Fleetwood Mac: A Huge Surprise
by John R. KasichMy friends know that I get juiced up to see a really good concert. Last night in Columbus, however, I walked into Nationwide Arena for the Fleetwood Mac show not really sure if I wanted to be there. I went in with low expectations. I knew that Stevie Nicks is an icon and that Mick Fleetwood is a great drummer, but I still did not have high hopes going in. I’ve seen too many bands who are past their prime simply go through the motions, while charging big bucks just to get into the building.
All that I can say is that I was wrong. It was a humble performance — the band refused to rest on their laurels. They played with full emotion, letting it all out and the crowd responded accordingly. The band had three encores and I still wish they had come out just one more time. This wasn’t another nostalgic performance — it was a perfect rock show.
Most impressive was Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar performance. Throughout the concert, he showed with each note why he is such a great musician. By the end of the show, he was sweating so much that I have no idea how he has the energy to preform several times a week. In my eyes, Buckingham was the star of an incredible show.
I have spent all day wondering how I could have been so wrong going in. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and am grateful I didn’t follow my instincts on this one.
John Kasich can be contacted at Recharge Ohio, Twitter, or Facebook
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55 Comments
It is not surprising that Fleetwood Mac gave a stellar performance- 1) Lindsey Buckingham has been touring incessently for years and is as sharp as ever, and B) Mac, like other great acts of their era see the dearth of good material and are rightfully realizing their hard earned spot in rock's pantheon of terrific performers. You had Jeff Beck tear down the house at Park West in Chicago this week, The Eagles were equally stunning in their recent tour, as was Return To Forever, a revitalized Yes, and others…
they are not going quietly into the good night, and bully for them…
Hmmm…maybe I'll have to see FM after all.
The same thing happened to me when I went to see Genesis two years ago. I felt like I was going to walk away from it liking it; I ended up LOVING it! Their setlist spanned almost their entire career; the only albums left off were the first and last. What a show!
That being said, though, I still hope against hope that Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett will come back one last time.
Anyway, thanks for the article, Mr. Kasich.
I'm glad to hear it. Too many of these older bands have kind of lost it — at least the singers. It was depressing to watch Blondie or Hall/Oats on A&E a year ago. Neither singer could hit the high notes and mostly they just spoke the words. Sad.
Maybe the reason expectations were so low is that Fleetwood Mac, like so many other bands of their era went main stream political (liberal Democrat, natch) by playing at the 1992 Democtratic National Convention and providing Clinton with his theme song (Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow)
Always liked 'em. They had (and apparently still have) a unique sound and great teamwork. I thought Buckingham was excellent as a solo, as was Stevie Nicks. I still find myself humming Nicks tunes to this day. Of course I hum them rather than sing them because I could never understand a word she was saying. It didn't matter.
as an aside, try to catch The Musical Box when they tour; they are the Genesis equivalent of Australian Pink Floyd- are approved of by the band and even have donated costumes and props- and really nail the early Genesis playbook…
Did you ever see the South Park episode where people mistook a goat for Stevie Nicks? You're not the only one that has trouble understanding her. Nevertheless, I like Fleetwood Mac, too.
Saw Tom Petty at the Hollywood Bowl a couple years ago. Stevie Nicks came out and did a couple of their best known songs together. A real treat. Her voice wasn't up to par, but from what I've heard lately she's back in fine form … and I'll take a slightly off Stevie Nicks Night over most any other…
Lindsey Buckingham is to Fleetwood Mac as Bernie Taupin is to Elton John; both are the music makers behind the celebrity.
Fleetwood Mac still stands as the worst concert I've ever seen. Granted this was on the "Tango In The Night" tour when Buckingham wasn't with the band. But I'm not sure I could be moved to pony up the price of a ticket to see if they could redeem themselves.
I've had the opportunity to see Fleetwood Mac a few times now, and I have to agree with you. Lindsey Buckingham is still just as amazing as he ever was. If you're interested in seeing why they're so good together, get a hold of "The Dance" DVD from about 10 years ago (make sure to watch Lindsey rip it up on "Big Love". ). It's not hard to see why they are stll filling arena's, or why they were so popular "back in the day"
LB is great guitar player, no doubt about it.
Thanks for the review John.
John a good buddy of mine was at that show, and had pretty much the same sentiments. Still says it's one of the best he's been to.
I watched Chris Issak interview Stevie Nicks on tv a few weeks ago and was SO impressed with her. Wow. I hope I look as good as she does at 60. (Actually, I would have been happy to look as good as she does at 60 when I was 30.)
I remember the first time I saw Fleetwood Mac with the Buckingham/Nicks configuration was in 1974/75 at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa. After the warm up band, I went into the lobby to smoke (you could actually do that back then.) I didn't have a light, but a cute female of my age in a peasant dress gave me a light, chatted me up shared my cigarette, and gave me her matches (the inscription was "steal these matches.") When Fleetwood Mac came onstage, it was obvious that the girl was Stevie Nicks. A great concert and a great memory.
