LIVE: FLEETWOOD MAC – March 8, 2015 (Knoxville, TN)

Venue: Thompson Boling Arena

City: Knoxville, TN

Date: March 8, 2015

Review and Photographs by: Jeffrey Everett

Rock and roll royalty graced Knoxville on Sunday night. Since forming in 1967, Fleetwood Mac has sold over 100 million records, received Grammy and Brit awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Despite lineup changes and temporary break ups, they are still going strong.  The current tour welcomes back Christine McVie after a 16-year hiatus. Mick Fleetwood said, “our songbird has returned and we are now complete.”  The reunion restores the lineup of their heyday in the late 70’s and 80’s.  Stevie Nicks (vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (guitar), Mick Fleetwood (drums) and, John McVie (bass), complete the group. The current world tour “On with the Show” includes 106 shows across the US and UK.

Thompson Boling arena seats around 20,000 for concerts, and nearly every one was full by the time the lights dimmed.  They opened with “The Chain” to a raucous ovation.  Lindsay Buckingham was in full force with speedy riffs on electric guitar and exquisite notes on acoustic. He was all over the stage, reaching out into the crowd, and signing autographs between songs. He talked about the bands highs and low with thoughtful introspective.  During his solo, “I’m so Afraid” he was leaping about the stage like performers half his age. Stevie Nicks may have lost a bit of range, but this was more than offset by the emotion she poured into her performance. Her outfit and dance moves were true to her self proclaimed gypsy style. She took the time to thank to American Horror Story.  Not only have they used Fleetwood Mac songs, Nicks has also appeared in the hit TV series. She said it has opened up a whole new generation of fans and the crowd tonight supported this with both young and old in attendance.  She shared several stories, one of which was the Velvet Underground, which in the 1960’s, taught her to follow her dreams. She encouraged the crowd to do the same.  Nicks dedicated “Landslide” to the Great Smoky Mountains, which they saw on their flight into Knoxville.  Christine McVie was more reserved, mostly staying behind the keyboard. Her presence, however, had a significant impact. Her vocals took the burden off Nicks and Buckingham and allowed each more room to express themselves.  John McVie was the quiet one. Rarely did he move from his position beside the drum set. He let his play speak for itself. The bass was booming and vibrated your chest throughout the night. Mick was his usual animated self. The drum set was decked out in gold, with a huge gong, and monogram. He played a long solo on “World Turning “, complete with unintelligible vocals.  After their long set, they returned with a three song encore.  They ended the two and a half hour show with “Silver Springs.” Hopefully this won’t be their last tour, Fleetwood Mac still seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank!

Setlist: The Chain – You Make Loving Fun – Dreams – Second Hand News – Rhiannon – Everywhere – I Know I’m Not Wrong – Tusk – Sisters of the Moon – Say You Love Me – Seven Wonders – Big Love – Landslide – Never Going Back Again – Over My Head – Gypsy – Little Lies – Gold Dust Woman – I’m So Afraid – Go Your Own Way – World Turning – Don’t Stop – Silver Springs

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries