Tuesday, October 27, 2009

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac - Dublin "This was what we expected and so much more"

Fleetwood Fans in Awe as Stevie & Co Regroup
By Juno McEnroe
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Examiner.ie

Photo by Andrew Carson

THIS was what we expected and so much more.

With a throw of her slight arm over the microphone stand, a sullen Stevie Nicks took us into The Chain, Fleetwood Mac’s second melody of the night. A sunken O2 arena quickly perked up as a crescendo of cheers rushed over the north Dublin venue.

This was every party song played to its full.

Mick Fleetwood himself barely opened his eyes, tapping cymbals and booting the bass drum into the night.

Back on the road again for the first time in six years, this self-confessed old-time group took time out of their well publicised set to tell Dublin of their tales of mixing with the likes of other bands such as Velvet Underground.

This concert was so much more than just a medley of greatest hits, it was an opportunity for the original 1960s group to settle scores. Despite the fact that group founder Peter Green separately played an arresting set at the weekend in Cork, Fleetwood Mac were not for falling. The band played out the iconic group tune, Dreams, and a slower than usual Rhiannon.

But it was guitarist Lindsey Buckingham’s gripping guitar solo during I’m So Afraid that pushed Irish fans up off their seats to a standing ovation.

As the 60-year-old guitarist blitzed his way along his fretboard, the awestruck crowd shouted for more.

A briefly excited Stevie Nicks brought listeners back to the all-known Go Your Own Way as Fleetwood Mac moved to the end of their set.

In between songs, Lindsay and Stevie satisfied hardcore fans with talk of what the band did before the infamous splits began.

This was more than just a play list.

And an enthusiastic Mick Fleetwood said before courting Stevie off stage: "We’ll see you next time."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Monday, October 26, 2009

REVIEW: FLEETOOD MAC in DUBLIN Reviewed by: The Irish Times

Fleetwood Mac
02 Dublin
October 24/25, 2009
Irishtimes
by: SEÁN FLYNN

Fleetwood Mac are back on the road, 32 years after the generation-defining Rumours album. This time around, there is no new album to plug and no new songs to roll out. Yesterday’s gone, but those golden sun-drenched songs roll on forever.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, whose combustible relationship sparked Rumours , emerge hand-in-hand and in warm spirits. Heathcliff and Cathy are chilling out.

Wrapped in her familiar shawls, Nicks is still playing the beguiling gypsy queen. Now 61, she meanders across the stage in long, flowing, chiffon dresses. For those of a certain vintage, it’s as if that fabled footage of Nicks belting out Rhiannon in 1976 has come to life.

Buckingham, with that familiar icy stare, is her counterpoint, all darkness and danger.

The set opens with Monday Morning , from the band’s eponymous second (white) album. The second song, The Chain , is the first of seven from Rumours . What is striking is how time and familiarity have not aged the power and beauty of these songs.

A blistering performance of Go Your Own Way is a real highlight. The song is Buckingham’s finest hour; his defiant guitar driving it forward with relish. Buckingham is very much the first among equals, dominating the stage with two underrated songs, Big Love and Tusk , commanding a standing ovation on each occasion.

Nicks is strongest on Dreams and Sara , two soft rock classics. Stand Back , one of her solo hits, has aged much less well.

There is an extraordinary synergy between the band and the middle-aged audience when Nicks sings that poignant, familiar line from Landslide – “And I’m getting older too”. It’s a terrific performance of a great song.

The concert did not work on all levels. Fleetwood Mac has always been a tapestry of different colours, so the absence of Christine McVie, who has retired from public performance, was keenly felt. Buckingham and Nicks dominated the vocal duties but McVie’s unplayed piano and echoey vocal style were conspicuous by their absence. McVie’s best songs – Songbird and You Make Loving Fun – are part of the Fleetwood Mac canon. The band did pay tribute to one former troubled member when Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood rolled out Peter Green’s Oh Well . It was good to see his contribution acknowledged.

The gig was also a reminder that Fleetwood – the mainstay of the band since the Peter Green era, is one of rock’s finest drummers – even if the solo on World Turning veered close to Spinal Tap country.

Fleetwood Mac also encored with the old foot-stomping Bill Clinton favourite, Don’t Stop . The final song was Nicks’s glorious Silver Springs , tossed away as a B-side back in the day, but given its due recognition here.

At the end, the band lingered on stage, revelling in the warm embrace of the crowd long after the music had stopped.

