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FLEETWOOD MAC Earls Court,London
30 November 2003

It's been 17 years since I last saw Fleetwood Mac, when I was lucky enough to see them twice in the same year at the Birmingham Nec and then at Manchestser City's football ground. Both shows were superb and they are a quality live act. To say I was looking forward to seeing them was an understatement!

Never seen a concert at Earl's Court before - London's biggest indoor arena. Vey corporate rock with Pimm's Bars and decent food stalls (at indecent prices). Fair mix in the audience and a near sell out, bar a few empty seats in the higher tiers.

The main core of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood & John McVie are joined by a drummer, percussionist, two female backing vocals, two guitarists and the only name I recognized, ex-Dave Lee Roth keys player Brett Tuggle. So a big sound was guaranteed...

'The Chain' started the evening off in fine style and it soon became apparent that Buckingham and Nicks still have that onstage magic. Indeed in parts of the show you almost felt like a voyeur, such was their intimacy. Good dose of new songs from the excellent 'Say You Will' album including 'Peacemaker' and the title track.

Buckingham played the guitar hero on a few tunes and he really is a very talented player. He did a storming solo acoustic version of 'Big Love' (getting very carried away on the 'oh ah' section!). Nicks was superb throughout proving her voice is a fine as ever and illustrated when she sang the moving 'Beautiful Baby' off 'Tusk'.

You got the classics like 'Rhiannon', 'Don't Stop' and 'Go Your Own Way' in a bumper 2 1/2 hour set, including two encores (the show closed with newie 'Goodbye Baby' - another Buckingham/Nicks personal moment perhaps?). In a word - FANTASTIC! Go see them - they play London again on Dec 10th plus Australian dates in January.

Review: Jason Ritchie