Over 48 years after they formed, if practice makes perfect Fleetwood Mac are the living proof.
Fleetwood Mac’s seminal album, 'Rumours', was released 38 years ago. It was their eleventh album. With a few small gaps, they’ve been active to some extent since then. This tour includes over 100 tour dates this year. Mick Fleetwood is 68 years old. These points alone are achievements in themselves.
However, none of these things suggest that they’re still going to be any good live. I wondered how someone could still care having gone through these motions so many times. How could they still care after all those times?
Image © Kirsten ButtersSince 1987's 'Tango In The Night' they’ve only released three, studio albums. The set list is almost exclusively made up of songs older than me. With this in mind, I was cautiously pessimistic about what to expect from the performance, but wanting to be proved wrong at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (10 November).
Maybe it was this pessimism, maybe it was just the quality of the source material, but as the opening notes of 'The Chain' pounded out around the room, it broke the ice and made me realise we were in for something special.
Image © Kirsten ButtersWith Christine McVie back in the line-up, the multi-layered vocal harmonies hit the spot, melting those years away with each, sweet note. They were in no fear of front loading their set as they played three more from 'Rumours', including the divine 'Dreams' followed by the haunting 'Rhiannon'.
Lindsey Buckingham is still an incredible showman, lapping up the crowd attention as he enjoyed the chance to show off his incredible guitar skills, which act as the backbone to the band’s music. Whether thrusting his guitar into the air, blowing kisses to the audience or giving little, heartfelt speeches, he’s well-schooled in the book of stadium-rock manoeuvres.
At no point is he given a greater opportunity to flex his rock muscles than during the guitar noodling friendly 'I’m So Afraid', which closed out the first part of the set before an encore break.
As Lindsey thrashed his guitar strings with a look of determination as though the guitar may explode any minute, a solitary, balding man with a neatly trimmed beard wearing a polo shirt slowly began to rise, thrusting his hands in the air and applauding loudly. His approval so strong he couldn’t even wait until the end of the song to applaud the reverb-soaked noodling.
Image © Kirsten ButtersIt’s hard to argue with the set list, which lasted around 150 minutes covering most of their most popular songs. A set list so strong, it’s the same they’ve been playing on the entire tour. The mid-set breakdown of 'Big Love', 'Landslide' and 'Never Going Back Again' in particular helped change the dynamic to keep it interesting.
Lindsay’s solo rendition of 'Big Love' is a majestic masterpiece that still sees him belt out the vocals as though he won’t have to be doing this again, night after night.
Even Mick Fleetwood got his own, elongated drum solo during 'World Turning', interjected with eccentric vocal grunts and Anglicised phrases that can’t help but make you smile. His drum kit is the personification of '80s opulence, undeterred by the crane dropped drummer from Spinal Tap.
Instead Mick has a second 'cocktail' kit brought out for him after the acoustic break placing him at an awkward angle at the front of the stage. Did Spinal Tap have two kits? I think not.
Image © Kirsten ButtersThe last time Fleetwood made it to Brisbane, they were missing Christine, and hearing her vocals on 'Little Lies' and 'Everywhere' were two particular highlights. It’s good to hear tracks from 'Tango In The Night' getting an airing with that sound having returned to fashion, the likes of Haim being more than a little influenced by them.
It’s likely the last time they’ll play if Buckingham is to be believed. You’d think they looked tired or bored, but unless they’re just good actors this performance suggested they’ve still got more in them if they want it.