(PHOTOS) FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN, IRELAND NIGHT 1 & 2

FLEETWOOD MAC
A Combination of Oct 24th and 25th
Dublin, Ireland
photos by: hejiranyc
(or the slideshow option)

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Live in Dublin 2009

Fleetwood Mac – 02, Dublin
By Lisa Hughes

photo by alison mchugo


Ah, the reunion tour – the cash cow that never loses its value. And, based on tonight’s evidence, we can’t say no to them. After all, in the midst of a recession the O2 is packed to the gills with punters, most of whom paid more than a pretty penny to be there. Adding to the long string of comeback gigs to grace these shores in recent years, Fleetwood Mac joined the ranks with a two night stint at the O2. With their last comeback tour somewhat immortalised as a piece of rock history, Mick Fleetwood pulled the original Rumours contingent together for the Unleashed 2009 World Tour (minus Christine McVie of course, who apparently declined the offer).

With no support act lined up and the stage clothed in darkness, all elements were in place for the crowd to nervously anticipate the show to come and as each band member took their place to kick things off with ‘Monday Morning’ the nervous tension peaked. Once the surreal sensation of seeing the Mac in the flesh wore off, it became clear that there was something of a sing-off taking place before us, with FM’s legendary rivalries surfacing. For a significant handful of songs, Nicks and Buckingham split vocal duties, with both guilty of hamming things up in an effort to own the show. As the tassled and shawled Stevie Nicks tottered around the stage in semi-slow motion in 4 inch heels, she almost managed to rekindle her 70s cool yet, despite the earlier murmurs of the crowd ahead of her entrance. Buckingham however was the undisputed show stealer. With his guitar-wielding swagger and powerful solos, the guitarist’s onstage presence, particularly on moments like ‘Big Love’, made him dominate the performance. Meanwhile, Stevie’s vocals remain top-notch (‘Landslide’ affirmed this), so distinctive that even when she occasionally dropped the ball, it only endeared her further.

Let’s not forget the presence of Mick Fleetwood either, whose steady efforts belting away on the drums underpinned the entire performance. Although he looked physically sidelined by the two most famous band members, half of the group’s namesake was certainly not forgotten, as the huge cheer he garnered at the end rightfully displayed. Things were hammed up further with the sermon-like intervals where Nicks and Buckingham digressed on the band’s often troubled history, attempting to add to the symbolism of the event by harking back to their well-versed dramas. Admittedly it was a tactic that worked, reminding us of the rarity of the occasion by reiterating the group’s stature and legendary status, regardless of how wholly theatrical it felt.

When the clash of egos died down (or became less apparent), things instead centred on the music as the setlist hit all the expected high points and was a solid blend of well-known numbers. From the thundering outro of ‘The Chain’ to the note-perfect rendition of ‘Dreams’ through to the bluesy ‘Gold Dust Woman’, musically the band managed to pull it all together as though they’ve been doing this untroubled without a break since 1977. For a reunion tour there was no sense of the band phoning in their performance and, occasional cheese-factors aside, there was a very real sense that, despite Mick Fleetwood’s call of “Until next time”, this could be the last we see of Fleetwood Mac and that made it an occasion to savour. Tonight’s show lacked that certain something to make it a truly unforgettable night, (perhaps due to the obvious impersonal nature of a mammoth venue like the O2) but on the whole it was an impeccable performance hard to fault and one you couldn’t help but feel privileged to witness.

WIN TICKETS TO FLEETWOOD MAC IN SHEFFIELD

WIN TICKETS TO SEE FLEETWOOD MAC

TheStar.co.uk
Fleetwood Mac make their Sheffield Arena debut!

One of the most successful Rock bands in history are back. With their best-selling line up featuring Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac make their Sheffield Arena debut on Monday 2nd November AND The star have 5 pairs of tickets to give away.

Since forming in 1967 the only thing about the group that hasn't changed is the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. Through the '70s, the band's personnel and style shifted with nearly every recording as Fleetwood Mac metamorphosed from a traditionalist British blues band to the maker of one of the best-selling pop albums ever - Rumours. From that album's release in 1977 into the present, Fleetwood Mac has survived additional, theoretically key, personnel changes and yet remained a dominant commercial force.

Fleetwood Mac has sold more than 100 million copies of its albums — including 25 million for Rumours alone — making it one of the most popular rock bands in history, don’t miss out on this rare outing for the band.

If you are not one of our lucky winners don’t worry tickets are still available to buy from The Arena Box Office priced £75, £60, £45 (subject to booking fee) and are available in person at the Arena box office, by phone on 0114 256 5656 and online at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk .

