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| John McVie and Stevie Nicks on stage |
Age has not wearied them but ...the years have limited the ability to reach the high notes in the vocals - Fleetwood Mac's potentially last tour nonetheless again demonstrates the musical mastery of each of the band members despite the passage of years. The return of singer/songwriter Christine McVie after sixteen years reforms the completeness and symmetry of the group, an aspect openly acknowledged by drummer, Mick Fleetwood. Performing at the allphones arena in Sydney, Fleetwood Mac performed their best known songs mainly from their most successful albums for their adoring fans, many of whom are now decidedly very middle-aged. Favourites such as Dreams, You make loving fun, Gold dust woman and a melodic rendition of Songbird by Christine McVie came from the Rumours album. Seven Wonders and Little Lies from the Tango in the Night album reminded the audience of the melodic texture of vocals with all the band singing together. Some aspects of the show did appear somewhat so so, with Sara, Gypsy and Say you love me being merely played rather than performed. Perhaps that's understandable as the Sydney gig follows over 130 other cities across the US and Europe on the current tour. To their rusted-on fans all is forgiven for any flatness in the show as they sang along enthusiastically with the band.
Perhaps the only element which should be changed is Mick Fleetwood's solo on the drums. This has become a ritual in all of the Fleetwood Mac concerts but seems more like bang-the-drum than precision percussion. In contrast, Lindsay Buckingham's solos with the acoustic guitar demonstrated his skill with the instrument while he remained on stage for the full two and a half hour concert.
How long can they continue ? Fleetwood Mac is almost a band from another era having formed in 1968 and achieved international success in 1975 with the eponymous album Fleetwood Mac followed in 1977 with the critically acclaimed album, Rumours. Mick Fleetwood is now aged 68, Lindsay Buckingham 66, Stevie Nicks 67, John McVie 69 and Christine McVie 72. Various comments from band members have indicated that the end is nigh in 2015 at least in terms of touring. But would missing the stage prove to be too much of an allure ?
