By Mario Tarradell / Dallas Morning News
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
I got caught in the “Landslide.”
No matter how many times I’ve heard that song, both on CD and in concert, it never fails to create a rush of emotions for me. That’s one of those songs that has greater meaning each time I hear it. Stevie Nicks never fails to make me reflect and reminisce.
So when she sang “Landslide” Tuesday night before a packed American Airlines Center, with Fleetwood Mac band mate Lindsey Buckingham on acoustic guitar, I got lost in memories. I felt my eyes watering. Then I smiled. That is the power of timeless music.
Fleetwood Mac is as familiar to me as an old t-shirt that I only wear around the house. I’ve been a fan since 1975. I’ve seen the band onstage at least three times, once with Christine McVie even, who sadly no longer tours. I could script Nicks’ shawl interchanges depending on the song she sang — a glittery gold one for “Gold Dust Woman,” the sparkling black one for “Rhiannon,” and either a red one or a black-and-gold one for “Stand Back.” I’ve seen Buckingham deliver his mesmerizing guitar and vocal performance during “Big Love,” the one that leaves him breathless.
It never gets old.
For more than two hours Nicks, Buckingham, drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, and four extra touring musicians including a couple of female background vocalists delivered a well-rounded smattering of tunes from Fleetwood Mac albums harking back to 1975′s self-titled white album and culminating in a pair of cuts from the digital-only Extended Play released in late April. “Sad Angel” rocked hard, while “Without You,” a long lost track from the Buckingham Nicks days, had a sweet, homespun feel.
Tusk, the daring 1979 follow-up to 1977′s monster album Rumours, was well represented, more so than ever. The title cut started slow, ominous before it exploded in chugging drama. It was another showcase for Buckingham’s powder keg vocals and his astonishing electric guitar finger picking. Nicks performed “Sisters of the Moon,” which she told us hasn’t been done onstage since 1981. Buckingham relished every moment of “Not Too Funny” and Nicks graced us with a sublime rendition of “Sara.”
Nicks’ voice naturally isn’t what it used to be back in the ’70s glory days. Many songs, especially “Rhiannon” and “Dreams,” are now sung in lower keys than originally written. But she has actually managed to keep her pipes strong during the last decade. I marveled at how clear and lovely her singing was during “Gypsy.”
These songs hold up. Buckingham’s stinging “Go Your Own Way” still shakes your insides. It’s an anthem with a soaring kiss-off chorus. Onstage, arriving just before two encores, it was madcap fun. The crowd, myself included, was on its feet singing at full blast. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of timeless music.
Contact Mario Tarradell at mt********@da********.com