For your chance to win this fantastic prize simply enter our free prize draw by text or online at www.thestar.co.uk/competitions

Text STARFLEET and leave a space, followed by your members zone number, full name, postcode and house number, then send to 81800.

Texts cost £1.00p plus your standard network charge. This will be charged to your mobile phone bill. Get the bill payer's permission. Do not text after deadline and please ensure you enter the correct competition name, if this is incorrect you may still be charged and your entry will not be entered into our draw.

Service provided by g8wave London N7.

Deadline for all entries is Friday Oct 30th at 10am.

(PHOTOS) FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN

Images of Fleetwood Mac at The O2...

With a line-up that has changed many times over the last number of decades, our personal fav version of Fleetwood Mac (Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Stevie Nicks) lit-up the O2 Arena last week with a set list any band would be proud of. (See The Rest)

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac - 'Landslide' Dedicated To The Late Stephen Gately - Dublin

Fleetwood Mac, The 02, Dublin
by: John Meagher
Independent

THERE have been so many incarnations of Fleetwood Mac over the past 42 years that even the most avowed student of the band may have trouble keeping up.

The current guise comprises four-fifths of the so-called classic line-up that gave the world 'Rumours' in 1977 -- still one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Christine McVie may have quit in 1998, but her ex-husband John McVie, along with Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, are back on the road again for the first time in six years.

With no new album to promote, this Unleashed tour is ostensibly a greatest hits parade and over two-and-a-half hours the foursome duly deliver.

Buckingham, who is looking in very fine fettle for a 60-year-old, is especially up for it, not least when he produces the superb riff on 'The Chain'. It is the first of several occasions where he throws the sort of guitar-god poses one would normally associate with Spinal Tap.

Nicks hasn't lost it either and her voice remains a thing of beauty, not least on 'Gypsy', 'Rhiannon' and 'Landslide'. The latter is dedicated to the late Stephen Gately, much to the appreciation of the crowd.

The night's most spell-binding moment is provided by 'Sara' -- one of Nicks's best compositions -- and she performs it beautifully.

There is a touching moment towards the song's end when she and former lover Buckingham embrace warmly. Later, she's just as affectionate with another ex-lover, Mick Fleetwood. It's a reminder of the band's soap-opera past.

Buckingham alludes to the group's rollercoaster history, not least during the sessions that yielded 'Rumours', as he introduces one of that album's less-celebrated songs, 'Second Hand News'.

In places, the performance drags a little -- Fleetwood's solo drumming and indecipherable chanting towards the end smack of self-indulgence, for instance -- but there are enough tried and trusted songs to reel the audience back in again.

'Don't Stop' has the capacity crowd on their feet and that's where they stay, right until the house lights come on.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

VIDEO X 2 FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN "Go Your Own Way" and "World Turning"

FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN - 10.25.09
Drum  Solo/World Turning Finale AND last portion of Go Your Own Way
interesting perspective from the side.  


FIRST WEEK SALES DATA FOR FLEETWOOD MAC VERY BEST OF - UK


Fleetwood Mac's 2009 2CD
'The Very Best Of' 
charts at number six on The Official UK Top 75 Albums
one position higher then the debut of the 2002/03 single disc release.

[updated with sales data]
The Top Ten - with sales data:

132,065 Alexandra Burke (1)
78,005 Michael Buble (2)
51,632 Whitney Houston (3)
21,770 Seasick Steve (4)
19,574 Paolo Nutini (5)
18,763 Fleetwood Mac (6)
17,065 Spandau Ballet (7)
15,840 Chipmunk (8)
14,097 Paloma Faith (9)
13,825 Vera Lynn (10)

FLEETWOOD MAC WAS 10th HOTTEST TOUR OF THE SUMMER

Concert tours manage to stay strong in a weak economy
USA TODAY

The touring business weathered a bad economy for the second straight summer, as concert grosses held steady and attendance rose slightly.

Concerts grossed $1 billion from May 1 to Sept. 1, roughly equal to the same period in 2008. Attendance rose for the season's 4,200-plus live music shows to 19.2 million, up 3% from 18.7 million a year ago.

Plenty of people willing to pay premium prices for enhanced concert experiences. "You had Mick Fleetwood doing meet-and-greets all across the country this summer, and that's something you may not have seen in years past."

The data are from Boxscore reports published by Billboard and analyzed by USA TODAY.

TOP 10: See which acts were big at the box office

The Hottest Tours of Summer
10. Fleetwood Mac

What they did
The legendary band kicked off its Unleashed tour in March and kept it going strong well into the summer. It was the first tour in five years for Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Why it worked
"These songs are part of music fans' DNA, and they still want to come out and hear them performed live."

