As I stood from my spot on row 33 on the floor and looked around the sold out crowd at the ACC on Tuesday night, a thought came to my head: I’m probably the only person here who knows about five Fleetwood Mac songs.
I am not very familiar with Fleetwood Mac. I wasn’t born in the 70′s and I didn’t even speak English until the late 80′s. That’s my excuse anyway. I thought “Landslide” was a Smashing Pumpkins song for the longest time and my first time hearing “Gold Dust Woman” was because of Hole.
Yet there I was, on Tuesday night watching them. Why? Because I’m old. When you are old, you start thinking, hey, why shouldn’t I check out this random classic band playing at a hockey arena? It might be good. You are less discriminatory towards high priced acts. Especially if you work across the street and stubhub has given you enough incentive to purchase those tickets.
Onto the show. My favorite moment was definitely before the track “Gypsy.” Stevie Nicks was telling a story about the bands beginning and how she ended up at a store called The Velvet Underground, and it was only then she realized she was going to make it.
She then concluded by telling the crowd to “Believe in yourself and follow your dreams.” Great message, especially to a crowd whose average age is probably 50. Yes, people, follow your dreams and buy a winter home in Fort Lauderdale. You can do it!
My second favorite non-music moment was during another chat session in which Lindsey Buckingham was talking about how the band is back fully back together or something, and this woman about twenty rows back screamed out “YOU SAVED US!!!” I have no idea what that was about, but it was pretty epic. I wish to one day, yell out these very same words in a moment of emotional elation.
The band played with a massive high definition projection screen which, for most part, was showing hippy-dippy shit like sunsets and forests, but once in awhile would show really weird things like a floating Lindsey Buckingham head. I found that creepy.
As a non-hardcore Fleetwood Mac fan, I enjoyed the show. Lindsey Buckingham is amazing on the guitar and had some impressive guitar solos. Stevie Nicks sounded good and “Landslide” was beautiful live. I liked that so much I’ll butcher it the next time I go to karaoke. The crowd really loved it when she would twirl around with her arms spread out as well. I think that’s the Stevie Nicks dance. Mick Fleetwood looked like he was having a blast behind the drums and played well for an old man. If I could be that active at his age, I would be impressed. He also reminds me of someone who would serve me chowder at some cabin by the sea in a fisherman village for some reason. I don’t know why I shared that.
The rest of the setlist was as expected, a nostalgic parade of the group’s greatest songs which had the crowd up on their feet for most of the 2+ hour set. The non-encore closer “Go Your Own Way” even had some drunken people dancing. No small feat for a show on a Tuesday night.
This was the third time around for Fleetwood Mac in recent years, and judging by the reception, I don’t think anyone minds if they come back time and time again.
Ricky / Panic Manual / Thursday, February 5, 2015
