FANS ARE NOW RATING THE SHOWS AS WELL
1-5
5 BEING THE BEST
Rated "5" by Jannie aka Steviechix
Excuse me waitress...I'll Take One Bridgeport..hold the MSG.
And it's not because I don't want to go to the MSG concert. It's more because I am so physically and financially spent from my shows that I just need a break. Hopefully they'll come back around next year after Oz...cos I'll be there...no doubt!
Now onto the review...
OMG, I must admit that I am writing this review for totally selfish purposes. I want to have this one in the archives for posterity, because this was far and away the best Fleetwood Mac performance I have ever seen!
First of all, the venue itself. The Arena at Harbor Yards is a brand new, fairly intimate arena (seats around 7,000) on the waterfront in hard-on-its-luck Bridgeport Connecticut. The area around the venue has seen its rough times but on September 27th Bridgeport was Broadway!
I have never seen a Mac crowd so universally rowdy and pumped for a show. And it wasn't just the hardcores. Being in the 8th row,I looked behind me at various times during the night and they were dancing in the rafters. Even the AARP crowd was alive and kickin'! (nom not just the seniors on stage...hehe) The bottom line is that this was truly a special night for this small city that has always been overlooked by the big names.
Highlights? Well maybe it was when Stevie introduced SYW as follows: "And now I'd like to sing a song for you from MY new album Say You Will"...LMAO. Of course she didn't realize she said that...but everybody else did. Needless to say, there were a lot of guffaws in the audience.
Or how about the sweet surprise of seeing Mindy Stein performing in her last show before she gives birth to her baby boy? Mick's introduction of her was very poignant as was Stevie's visible acknowledgement of how very much they're all going to miss her. Btw, Mindy was about ready to burst and give birth right there on the stage in Southwestern Connecticut. She actually looked more like 10 months along,
Stevie was in excellent voice...a trend which seems to continuing as the second Leg marches on. I try to ignore the shoes.. I kept saying to myself...focus on the hair..the nails...the shawls...just don't look at the shoes! lol (it's all about mind control folks...anyone can do it, you just have to chant and focus. Think Tina Turner in "What's Love Got To Do With It")
On to Lindsey. Our boy was particlarly playful and it was nice seeing people STAY PUT for his solos instead of heading for the loo. I didn't even roll my eyes during his speeches. I think maybe I was just so in tune with the fact that it could be my last Mac show ever that I actually RELISHED the speeches. I was like "come on Lindsey, tell us about the strange trip...please!" (at times, it felt like the audience was cueing him as to what he's supposed to say next). It was adorable.
And I do want to make a comment about Mick's solo. I used to always use his drum solo as sit-down time but I gotta tell ya he really had me rocking out in B-Port. World Turning brought down the house and that was particularly nice to see cos most people didn't really know the song. In fact it was kind of funny watching people mouthing the wrong lyrics. Gi-rl Turning! (oy...hey at least thy tried...lol)
This show was totally worth the 2 hour drive. Hey...maybe us Leggies should just quit school and our jobs and follow the Mac around the world in a van...actually make that a Legxus :)
Rated "4" by Patti
This was my first time seeing them and all in all it was a great experience.
It started off a little slow. There seemed to be a lack of cohesion between everyone for the first five or so songs. I got the feeling that Stevie didn't really want to be there and Lindsey wanted center stage. But then things started to ease up.
Stevie was great, but I TOTALLY agree with a previous poster--what's up with those boots? From my seat, they looked like orthopedic shoes. I couldn't get past that! Loved all the classics, of course, and surprisingly I really got into some of the new stuff. Mick's solo at the end was entertaining--much better than Lindsey's solos. Overall, though, a thoroughly enjoyable night!
Rated "5" by Kathleen
I was at the Harbor Yard concert Sept. 27 2003. They ROCKED! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the show! Stevie's voice was in top notch shape and Lindsey well what can I say about a man I have lusted after for 20 years. He was great, he played his guitar like a man with great passion. He had me work up into a frenzy! The band will rock on for ever and if they play we will come!