Total gross (in millions): $21.1
Shows reporting: 22
Attendance: 232,000
Seats filled: 82%

Source: USA TODAY analysis of Billboard Boxscore data for May 1-Sept. 1 concerts

(PHOTOS) FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN, IRELAND

FLEETWOOD MAC - DUBLIN, IRELAND
10.24.09
Photos by: alisonmchugo (gallery)

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac at the Dublin O2

Review of Dublin Gig - Saturday Oct 25th.
Review by: RoyMcC

My first exposure to Fleetwood Mac was in the 6th Form Centre at St Philip's GS. A schoolmate was gamely plucking away at Albatross, the bluesy, dreamy instrumental that charted for the band in 1969.

Last night (Saturday) at the O2 in Dublin two of the original members of that band, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were still laying down the rhythm for the band forty years later. It's gobsmacking isn't it?

Not so for some of those in the audience, each of whom had paid upwards of €80 to see these legends, arguably the greatest band still on the road. Quite probably never to tour again. A steady stream of punters only intent on travelling to and from the bars for a steady supply of fizzy shite lager. Like it was being discontinued tomorrow. And resulting in further disruption as this resulted in the drinkers having to regularly leave their seats for a piss. Turning their backs on some of the most sublime music ever made. Truly it is very sad, the need to have an alchoholic drink before it is considered that one has a night out. Now, I'm no stranger to alchohol but last night made me ashamed.

But that spoilt my evening only slightly. The gig will remain memorable for howevermuch time I have left. The O2 Arena is a magnificent venue and the atmosphere was electric - the audience comprising younger ones who were only stars in the sky in 1969 as well as us greybeards.

They could have performed anything and we would have been pleased. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham said that, with no album to promote, they had decided just to have fun on this tour and play what the audience wanted. Early on they sung The Chain, long adopted by the BBC for their Formula 1 coverage and happily reinstated now that they have bought back the rights from ITV.

The first of many from the mega-selling Rumours album. Was it just me or did Buckingham appear to falter and compose himself briefly as he spoke about the personal turmoil that the band members were going through at the time and which resulted in such a creative body of work? Go Insane was the first opportunity for Buckingham to really get into the gig and he took it.

Lindsey Buckingham is the focal point of the band. The solid rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie has been the cornerstone of the band for over forty years. But Buckingham is the elemental force and the band would be nowhere without him. His vocals are raw, his guitar work falls short of virtuoso, but by God does he give it his every ounce of energy. And tonight he carried the audience with him and it was fantastic.

Next up was Rhiannon, one from way back and the unutterably lovely Stevie Nicks started to come into her own. Along with Elkie Brooks and Carol Decker, Nicks has long given me the shivers with her voice. Quite incredibly she is now 61 and she still takes the breath away. She has never had a powerful voice (unlike Brooks and Decker) and her contralto now lacks the edge of old. But she is wonderful and no one was going to nitpick on a night such as this.

Nicks performed Sara beautifully, before Buckingham launched into Big Love. Mercifully there was no attempt to replicate the male/female grunting and gasping fadeaway of the original recording - it was all one-sided!

Never Going Back Again, Storms and Say You Love Me followed. Then Nicks picked up Gold Dust Woman from the Rumours album and gave it the full treatment, with a lovely, drawn out ending led by Mick with Nicks bathed in a golden glow from the lights. And immediately followed on by Oh Well - back to the Green/Kirwan days and a faithful rendition by Buckingham.

Now, the Mac are not a band that necessarily have the audience on their feet. They produce well-crafted work and don't go in for rabble-rousing. But as they closed their set everyone was up singing, dancing and rocking along to Go Your Own Way.


And then a surprise. For an encore, rather than belt out another favourite as the audience expected, Mick Fleetwood suddenly took the limelight. The drum solo is a lost art but during World Turning Mick involved us, the rabble, and had us on our feet again. Then a sign-off with another singalong Don't Stop.

At which point the O2 audience, totally wrecked, headed for the exits. But amazingly there was a second encore as the set approached three hours in length and Silver Springs was played to a half-empty auditorium.

Truly the formers lovers and clearly still soulmates Buckingham and Nicks, and the rocks that are Fleetwood and McVie, comprise one of the best blues/rock bands of all time. Their Dublin gig will never be forgotten and the Mac put in a huge effort as if they suspected that they are on borrowed time. We, the audience, had much more than our money's worth. Just a nagging regret that Christine McVie wasn't around with her old mates.