Wembley Arena played host to Fleetwood Mac tonight, the incomparable, soft rock band that has for so long influenced my musical tastes. With my Dad stood next to me I was taken on a much needed journey through their classic hits and paid witness to a band that has stood the test of time and the torment of forbidden emotion.
Pronouncing, 'Let's get this party started!' Stevie Nicks launched into 'Dreams,' probably the bands most instantly recognisable hit. It wasn't all I had hope to be, mainly because Nicks wasn't the waif-like adolecent with the upper register of a dainty doll that I had studied in an 1979 YouTube published video, but I certainly wasn't disapointed. How can you be disapointed with a performance when the line 'Players only love you when they're playing' appears?
As they the quartet breezed through song after song it occured to me that although Christine McVie's presence wasn't missed, the tender element she bought to The Mac was. There was no Little Lies or Songbirds singing, this was a strong and powerful band that had a passive aggresive yet magical edge. Mostly evoked by Stevie's witch-like insistence.
Big Love arrived and as Lindsay Buckingham blew on his fingers and declared the song, '...as much about love as it is about the ability to change.' every guitarist (and mere mortal) in the audience watched on in awe. His fingers dance over strings like that is where they should always be, his finger picking and bass note agenda are something I have never seen. This man moves, plays and sings like a true performer, a one of a kind and a unique talent. And I could go on.
Gold dust woman mark a change in atmosphere and Nicks hyphotised her crowd and Mick Fleetwood stirred in his little drummer boy seat. With John McVie's deep bluesy bass-line pounding the band lept into the strongest part of the set. Again the word power comes to mind.
As the finale ensued the affection between Nicks and Buckingham is glaringly clear, having know each other since they were about 16 this is a set that seemingly cannot be separated - nor we we wish them too. The ulitimate break-up song 'Go your own way' got the crowd on their feet. After an astonishing solo performance from Mr Fleetwood, the crowd are left with the anthemic 'Don't Stop.'
Although the crowd is slightly older and the the songs are oh-so-familiar, I never want Fleetwood Mac to stop, although of course they will. They are a band that take you on a journey and a band that in times of confusion and lack of clarity I subconsiously fall back on. You just know that every individualy talented member of this band has a story to tell. Each one has loved, lost, found and travelled and Mick's hippy-esque plea to the crowd to '... be kind to one another in this crazy world.' left me with safest feeling of content and gratitude.
Ignoring all Rumours, Fleetwood Mac are part of popular culture history and a damn fine live act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEi7GPkxfsE
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