Home » REVIEW: Mac make loving them fun, even in the rain

REVIEW: Mac make loving them fun, even in the rain

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Thunder only happens when it rains, according to Stevie Nicks, whose legendary band Fleetwood Mac turned on a dream gig in the wet last night.

Playing to 25,000 adoring fans at Domain Stadium, the megastars promised a party in the rain. “My limousine driver told me it never rains in Perth,” Nicks said. “We bring the rain.”

The mighty Mac also brought the hits, plus an old friend in Christine McVie, much missed on the past two Perth visits.

The English singer, songwriter and pianist retreated from the spotlight after the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998.

Fleetwood Mac were to visit in 2013 but cancelled after bassist John McVie was diagnosed with cancer. During the delay while McVie had treatment, drummer Mick Fleetwood convinced McVie’s former wife to rejoin the band. Christine McVie’s return meant Fleetwood Mac’s three great songwriters — the others being American ex-lovers Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who joined the English blues band in 1974 —were back in the saddle for the band’s first Aussie tour since 2009.

After hitting the stage with “The Chain,” the Rumours rocker credited to the whole band, the trio shared the songs.

Other Rumours favourites — McVie’s “You Make Loving Fun,” Nicks’ “Dreams” and Buckingham’s “Second Hand News” — came in quick succession.

Classic pop hits —”Landslide,” “Everywhere,” “Little Lies” — rained down on fans as the Mac clung tight to their golden era.

The famous five, plus extra musicians and singers, delivered a marathon set at the fifth of 13 scheduled Australian dates for their On With the Show world tour. Classic songs, classic line-up and still plenty of drama.

Truly classic.

Simon Collins / The West Australian / Friday, October 30, 2015


Wet Fleetwood Mac gig extra memorable

Editor’s note: The writer published a lengthier review the following day.

Before reality TV, there was Fleetwood Mac.

Thirty-eight years ago, the legendary transatlantic band laid bare their drug-fuelled intraband bed-hopping in Rumours, one of the greatest and highest selling albums of all-time.

Unlike The Bachelor or Married at First Sight, the Mac don’t need to manufacture their drama – not even on the marathon On With the Show world tour, which stopped in Perth on a wet Friday night.

Rain bucketed down on 25,000 fans at Domain Stadium on an evening singer Stevie Nicks remarked was the “strangest, most dramatic, most memorable rainiest night” of the lengthy tour.

Fleetwood Mac performed in the rain for thousands of fans at Domain Stadium. Pictures: Simon Santi/The West Australian
The presence of English songbird Christine McVie, who reunited with the band last year after a 16-year absence, also heightened the sense of occasion.

The stormy weather didn’t prevent Fleetwood Mac from revisiting their personal tempests across a 23-song, two-and-a-half hour greatest hits show, which drew heavily on Rumours.

Nine songs from the 1977 opus were aired, starting with band co-write The Chain before You Make Loving Fun, Dreams and Second Hand News made for a stunning start to the show.

Rhiannon from the erstwhile British blues band’s 1975 self-titled album, the first to feature then-couple Nicks and guitar god Lindsey Buckingham, was a smooth, early highlight. As the Gold Dust Woman shimmied behind her trademark shawls and sang “woman, taken by the wind”, many in the crowd could empathise with the titular Welsh witch.

That was a time when cracks were seriously showing in the Mac, according to Buckingham, who said the members felt the need to stay together to “fulfil destiny” – that is, turn drama into an incredible parade of pop classics.

His solo acoustic performance of Big Love was a highlight, as was the now-expected performance on Nicks’ plaintive Landslide as a duo. The ex-lovers keep their romantic history front and centre throughout the show.

“Our hearts are into it,” Nicks joked as she moved her microphone back away from the rain. “In my mind, you’re dancing above the clouds.”

While some of the performance echoed previous visits for similar big outdoor concerts in 2004 and 2009 – band leader Mick Fleetwood’s eccentric drum solo during World Turning tested some drenched fans – the presence of McVie added something special to Friday night.

Eighties hits Everywhere and Little Lies, her verse on encore highlight Don’t Stop and solo rendition of signature piano ballad Songbird to complete the evening all made this gig extra memorable.

The relentless rain also helped make Friday night unforgettable, as fans danced in ponchos to the euphoric performance of Go Your Own Way. “If I could, baby, I’d give you my world,” Buckingham sang. How about some dry clothes and hot chocolate?

