I traveled 2,242 miles from Eureka, California to Kansas City, Missouri to sit in the second row, seat number 33 (Stevie’s side.) I stood on my feet 2 ½ hours singing every song word for word from The Chain to Goodbye Baby. My feet ached, my knees were weak, I was sweating worse than a team of 300 plus pound NFL defensive backs after running a 100 yard sprint at full speed and I loved every minute of it.

I went into the experience wishing I were sitting on the opposite side of the stage, on Lindsey’s side. Perhaps I was being greedy but still, it was what I wanted. When first notes from The Chain started, I began to clap my hands and stomp my feet. “Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise” That was the beginning of my night as the new fifth Fleetwood Mac member for that night, Matthew J. Sullivan.

Lindsey and Stevie hit the notes perfectly, vocally and musically (maybe they didn’t, I honestly didn’t notice) during the song and the ending guitar solo by Lindsey was magic. Along came Dreams… a song that I have been bored of for the past few months. Standing there, singing it along with Stevie live, it didn’t matter, I wasn’t bored of it anymore, and I loved it. The fans, of course, loved it too and sang along with us word for word.

It was so awesome to hear the following song, Eyes Of The World. The live version of this song is what should have been on the Mirage album. It has Not That Funny syndrome where the live version of the song is 110% better than the album version (let it be known that I LOVE both songs on each album.) My lymph nodes were hurting by this time, I was extremely dehydrated but still I stood and still I sang, “Woooooooooah! Wooooooooooooooooooah!” during the chorus. Again, Lindsey rocked the house with the ending guitar solo. I was surprised that many fans knew the lyrics to this song.

Lindsey gave his now well practiced pre-Peacekeeper speech, “The point is, here we are.” I didn’t give a damn whether he said that same speech word for word to a bajillion people across the U.S.A., he could have made fart noises in that mic and I would have been happy. My vocals blended into the song perfectly and I think the audience loved my performance with the band. ;) “I know there’s nothing to say, someone has taken my place” The crowd joined in again for this piece. When the vocal/guitar riff part came to the song, the band and fans alike sang with zeal, “bow bow bow bowbowbowbow, bow bow bow bowbowbowbow, bow bow bow bowbowbow bow bowbow, do dodododo!”

Say You Will came along and again the fans sang along with the song, which was a very nice surprise. Never Going Back Again followed and the voices of the thousands in the arena sang along, “Been down one time, been down two times, been down THREE times!” Fingers were held in the air in unison with every number mentioned.

Another song that’s “run its course” followed; Rhiannon. Stevie was really into this one as well as the many Stevie-ites and Mac fans in general. Lindsey really stole the show (in my opinion) with the next number, Come. Dear God, the man went insane. The performance was breath taking.

Gypsy was a really nice follow up to that song because it gave everyone a breath in the audience and it was another Stevie song that most of the fans sang along to. The song I probably anticipated the most followed; Big Love. To see Lindsey’s finger picking on the song was pure magic. Anybody who doesn’t think that Lindsey isn’t one of the greatest guitarists of all time needs to pull their heads out of their ends. The man proved that to me last night (as if I didn’t all ready know that.)

Stevie came back onstage and the two came together to play Landslide. It’s one of those songs that I’ll always remember because at the very end, Lindsey and Stevie came together and embraced. Say Goodbye was probably the most disappointing point of the concert, not because the song was bad, I LOVED it… it was for the fact that several people got up and took a drink or pee break. Lindsey really made me feel the emotion in the song.

The intro into What’s The World Coming To seemed to confuse a few of the people who were sitting in front of me… and it confused me a bit too. I think we thought it was Go Your Own Way. Basically, restating what I’ve all ready stated, the performance was wonderful.

Beautiful Child was a song that was long overdue to be preformed live. It should have been a mainstay on all the tours since the Tusk one. Stevie left the stage but quickly returned complete with gold shawl for Gold Dust Woman. We all sang, “Well did she make you cry, make you break down, shatter your illusions of love”

Just as soon as we all got our energy back, Lindsey took it back out of us with I’m So Afraid. By this time, my shirt and hair were absolutely drenched in my own perspiration and Lindsey’s apparent fatigue didn’t even compare with mine. Lindsey again became one with the guitar, ripping out the notes with his Turner. Silver Springs came and went without much of a surprise. The fans lit their lighters and swayed back and fourth, to and fro singing along with Stevie and Lindsey, “I’ll follow you down ‘til the sound of my voice will haunt you”

I honestly thought that Tusk wouldn’t be the same as it was when Christine was with the band. I was proven right… it was totally different and downright brilliant. Lindsey chased Stevie around while the song played on and the two joined hands raised them high and danced together in circles.

Out came the black and gold spotted shawl and on came Stand Back. The crowd energy actually picked up during this song, as if it could have gone up any more. Just when I thought we’d get a break, along comes Go Your Own Way. This song has to be experienced live, that’s all I can say. It’s one that could be played 100 years from now and it would never loose that special feeling that it evokes.

On came the encores. Mick got his drum solo in and was a complete wacko on World Turning. I think he needed to get his feet back on the ground. Don’t Stop was probably the worst performance of the night, only because the song just isn’t made for Stevie’s voice. It’s Christine’s song; she’s the only one that could sing it the way it’s supposed to be sung, no offense to Stevie.

Goodbye Baby was the perfect song to go home to. Stevie sang, “Don’t forget me” how could we ever forget her, or that night in Kansas City? The magic was in the air, the crowd was booming with excitement and I was experiencing my first ever Fleetwood Mac concert. The night was perfect and nothing could have been done to improve my evening with Fleetwood Mac… not even being on Lindsey’s side.

Rated "5" by Phil Kane