Rated "5" by The Twins
This was my third time seeing FM and I have to say it was the best! Our seats were on the floor (section 4) and we rocked the whole night. Spending the extra money for these seats were well worth it as I would not have been able to sit in my seat the entire show as many people did.
Stevie and Lindsey were exceptional and they looked like they were enjoying the crowd and having fun. "Stand Back", "Don't Stop" and "Second Hand News" were my favorites. If you have a chance to get a ticket to the last few dates of their US tour, go!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!
Rated "5" by Mike
Only a 5 because there isn't a higher number.
First things first - Lindsey is a God. As Mark Knopfler (another great finger-picking guitar player) once said, the boy can play. Lindsey was on fire. His solos on Come and I'm So Afraid were simply amazing, and he was extremely entertaining all night playing and dancing and jumping all over the place. Stevie was magnificient and seemed to genuinely enjoy herself and the crowd. Mick was Mick - his usual maniacal self, and John was John - very quiet and steady. The backup musicians were terrific, especially Taku and Brett Tuggle.
The arena was a great setting - not a bad seat in the house (we were in the second-to-last row all the way back) and had a great head-on view of everything. The large screens high above each side of the stage were a great touch. I saw them in Hartford for the Dance and they were terrific then, but Saturday in Bridgeport they seemed more relaxed and simply having a lot of fun. The arrangements were terrific - it sounded like they changed What's the World Coming To a little compared to some of the MP3s I've heard from earlier shows. If you get a chance, go see them. Its a really fun 2 1/2 hours, as evidenced by how fast the time went by.
Rated "5" by Pete Pantelis
Having got off to not a great start because of a seating mix up, (and sitting in a massive traffic jam for an hour) we missed the first two songs, but got seated just in time for Peacekeeper.
Overall, the best Fleetwood Mac concert of the three I've seen. (Tango and Time being the other two).
My first reaction was surprise at how skinny Lindsey actually is in person--he's a stick! This seemed to be a slightly off night for Lindsey. He hit a couple of bad lead guitar notes and was off key a few times with his vocal. But I can give him a pass on it because his energy and intensity throughout the night made up for it. Not quite as energetic as I've read about him in previous shows though. He and Stevie did their little boxing and hugging schtick during Tusk and it actually didn't look all that rehearsed as I've read in other reviews.
Stevie was in better form. Her vocals were spot on (and yes, she did hit some high notes) and she was very engaging and seemed to be enjoying herself up there. She gave her best performance of the night on Beautiful Child. That's a very emotional song and she made us feel it.
She had a side conversation going on with John McVie at one point--they were talking in each other's ears. And she also went over to visit Brett Tuggle (a great keyboardist by the way) a couple of times when Lindsey was flailing away on his guitar. Somebody tell Stevie to please lose those awful looking platform boots though! They don't compliment her at all.
Mick's vest solo was very impressive until I looked back and could see the percussionist behind him (this guy does kick ass) doing most of it. Actually, it was hard to tell who was doing what there.
John McVie - what can you say. Keeping it all together. Mostly keeping his head down throughout the show and doing what he does best---playing that bass.
The sound quality was quite good considering the generally live acoustics of a venue like the Arena. Not overpoweringly loud like when I saw them during the Time tour. The vocals and Lindsey's guitar epecially, were crisp and right out front of the mix.
I'm sure it's hard at their age to be totally "on" and fresh every night, but it's too bad that they couldn't be just a little more personable with the audience and get off of the scripted stuff.
But.... small potatoes. Fleetwood Mac still kicks ass in their fifties, no doubt about that. The chemistry of this band is still there. The music IS their message and they gave a really solid two and a half hours to us last night.
Rated "4.9" by Risa aka Larg's Girl
I thought that the Bridgeport show was awesome, but this is only my second FM concert.
