Fleetwood Mac celebrated its long history with a two-and-a-half hour concert at the Palace Wednesday that saw a cameo from hometown rocker Kid Rock.
Yesterday’s gone, as the song goes, but it was a celebration of yesterdays gone at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday night as Fleetwood Mac hit the stage for a 2½-hour love fest in honor of the return of Christine McVie to the band’s fold after a 16-year absence.
Even Kid Rock got in on the action, hitting the stage midway through the show after Lindsey Buckingham dedicated “Big Love” to the hometown rocker and Stevie Nicks mentioned him during her intro to “Landslide.” As “Landslide” was coming to a close, Rock walked onto the stage — his American Badass trucker hat atop his head — and stood behind Nicks, wrapping his arms around her with a reverse bear hug. That brought the crowd to its feet, as any appearance by Rock tends to do, and jump-started the show for its second half.
No disrespect to Rock (or Nicks), but it was McVie’s night to shine, and she brought a wave of early cheers two songs into the show when she opened “You Make Loving Fun.” “Thank you Detroit!” she exclaimed at the close of the song to a round of applause. The current tour marks her first outing with the band since 1998’s tour behind “The Dance.”
“I guess you did notice there is yet another blonde on the stage,” Nicks said after McVie’s brief hellos. “Two blondes are better than one!” She then asked McVie, “where you been?” but the answer was beside the point. This tour is about the famously contentious band coming back together for one more go-round and fans having one more shot at seeing them back together.
The packed house proved there was plenty of interest in the billing, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers delivered a solid 24-song show of hits and album cuts from its long and winding history. Everyone got a chance to shine, and Buckingham’s searing guitar solo during a towering “I’m So Afraid” was the night’s highlight.
Yet for all the talk about tomorrow and the band’s future — both Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood seemed stoked for the band’s prospects looking forward — it was a nostalgia play through and through. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, and there’s plenty to be said for playing the hits to a receptive audience. “Don’t Stop” came late in the show and while the song’s and the band’s optimistic message still rings, it’s a throwback of a throwback.
Yesterday’s gone, no matter how hard you try to hang on.
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Adam Graham / The Detroit News / Thursday, October 23, 2014
