PHILADELPHIA — Fleetwood Mac returned to Philadelphia Wednesday night, touring together as a full band for the first time in 16 years.
Christine McVie re-joined band mates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks for their On With The Show tour.
The crowd at the Wells Fargo Center was excited to hear the multi-Grammy Award®-winning band perform together once again, and while nearly everyone was standing as the band took the stage, Christine McVie received a special welcome from not only the concert-goers, but each band member throughout the night.
WHAT YOU MISSED
• Singer-songwriter and vocalist Christine McVie’s return to Fleetwood Mac after retiring from the band following The Dance tour in the late ’90s. The crowd gave her an overwhelming welcome when she performed the second song of the show, “You Make Loving Fun,” and despite a 15-year absence from the stage, her warm vocals really shined in “Little Lies.”
• The distinctive voice of Stevie Nicks isn’t what it used to be, but that’s not to say it’s a bad thing; it’s just different. At 66 years old, she stills delivers powerful performances in “Seven Wonders,” “Gold Dust Woman” and “Silver Springs.” The simplicity of “Landslide,” with Nicks joined onstage by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, was almost haunting with her raspy voice.
• While it was definitely Christine McVie’s night, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham stole the show. His solos, “Big Love” and “Never Going Back Again,” were full of energy, and it was entrancing to watch his finger-picking throughout the night. But Buckingham seemed to mesmerize the crowd with his guitar solo in the 9-minute long “I’m So Afraid” and belted out the lyrics with such a strong voice you couldn’t help but stop and just take it all in.
• The band paid homage to McVie’s return by beginning the show with “The Chain,” a rousing song about unbreakable bonds that would’ve had the crowd quickly on their feet if they hadn’t been already.
NOTES AND MUSINGS
• Stevie Nicks definitely got into character during “Gold Dust Woman,” seemingly in a trance as she slowly danced across the stage. At the end of the song, she raised her arms like a bird spreading its wings, showing her silhouette through her shimmering gold shawl as the spotlight shone down on her at center-stage.
• While it would be nearly impossible to replicate the high-intensity, full-volumed “Tusk” without the benefit of the USC Marching Band playing alongside Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham led the group in a pretty energizing version of the song. The group wasn’t remiss about tipping their caps to the marching band however, as videos of the tuba-carrying and trumpet-toting collegiate band played on the large screen behind them.
• Drummer Mick Fleetwood couldn’t stop smiling all night long, and seemed as happy to be onstage as a kid in a candy store. He really impressed concert-goers as he performed the majority of his drum solo during “World Turning” with his eyes closed.
• The entire band put their all into “Go Your Own Way,” the last song before a duo of encores. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks really worked the stage, and the crowd absolutely loved it.
SET LIST
“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” (Lindsey Buckingham acoustic solo)
“Landslide”
“Never Going Back Again” (Lindsey Buckingham acoustic solo)
“Over My Head”
“Gypsy”
“Little Lies”
“Gold Dust Woman”
“I’m So Afraid”
“Go Your Own Way”
Encore 1:
“World Turning” (Mick Fleetwood drum solo)
“Don’t Stop”
“Silver Springs”
Encore 2:
“Songbird”
NEXT PHILLY SHOW
• Fleetwood Mac returns to the Wells Fargo Center in two weeks, on Wednesday, Oct. 29 for an 8 p.m. show. Limited tickets remain. For tickets, go HERE
Story via NJ.com