Among the many things I hope to see before I die is the Gabriel, Hackett, Collins, Rutherford, and Banks lineup reunited and on tour.
Who sang Christine McVie's songs? I understand that she's retired.
WHile I agree that Lindsey Buckingham is the main music maker of FM, Bernie Taupin merely wrote the lyrics to the music the Elton John wrote. They were great lyrics, but I thought I would point that out because, as a non-singing musician, it is a pet peeve of mine that the majority of people consider the person who writes the lyrics as the person who "wrote the song." Lyrics without music is poetry.
Actually, Taupin did sing, and released a couple of albums sans Elton. But Jeff M is right. Whether its Taupin-John or a singer-songwriter like James Taylor, words and music make it go.
I never liked FM until I saw The Dance DVD in 1997. It was flawless. But I still prefer Christine McVie to Stevie Nicks
A lot of those classic rockers do great shows. I caught Eric Burdon with his "New Animals" band in Vegas a few years back. The band consistent of Robbie Kriger from the Doors and some other band members from famous groups. It was a fantastic show.
Without Taupin all that remains is Liberace wearing silver-sequined clown glasses.
Oh, man… wouldn't that be incredible?? Got to see Genesis again at Arco a year or two ago – damn, those guys are amazingly good musicians. Always a treat to see them. But if they could reunite with Hackett (so underrated, in my opinion) and Gabriel I wonder if the humor and atmosphere of a Genesis reunion would be the same?
I have always loved Lindsey Buckingham. My 16 year old daughter is named after him, and I am 53.
I had a big crush on Stevie Nicks in high school in the 80s. I still like her but in the last few years I've come to appreciate Christine Mcvie as a good singer and her songs with Fleetwood Mac are quite good
The worst concert I've ever seen "award" goes to Van Morrison's at the Anaheim Convention Center in 1975. A lot of people left the arena grumbling.
Good question. I am wondering the same thing.
LOL! Nicks' rendition of "Silent Night" makes me laugh as she sounds like a goat. She should stick to her own stuff.
John, you are capable of doing so much more than writing an online entertainment blog. I walked through your museum in Westerville a couple years ago and couldn’t understand why you quit. It’s like a good story on the verge of becoming great but instead the next page simply reads “the end.” There is a Senate seat opening in Ohio that has your name written all over it. You aspired to become president, what happened? We have few voices in elected office who understand fiscal restraint. You are a potential leader of a party that is drifting all over the place. Don’t pander to the religious kooks and the country can and will get behind conservative financial principles. I can’t help but think that you could become President someday if you didn’t rest on your laurels.
I understand that Gabriel and Hackett were not opposed to another tour, just a shorter one. It would be cool.
oh ditto that. Did you see Hall & Oates' SUPREMELY LAME appearance on Jon Stewart, where they sang a song of worship to The One, after he was elected. Sung to the (horribly off-key) tune of, I think it was Sara's Eyes, or something. Holy crap – those boys lost them some singing skills somewhere along the way. And I do like a lot of their music… but dang… pathetic.
I never was a big Fleetwood Mac fan but like everyone when Rumors came out I listened. I tend to be old school with FM, Peter Green to Bob Welch, songs like, “Oh Well.” I also think the band suffers when Christie McVie is not with them, it added to the texture of the band. All good players however. I also heard rumors, (no pun) that Cheryl Crow was with them?
I wonder if they just removed her songs from their playlist?
UPDATE: Here's the songlist for this tour. Not too many McVie songs… but there are a few:
Monday Morning (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
The Chain (from Rumours, 1977)
Dreams (from Rumours, 1977)
I Know I'm Not Wrong (from Tusk, 1979)
Gypsy (from Mirage, 1982)
Go Insane (from Lindsey’s Go Insane, 1984)
Rhiannon (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Second Hand News (from Rumours, 1977)
Tusk (from Tusk, 1979)
Sara (from Tusk, 1979)
Big Love (from Tango In the Night, 1987)
Landslide (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Never Going Back Again (from Rumours, 1977)
Storms (from Tusk, 1979)
Say You Love Me(from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Gold Dust Woman (from Rumours, 1977)
Oh Well (from Then Play On, 1969)
I'm So Afraid (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Stand Back (from Stevie’s The Wild Heart, 1983)
Go Your Own Way (from Rumours, 1977)
World Turning (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Don't Stop (from Rumours, 1977)
Silver Springs (Rumours outtake)
According to Mick Fleetwood, John McVie is a conservative. He only did the Clinton gig 'cause, hey,
how many presidential inaugurals do you get to go to? But McVie had the last laugh.
I remember him saying in an interview, "…and there they (Clinton and Gore) were, clapping on the wrong beat."
True that Lindsey Buckingham is a mighty power; great guitar player, singer, arranger, craftsman.