Stevie was in great shape, her voice was very strong and beautiful and she had a lot of energy. I think that Lindsey really stole the show. He was doing some great solos and he seemed really enthusiastic and happy...which to me means the world. Toward the middle of the show, he started pulling out some dance moves and during one of the songs his guitar came unplugged and he and Stevie began dancing together as well as pretending to box. Mick's vest solo was pretty good and he had the crowd going. Very enthusiastic crowd and I believe that is why the band was so enthusiastic. The floor seating was alright, I was in section four, but hey...the closer I was to Lindsey the better so I think that the price of floor seating is worth it...just be prepared to stand during the entire show if anyone plans on purchasing the floor seating!Great show!
Rated "5" by Michelle
This show was absolutely incredible! I was sitting in the fifth row (floor), on Lindsey's side. I made it up to, with my best friend, the second row by the end of the night (just in time for "Goodbye Baby") and my friend climbed over a chair (in her Stevie Nicks "Timespace"-type outfit) to the front row!
The highlights:
-John, as always, kicked ass during his little solo in "The Chain"
-Stevie and Lindsey had many adorable moments...um, during "Tusk" the two danced together; during "Landslide," they intertwined fingers and he kissed her hand, he kissed the side of her head, and hugged her, intertwining fingers again, and also she stood behind him, put her hands on his shoulders and like strummed to the beat; during "Say You Will" she played air guitar and sung along with his guiter part, to him...
-LINDSEY'S WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE THERE! Unmistakenly, Kristen and Leelee were in the front row, bopping to Lindsey's first couple of songs. They left during most of the concert (mostly Stevie songs), but he waved and blew them a kiss at one point, during one of the first couple songs...
-Stevie sang the "silly dreamer" part of "Rhiannon" which I LOVE!
-"Stand Back" was amazing, as was "Tusk" (okay, the whole show was...)
-Lindsey slowed down "Say Goodbye" and made it more beautiful than it already was
-It was Mindy Stein's last concert for a while so they talked about that for a moment (not really a highlight...)
-Stevie and Lindsey talked about their past a little, going back to when they were together in Northern California
-Lindsey ripped his guitar out of the amp and swung the chord around during "Tusk"
-Mick's drum solo...what to say? :D
The bruises on my palms and wrists are testament to how great this concert was (lol...from all the clapping...BIG bruise, lol)
And people, just a side mention, it's true...everyone must at one time dress like a Gypsy...believe me it's great fun! Me and my friend were like 2 of a dozen people dressed up!!! What's that all about? Come on Stevie fans!
Anyway, I'm seeing them again on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in NY(or so I plan right now)...if you have a ticket (preferably one) or two on the floor (anywhere in Floor sections 1-3) that you're looking to sell for relatively cheap (aka NOT $600...or even $500--I am a generally poor college student), email me
(silly_dreamer_rhiannon@yahoo.com).
If you haven't seen them on this tour, GO!!!!
Rated "3.5" by Tom
Just got home from the concert and enjoyed most of it. Saw them in '77 on the Rumours tour but can't compare it to that anyway.
Highlights were ALL Stevie. Her voice was really strong and she appeared to really be into it after a little slow start.
All the hits were very good accept Rhiannon. Arrangement was off somehow. Stand Back was exceptional.
Lowlights were TWO!! Very tedious guitar solo songs about 20 minutes apart from Buckingham. His style doesn't lend itself to 5-7 minute solos! It was less than tolerable the first time.....the second time was a deja vu I didn't need. Way too self indulgent. Virtually identical "theatrics" of single note cresendoes that "built-up" to him just slapping his guitar strings in some kind of frenzy, in BOTH songs. Well, he looked like HE enjoyed it.
Further lowlights was a spirited, but WAY TOO LONG percussion solo from Mick in World Turning. Amazing persussionist side man though.
It was the first concert that my wife and I had been to in many years and I would have been quite a bit more satisfied if it didn't cost us $300. I forgot everyone in the floor seats wants to stand up, even though it was the same view standing or sitting.
If your going.......get the cheap seats