REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac (Live in Sydney)
By Jacob Hongyi Zhu
There have been very few bands that have gone through radical changes in roster and still continued to be successful. Originally a British blues band hailed in London, Fleetwood Mac has (yet again) got a new face, this time with our favourite kiwi: Neil Finn of Crowded House.
But when Neil performed the nostalgic and cathartic “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, side-by-side with Stevie Nicks, it almost feels too natural. By the end of the set, the crowd embraced the new Fleetwood Mac, like it had never changed.
Along with new members Finn and Campbell, the rest of the four members reunited to deliver a stellar performance throughout the evening.
Stevie Nicks stood centre stage, where she belongs, expectedly bringing in roars of applause and cheer at the end of every song. Her solo performance of Landslide was a particular highlight for me. Nicks’ high note was delivered with such powerful emotion, making this song an instant crowd pleaser. Another highlight was her performance of Gypsy, where Nicks famously recreated her signature move of dancing in circles. Incredible. On stage she called herself an “average dancer”, but when your dance moves are that iconic, it’s priceless.
But Nicks wasn’t the only one stealing the show. Mick Fleetwood, aka the one who kept the band together through tough times, performed a 10-minute drum solo during a supposed “break”. Shouting and shrieking while drumming, the performance was such a spectacle, I recommend going to the show just to see this!
While Christine McVie’s range was not what it once was, no one in the audience minded. The sight of seeing the legendary songwriter standing alongside the rest of her bandmates, was too beautiful a sight to let any slight mishaps fault it.
As Chains opened the Qudos Bank Arena spectacular, audiences were left wondering if the new members could fill the Lindsey Buckingham-sized hole in the group. But, as Mick Fleetwood said at the end of the song, “to this crazy band, we are lucky to have them”, it was clear they fit in like a glove.
Fleetwood Mac is a crazy band. And the best kind of one, if you ask me.
Fleetwood Mac will play Qudos Bank Arena on August 27 and 29.