Simon Collins / The West Australian / Saturday, October 31, 2015

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LIVE IN CONCERT (2024)

Stevie Nicks

MAY 3, 2024 – MAY 5, 2024
Lovin’ Life Fest
Charlotte, NC
TICKETS

MAY 7, 2024
Enterprise Center
St Louis, MO
TICKETS

MAY 10, 2024
WinStar World Casino & Resort
Thackerville, OK
TICKETS

MAY 14, 2024
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, TN
TICKETS

MAY 18, 2024
Frost Bank Center
San Antonio, TX
TICKETS

MAY 21, 2024
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino – Yaamava’ Theater
Highland, CA
TICKETS

MAY 24, 2024
BottleRock Napa Valley
Napa, CA
TICKETS

MAY 27, 2024
Delta Center
Salt Lake City, UT
TICKETS

MAY 30, 2024
Ball Arena
Denver, CO
TICKETS

JUN 4
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, IN
TICKETS

JUN 9 
Mohegan Sun Casino
Uncasville, CT
TICKETS

JUN 12
MVP Arena
Albany, NY
TICKETS

JUN 15
Hersheypark Stadium
Hershey, PA
TICKETS

JUN 18
Van Andel Arena
Grand Rapids, MI
TICKETS

JUN 21, 2024 (with Billy Joel)
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL
TICKETS

JUL 12, 2024
BST Hyde Park
London, England
TICKETS

^ Non-Live Nation show


Previous 2023 dates

March 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Los Angeles, CA
SoFi Stadium

March 15, 2023
Seattle, WA
Climate Pledge Arena

March 18, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena

May 12, 2023
Raleigh, NC
PNC Arena

May 16, 2023
Knoxville, TN
Thompson-Boling Arena

May 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Nashville, TN
Nissan Stadium

May 22, 2023
Atlanta, GA
State Farm Arena

May 25, 2023
Orlando, FL
Amway Center

June 16, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field

June 20, 2023
Toronto, ON (Canada)
Scotiabank Arena

June 23, 2023
Chicago, IL
United Center

June 27, 2023
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center

August 5, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Columbus, OH
Ohio Stadium

August 8, 2023
Milwaukee, WI
Fiserv Forum

August 12, 2023
Houston, TX
Toyota Center

August 15, 2023
Austin, TX
Moody Center

August 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Kansas City, MO
Arrowhead Stadium

September 23, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Foxborough, MA
Gillette Stadium

September 27, 2023
Pittsburgh, PA
PPG Paints Arena

October 1, 2023
New York, NY
Madison Square Garden

October 4, 2023
Buffalo, NY
KeyBank Center

October 7, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Baltimore, MD 
M&T Bank Stadium

October 28, 2023
Memphis, TN
FedEx Forum

November 1, 2023
Savannah, GA
Enmarket Arena

November 4, 2023
Allentown, PA
PPL Center

November 7, 2023
Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Arena

November 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Minneapolis, MN
U.S. Bank Stadium

November 29, 2023
San Diego, CA
Viejas Arena

December 2, 2023
Inglewood, CA
The Kia Forum

December 5, 2023
Palm Desert, CA
Acisure Arena

December  8, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Phoenix, AZ
Chase Field

December 12, 2023
Sacramento, CA
Golden 1 Center

December 15, 2023
San Francisco, CA
Chase Center

FEB 10, 2024
Mark G Etess Arena
Atlantic City, NJ

FEB 14, 2024
UBS Arena
Belmont Park, NY

FEB 17, 2024
CFG Bank Arena
Baltimore, MD

FEB 21, 2024
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville, SC

FEB 24, 2024
Hard Rock Live
Hollywood, FL

FEB 28, 2024
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans, LA

MAR 3, 2024
CHI Health Center
Omaha, NE

MAR 6, 2024
Simmons Bank Arena
North Little Rock, AR

MAR 9, 2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
Billy Joel

 



2022 Tour

Stevie Nicks

Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Snowmass, CO
Labor Day 2022

Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, IL
September 8, 2022
September 10, 2022

Pine Knob Music Theatre
Clarkston, MI
September 13, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sea Hear Now Festival
Asbury, NJ
September 17, 2022

Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
September 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Maine Savings Amphitheatre
Bangor, ME
September 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sound on Sound Festival
Bridgeport, CT
September 24-25, 2022

Ohana Festival
Dana Point, CA
September 30, 2022

Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA
October 3, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Phoenix, AZ
October 6, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Woodlands, TX
October 9, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Alpharetta, GA
October 12, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ascend Amphitheater
Nashville, TN
October 16, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Credit One Stadium
Charleston, SC
October 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

PNC Music Pavilion
Charlotte, NC
October 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tampa, FL
October 25, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
October 28, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Orion Amphitheatre
Huntsville, AL
October 31, 2022

RESCHEDULED SHOWS

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Woodlands, TX
November 2, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ak-Chin Pavilion
Phoenix, AZ
November 5, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton