When we look back at the Golden Age of Rock and Roll, Fleetwood Mac will have their own chapter. Whilst some may feel that Rock is dead that wonderful balance between nostalgia, shared experience and the power of music filled a packed RAC Arena tonight on this the 63rd date of Fleetwood Mac’s World Tour – the first date in Australia. Fear not there’s plenty more to come Australia and if you missed out tonight (or just want to experience it all again) there’s a second Perth date on Sunday.
Tonight’s show, the first on Australian soil for ten years is a little different tonight with Lindsey Buckingham’s acrimonious departure last year seeing him replaced in the band by Crowded House singer Neil Finn whilst Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell handles the majority of guitar duties.
Last having played to a ‘sun-drenched’ Wembley Stadium in London on 18th July the cold of mid-winter Perth might be having an effect as Finn’s first vocal for Mac is a little patchy but it can’t derail the wonderful ‘The Chain’ which is pretty much the only song that the ‘classic’ line-up co-wrote all together. And as it’s impressive bass-line drives it forwards and Mick’s drums kick in we’re treated to the full power of the show – as well as the six main performers there’s two backing singers, a third guitar, a second set of keys and another drummer/percussionist. It sounds huge!
It’s after ‘Dreams’ that Nicks finally says ‘Hi’ to Perth “We’ve done 62 shows in the US and Europe and this is show 63” she tells us “Let’s get the party started” Perth it seems are already ahead of her as the floor and walls of the Arena are awash with dancers and singers.
Peter Green may have played his last show with Fleetwood Mac in 1970 but it’s great to get a taste tonight of the Mac of old that predates Nick’s time in the band as she points out – the Peter Green songs ‘Black Magic Woman’ (of course made famous by Santana) with it’s extended jam, and ‘Oh Well’ which is sung beautifully by Mike Campbell bookend the drinks break for this reviewer as the band take on Split Enz’ ‘I Got You’ and the immortal ‘Rhiannon’ that follows directly after, I don’t think I’m the only one laughing when Nicks cheekily ventures “I have to follow that” as she breaks into what I consider her finest moment with Fleetwood Mac.
The crowd are loving it and the backdrop is quite subdued for most songs launching dreamy videos that are languid and largely monochrome. The set that is rather dimly lit with four huge ‘retro’ light globes (and later chandeliers) creating pools of light on the stage. It’s a lovely effect that almost threatens to turn the Arena into a cool seventies supper club.
The crowd dances on to ‘World Turning’ a song that’s split in two by an extended drum solo that seems to suspend time as Mr Fleetwood takes us on a flight of fancy along with percussionist Taku Hirano. It’s an odyssey replete with a little light bellowing from the man himself. It’s a wonderful take on the part of the show most non-drummers dread and he injects a good amount of humour into proceedings before the band is all back on stage for ‘Gypsy.’
The inclusion into the set of another Peter Green number ‘Oh Well’ is a real highlight that sees Mike Campbell take vocals and belt out the song as it was always intended – raw and real. Juxtaposed against the rather twee ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ the second Finn song that gets an airing tonight, in my mind there is no comparison, but the partisan crowd beg to differ belting out the song like they have the Fleetwood Mac originals and when Nicks takes the final verse the crowd volume just jumps. Me I’d rather hear two more songs by the band I came to see but you can’t argue with the crowd here tonight.
Band introductions follow before Finn and Nicks take on ‘Landslide’ the song that was always that traditional ‘Buckingham/Nicks’ moment live, and it’s here I guess you most feel Lindsey’s absence, though in truth Finn steps up. It’s nice to hear ‘Hold Me’ again too before the sumptuous ‘Gold Dust Woman’ and eternal ‘Go Your Own Way’ close the set proper.
The noise between the end of the set and the band’s return for encores threatens the Arena’s roof and they return with ‘Free Fallin” the Tom Petty cover – it’s an emotional few minutes as images of the great man light up the stage and his importance to those on stage is made clear. Another great gone, but this great on stage you feel isn’t going away anytime soon.
We close the night with ‘Don’t Stop’ a title that couldn’t be more fitting with the still recent departure Buckingham palpable in the air – there’s a real sense though that the show will go on and on, and so it should. Tonight’s packed house says it all – nothing and no one is bigger than the music and Mac have had plenty of turmoil over the years. This music you feel will live forever, and it’s power to move is more than apparent – there were very few dry eyes in the house after this one. Australia you’re in for a treat.
SETLIST: The Chain | Little Lies | Dreams | Second Hand News | Say You Love Me | Black Magic Woman | Everywhere | I Got You | Rhiannon | World Turning | Gypsy | Oh Well | Don’t Dream It’s Over | Landslide | Hold Me | You Make Loving Fun |Gold Dust Woman | Go Your Own Way
ENCORE: Free Fallin’ | Don’t Stop
All photos by Duncan Barnes
