Fleetwood Mac, which had its heyday in the ’70s, drew fans from several generations to the Tacoma Dome Monday in a concert that began as a singalong but ended as a love-a-thon.
By Gene Stout / Special to The Seattle Times
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The enduring power of Fleetwood Mac’s musical legacy was clearly evident in a high-energy, 2 ½ -hour concert Monday night at the Tacoma Dome.
A near-capacity crowd spanning several generations grooved on the timeless music of the band’s late-’70s heyday, from “The Chain” to “Gold Dust Woman.” It began as a singalong, but soon became a love-a-thon.
Younger concertgoers who weren’t yet born when the group’s classic, multiplatinum 1977 album Rumours was released were among the most enthusiastic. They pushed to the front of the stage for a closer look at singer Stevie Nicks (dressed in her trademark shawls and flowing skirts) and show-stealing guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, who crouched down to let concertgoers touch the strings on his guitar during “Go Your Own Way.”
Opening with “Second Hand News,” the concert quickly gained momentum with such songs as “The Chain,” “Dreams” and “Rhiannon.” The band reserved “Don’t Stop,” “Silver Springs” and “Say Goodbye” for a pair of encores.
The show was mostly a parade of greatest hits, but early on, “Sad Angel,” a song from a new EP, offered a glimpse into the band’s current creative state of mind.
The star power of Nicks and Buckingham, who traded lead vocals and sang duets, enthralled the audience on such songs as “Go Your Own Way,” “World Turning” and “Don’t Stop.” A tender version of “Sara” featured a duet by the two former lovers, who shared tender, sentimental moments throughout the show.
Buckingham introduced “Big Love” as a song whose meaning had shifted over the years, becoming “a meditation on the power and importance of change.”
Nicks and Buckingham, whose relationship began decades ago, performed the romantic song “Without You,” which they resurrected on the new four-song, Extended Play EP after finding a long-lost version on YouTube.
A giant LED video screen behind the stage displayed eye-popping graphics and dizzying close-ups, especially during the latter half of the show.
Despite the immense popularity of Rumours, the band also celebrated its less successful, somewhat experimental follow-up, Tusk, by performing the title song as well as “Not That Funny,” “Sara” and “Sisters of the Moon.”
Fleetwood Mac’s core members, now in their 60s, included drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie (Christine McVie retired long ago, but is still missed). They were backed by several touring musicians and two female backup singers who hit some of the high notes Nicks could no longer reach.
Gene Stout:
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