the best song of the evening. Lindsey said something about getting over Stevie and you could tell when he was talking that she was sad and that she is not over him. They sang this song facing each other and at some point, I did start to cry. I didn't let myself get too carried away but it was almost too much for me to hear. They just stared at each other like two people who are madly in love with each other do. You know how they dont take their eyes off each other? They just were so into this song and at the end Stevie kinda put her head down like she was going to cry. It was a very touching moment and even my husband commentd on how the two of them seem like they are in love. Also Lindsey kept singing "I never said goodbye to you." TOO CUTE!
WTWCT - this song sounded better live than on the cd but I would have preffered EFO or Thrown Down instead. I think the crowd liked it though.
Destiny Rules - this was another highlight of the show. Stevie sang this song to Lindsey and it was a little slower than the cd but I really liked it. I just wish that the people that come to the concerts would buy the cd first so that they would know what they were listening too. I hate whe people sit down cuz its new song. Come on.
Beautiful Child - I almost lost it again during this song because it sounded sooo good and so much like the cd. She said something about never thinking that they would do this song live. At the end of the song when she sings "I wish that you were min" she kept repeating it and holding her stomach like she was going to lose it. It was a very touching moment and better than anything I had ever heard her sing. This song even beats out HAEWAFY.
Second Hand News - everybody was up and dancing to this one. Stevie added a lot to this song and it was truly amazing like everything else she sings. Of course Lindsey rocked out on this one too.
Gold Dust Woman - everybody went absolutley freaking crazy when this song came on. Stevie had on the off white colored shawl(I think) on and looked great. I swear she is even thinner now and looks sooo good. She really cut loose on this song and it rocked the house.
I'm So Afraid - Lindsey is the guitar god and I am an even bigger fan of his after hearing this song. Stevie only sang minimal backup and Lindsey ran around the stage like a crazy man but had everybody going crazy at the end. It was funny cuz my husband went to the bathroom and got a beer and Lindsey was still wailing away on his guitar. At one point he had his mouth open and looked really funny but I dont care cuz he rocks.
Silver Springs - this was even more beautiful than ever and Stevie stared right at Lindsey when she sang it. She didn't do the long ending but it didnt matter because she was so into it and so was the crowd. It is amazing that all she had to do was move her fingers and everybody goes crazy.
Tusk - wow Lindsey is a MADMAN. I really enjoyed this song even without Christine Mcvie. Lindsey was all over John and Stevie during this song. Stevie enjoyed it too cuz she was smiling and laughing the whole time.
Stand Back - LOTS OF ENERGY and Stevie sang this song with much passion. If she was tired at the other shows she sure didnt look like it tonight. She rocked the house. There were 2 guys in front of me who went crazy during this song. I am glad that they played this song. I have heard it a bunch of times but never this good.
GYOW - Once again Lindsey stole the show. Somebody on another board wrote something about him looking like a gerbal and he sure did. I thought about it when he was tearing at his guitar strings and got a nice chuckle out of it. I still don't know how he didnt break a string on this song but now I know why he is so damm thin. That man is hot hot hot
World Turning - very cool. I liked Stevie singing this song and how she changed some of the words around. I had to pee really badly when Mick did his weird drum solo so I missed that part but my husband said that Lindsey was on the side of the stage running around and that everybody was going nuts.
Don't Stop - very very good considering that I am kinda sick of this song but the crowd loved it. Stevie can sing anything and I would love it. It was strange to hear her on this song but yet it sounded so good. She could literally sing the phone book and I would love it.
Goodbye Baby - gees, what a tearjerker. Considering the sensitive nature of this song its amazing that I didnt sit there and sob for a half hour afterwards. Stevie looked really sad during this song and thought that she was gonna lose it but she kept it together. She kinda held her head down low after it was over for a minute and then composed herself and then they all bowed together. She then said something about this only being the 3rd stop on the tour and that they still had a couple more months of this and then thanked us again for coming out.
Notes:
Mick introduced Stevie as Stephanie Nicks. By the soundboard there was a chair that said Kristen B. on it but she was nowhere to be found.
During Say Goodbye this guy next to my husband and I kept saying "You still love him" over and over again. It was pretty funny cuz it was really loud.
Stevie kept waving at the crowd before she left the stage like she didn't want to leave.
Lindsey and Stevie left the stage holding hands and looking cuter than ever.
It seemed like John Mcvie got the loudest cheers when he was introduced. Strange.
I noticed Stevie playing air guitar and drums multiple times throughout the show. She looked like she was having the time of her life.
Also, Stevie kept holding her ears when the crowd was cheering. You think she would be used to that by now.
I thought that the Mellon Arena was gonna come down before the second encore because the place was rocking. You could hear people stamping their feet and screaming so loud it was deafning.
All I know is that now I gotta find a way to attend another show.
Well, I've been home for about ten minutes now... from the best experience I've ever had in my young life. lol. This is my first Fleetwood Mac concert, but I saw Stevie on the TISL tour (and U2 on Elevation and that's IT for me on concerts, so far!)
No real big surprises in terms of set list or anything, I don't think. No "Running Through the Garden" again. Apparently, that one must not have come off very well in the eyes of the band, in Columbus. But man... when they started playing the Chain... the place went bonkers!! It was packed, too! I mean, except for the seats behind the band, it was wall to wall people in mellon arena.
Stevie's voice, to me, sounded so high and fantastic... I was really surprised. I mean, she sounded a lot better than she did on the TISL tour, to my ears at least. I found it interesting that during Stand Back, the back up guitar players did the lead instead of Lindsey. I know Rios did it before, but it sorta surprised me... They all looked very very happy.
Lindsey stole the show, though... I have so much more respect for him now as a guitar player than ever before. I mean, listening to recordings of ISA and Come and even Big Love are one thing... but, when he's standing there in front of you, givin' those strings hell... it's awe inspiring. It really re-affirmed (not that i ever lost it) my faith in the band, as musicians. It really impressed my dad too... so much so, that we're tryin to get tickets to Cleveland on Tuesday!
I'm sorry, I'm sorta rambling, but its late and I'm tired... hehe... I'm sure more details will come spewing out later, so for now, goodnight!
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by Karin Taff