Well what can you say about the "New Reinvigorated Fleetwood Mac"? New hardly. The big news of course is the return of Christine McVie. Absent since 1998. The '98 Tour "The Dance" brought the original Rumors lineup back together again. In 1998 it was Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham whom had to suck it up and forgive and forget. It was a smash. I was incredibly hypnotized by the 1998 tour. So much I followed it to 4 different cities. I'm now hypnotized by this re-union of Fleetwood Mac. It's obvious that all the members are incredibly happy to have Ms. McVie back as well they should. One thing a lot of critics and articles about Christine's rejoining the band tend to overlook are her significant contributions to almost all incarnations of Fleetwood Mac. Christine has been with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie since 1968 when she was named Christine Perfect (true story her name prior to marrying McVie and you wonder why everyone's so happy. It's not everyday you have a Ms. Perfect on board to play and sing with!) Christine's contributions to this band have always been substantial but eventually overshadowed by the stage presence and new style of LA laidback brought to the Mac when Stevie and Lindsey joined the band on New Year's Eve 1974.
Of course that ushered in the Rumor's era. It's fitting that the 1st leg of the US tour 2014 ended at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on December 20th. It's safe to say that the band went no further back then the Rumors LP though they certainly could have pulled out numbers such as "Station Man", "Hypnotized" and "Spare Me a Little" which were all done in prior years with the current line up. I see no reason as the band goes forward to not include some of the material that Christine has brought to the band before Stevie and Lindsey. Well let's go onto the important stuff here. Set list for
12/20/2014:
1. The Chain
2. You Make Loving Fun
3. Dreams
4. Second Hand News
5. Rhiannon
6. Everywhere
7. I Know I'm Not Wrong
8. Tusk
9. Sisters of the Moon
10. Say You Love Me
11. Seven Wonders
12. Big Love
13. Landslide
14. Never Going Back Again
15. Over My Head
16. Gypsy
17. Little Lies
18. Gold Dust Woman
19. I'm So Afraid
20. Go Your Own Way
Encore:
21. World Turning
22. Don't Stop
23. Silver Springs
Encore 2:
24. Songbird
The Tampa torrent can be found at DimeaDozen but the only one up so far is INCOMPLETE! So do yourself a favor if your into the entire concert as it should sound pick up the 11/28/14 LA show. It is an incredible sounding audience tape and I have to say these guys just get better as time goes on. One high quality sounding tape. The Tampa tape sounds great as well but I'm not sure why the taper did not get the encores. I'm sure someone else will post another version shortly.
One final note. Stevie actually spoke of her and Lindsey's early days in the band they were in called Fritz. Yes! They actually were in a real touring rock and roll band that opened for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Grace Slick to name a few. Stevie spoke of being able to watch these class acts up close and how it felt to be near rock and roll greatness. Much has been written about the Buckingham Nicks LP and how it was the catalyst for them joining Mick Fleetwood but the history of playing as an opening act for artist like Hendrix seem to have been buried for quite a long time. Now it comes out close to 50 years later. One has to wonder why?
Happy Holidays everyone! Fleetwood Mac can be seen next year in Orlando. Road trip anyone!
MORE FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE CONCERTS CAN BE FOUND HERE AT THIS LINK!
