Fleetwood Mac – Mt Smart Stadium November 21, 2015

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Weather-wise, it could have been worse. An hour after Mt Smart Stadium emptied, the Auckland skies were crackling with thunder and lightning and the rain was coming down in buckets. So, while it was wet and windy during Fleetwood Mac’s Saturday night show, it was certainly tolerable. Still it’s a tribute to the band and its music that 38,000 fans were willing to brave the elements for two and a half hours to see them.

With a steady mist coming down and the wind gusting, there was a sense of urgency in the stadium as the members of Fleetwood Mac took the stage a couple of minutes after eight o’clock. The band’s choice of opening song seemed inspired…it was The Chain, from Rumours:

“Listen to the wind blow”, sang Stevie Nicks, and the crowd cheered.

It’s one of the Mac’s finest tunes, with John McVie’s rumbling bass line driving the song into a controlled frenzy. And Stevie was sounding strong, as was Lindsey, who sings the bulk of the song with Christine and three female backing vocalist helping to fill out the sound.

Next up was Christine and You Make Loving Fun, another Rumours track. Ms McVie was sounding a little shaky and the wind wasn’t helping, taking the sound and blowing it around the stadium. I was concerned that perhaps during Ms McVie’s time off with the band she had lost her voice. Fortunately, that proved not to be the case as she was singing strong and clear for her next number.

The hits came at an alarmingly rapid rate…Dreams and Rhiannon among the first five songs.

A song-by –song rundown would be tedious at this point, but let’s just say they covered just about every tune you could have wanted them to play, although there was no nod to the band’s earlier blues incarnation, no Oh Well, but…oh well.

Just about every one of the 23 songs they did play has been in heavy rotation on the radio for 30-40 years, so we all know them inside out. Despite that fact, there were still some surprises. The re-worked Tusk, with its spooky intro was an unexpected joy, and I had forgotten just how good Say You Love Me and Little Lies were…two definite highlights for me.

And seeing a band that’s been around so long is always going to have a sentimental aspect to it…I, and I’m sure just about everyone else, has very specific memories attached to songs like Dreams, or Gold Dust Woman or Gypsy.

With the rain and wind competing for our attention, Lindsey Buckingham’s lengthy dissertations from the stage about the band’s interpersonal history seemed unnecessary…we’ve all heard the stories…now just play the damn songs! Stevie’s story about her and Lindsey’s early days in San Francisco was a bit more charming, and therefore easier to endure.

But there were so many highlights that it seems churlish to mention the negatives. Most importantly, this band can play! Buckingham is a stunning guitarist, who really shines within the context of a pop song. His solo during I’m So Afraid, was bringing back flashbacks of Free Bird, but otherwise, he was awesome. And to get to hear the truly unique rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie live was a real treat.

Of course, Mick, ever the showman, couldn’t help but bust out a drum solo during World Turning, keeping it fresh with his vocal comments and his larger-than-life personality.

Plus there were smaller magical moments…Christine blowing her whistle to summon Mick to return to the stage for Think About Me, Stevie and Lindsey, together, alone, in front of 38,000 people singing to and about each other on Landslide, and a brief moment of fear as an audience member rushed the stage as Stevie was singing Gypsy. Kudos to the crew member who intercepted the idiot and ushered him off stage.

Was it worth standing in the rain for three hours? You bet.

And as I write this, it looks like the sun is making an appearance. Fleetwood Mac are still in town and ready to play one last show on this tour. I believe there are still a few tickets to be had…what are you waiting for?

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Fleetwood Mac set list:

  1. The Chain
  2. You Make Loving Fun
  3. Dreams
  4. Second Hand News
  5. Rhiannon
  6. Everywhere
  7. Bleed To Love Her
  8. Tusk
  9. Sara
  10. Say You Love Me
  11. Big Love
  12. Landslide
  13. Never Going Back Again
  14. Think About Me
  15. Gypsy
  16. Little Lies
  17. Gold Dust Woman
  18. I’m So Afraid
  19. Go Your Own Way
  20. World Turning
  21. Don’t Stop
  22. Silver Springs
  23. Songbird

 

Marty Duda
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