Funny, the best song I've heard in years is when I relistened to Not That Funny from Tusk from 1979.
His songs from that album sound contemporary today.
I heard Cheryl Crow?
I didn't see that and I'm glad. I prefer to think of them as non-political. They were big when I was growing up and I liked their music — still do. But when we saw them on A&E and they couldn't hit any of the notes, it was really sad. It's like a star athlete who plays a season too long. You just kind of wish you hadn't seen it.
A good concert for me was seeing Cheap Trick in 2001. I had originally seen them in 81, and they were great then, and I wasn't expecting much, but they were exactly the same. It was a small venue, and I got to go on stage with them. Lots of fun there. I was a big Cars fan. I saw them for the first time in 82, and then again in 87. Wow, they so sucked the 2nd time. They acted like they had rather have a root canal than be there. Ugh. I quit seeing the older stuff, for the most part, because of so many disappointments, but would love to see FM. I wore the Rumours LP out in 77.
Kriger palying with Eric Burdon. I would like to have heard that.
I was into "Bare Trees" but, yeah, I got burned out real quick with the constant barrage of FM in 76-78. Everytime I hear a "Rumors" tune, I am standing in the Stereo Shop just outside the main gate at MCAS Iwakuni, JA.
My favorite concert was actually David Bowie in 1990 — 20+ years after he got started. He was great — though I wouldn't risk it today. The Bowie crowd was an odd mix of hippies (tie-dyed), emos (black everything), and us (amused grins). I saw the Cure a week later and it was all emos.
After 25 years on the road,I know that live music separates the men(and ladies)from the boys and girls.The Rumours album came in second,by a hair as class of '77 theme song for OHS Marietta,Ga.
Saw FM in either '74 or '75 when Bob Welch was singing for them. They were opening for Deep Purple, which was odd, since FM were pretty mellow and Deep Purple were the loudest band in the world at the time. After they finished their set, Bob Welch said "Thanks a lot and stay tuned for Deep Throat."
Saw FM in either '74 or '75 when Bob Welch was singing for them. They were opening for Deep Purple, which was odd, since FM were pretty mellow and Deep Purple were the loudest band in the world at the time. After they finished their set, Bob Welch said "Thanks a lot and stay tuned for Deep Throat."
Tragic mistake.
The themew should have been "Tell Me Lies".
The Mac has always been the real thing.
Buckingham is a virtuoso, Stevie Nicks has a voice that cut through an entire generation, and the only sad note about them at all is the ongoing absence of Christine McVie since she bowed out.
Collectively, they epitomize the phrase "living legends".
Yeah Jed, but they seem to be the exception to the modern Democratic rule: Democrats that don't hate America, no matter who is in the Oval Office. Stevie Nicks in particular has been pretty active in support for American servicemen. Everyone is entitled to their political beliefs. What I hate is when performers make politics the point, and FM doesn't really do that.
While I prefer early Fleetwood Mac, with Peter Green(Albatross, Black Magic Woman, Oh Well), and Danny Kirwan(Bare Trees, Future Games), I do enjoy Buckingham's guitar work. One of the odd things about his playing is that, unlike most rock guitarists, he doesn't use a pick. As a guitarist myself, I can tell you that's not easy to do on an electric.
Don't forget that Jeremy Spencer!
RUSH always provides an outstanding performance, even after 30+ years.
I'm sorry, but it's just not Fleetwood Mac without Christine McVie. If you've heard the one called "Songbird", you'll understand why.
Thanks for the tip, dcase. I think I saw an ad for them in my local paper a while back, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for them now. That's really cool that Genesis donated stuff to them!
I'll have to make a mental note about the Austrailian Pink Floyd too. Sigh…so many bands, so little time!
they are both treats- Australian Pink Floyd did 'The Wall' last time through and it was friggin' brilliant. The Musical Box has done 'Lamb' and 'Selling England' on separate tours, and you get the Gabriel stand-in doing 'Watcher of the Skies' wearing the costume he had donated to him… and tix are generally in the $30-40 buck range. Worth a little drive…
Yeah, the guy who wants to run for Governor of a major state is spending his time blogging on a rock concert. Brilliant strategy.
Great to hear it. Fleetwood Mac has always been one of my favorite sounds growing up with Rumours being one of my all time favorite albums of all time. Yeah, too bad CM isn't part of the band, still. Maybe someday she'll come back.
Great show in Charlotte, NC on Saturday night. LB is the man, he was as all these post advertised and one of the most energetic 60 year-olds I've ever seen. I do wonder why they canceled the Greensboro show, It had to be ticket sales or a pre-planned cancellation if they needed a break because they had the excuse of someone in the band having strep throat before the Saturday show which was great. I'm thinking about dishing out the bucks for Atlanta tomorrow night.
I saw them warm up for Deep Purple as well, on Long Island, sometime in the early 70s. I was trying to figure out what year when google brought me here. Yes, it was a rather odd mix, but great show all around, from what I remember.
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