Muffler Belts and Headlight Fluid: Mac Attack in The Windy City

Not what we wore to the JV BB game!

I took my wife on our very first date back on Valentine's Day, 1977. Never mind that it was a JV basketball game that we attended (I know, I know. You're thinking - what a romantic!) Hey - our options were pretty limited in a small, rural community!

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was the soundtrack to our early courtship. We listened to a lot of music together, but it was the Rumours cassette (!!!) that kept finding it's way back into the stereo. Why not? The record has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

So when I discovered Fleetwood Mac was scheduled to play in Chicago (Rosemont Allstate Arena) on Valentine's Day, I decided that we needed to go. We made plans to spend the weekend in Chicago with our great friends Emmet and Diane from Fargo. My sister, Christy, joined us for dinner on Friday evening. She got caught up in the excitement of seeing Fleetwood Mac at dinner Friday and got online, bought a ticket and joined us for the concert Saturday night.

As fans know by now, Christine McVie rejoined Fleetwood Mac for her first tour with the group since 1999. At the ages of 65 (Lindsey Buckingham), 66 (Stevie Nicks), 67 (Mick Fleetwood), 69 (John McVie), and 71 (Christine McVie), it is not a given that all five will ever tour together again.

Whether or not "On With the Show" will be their swansong, it is exciting that the group is intact for this tour 40 years after they came together. There are very few 70's or 80's band that are touring with their original lineup. (For that matter, very few are still together or touring at all!)

Band co-founder, Mick Fleetwood, has been a member of Fleetwood Mac for almost 50 years. He was with the band as it transformed itself several times before morphing into the current lineup in the mid-seventies. I recently read Fleetwood's book Play On: Now, Then, and Fleetwood Mac: The Autobiography. It is both his autobiography and a band documentary.

I have always loved Fleetwood's drumming style. I especially love the syncopated heartbeat of "Go Your Own Way". His "crazed-killed" eyes looking out over the band and crowd is priceless (especially when projected on the big screen behind the stage!). He introduced the band before the first encore and came out after the final encore to thank us for attending. It is safe to say that Mick Fleetwood loves what he does! I've always felt it's easier to enjoy an entertainer when they are enjoying themselves.

John McVie has played with some of the greatest blues, rock and pop artists in history. He too has almost 50 years in with this band. His stage presence suggests to me that there is only so much room on any stage for personalities, of which there has never been a shortage in this band. He seems to have a blue collar approach to his role of providing the foundation for Mac's music.

Christine McVie's return is what made this tour most appealing to me. After a 16-year hiatus, her talents were spotlighted. Probably a third of the songs the group played featured her vocals or keyboards including the final encore of the evening - "Songbird". Mick Fleetwood commented during the encores, “Having this wonderful lady share the stage, making us complete, our songbird has returned.”

Stevie Nicks' voice has matured quite gracefully. I found "Landslide" to be very moving as her rich, deep, honey-like voice crooned the story of her life crashing in around her as a young artist. She was great on “Dreams”, and “Gypsy”, and she performed “Gold Dust Woman” with a little extra flair. She seemed to really pour out her heart on "Sisters of the Moon". I loved hearing “Silver Springs”, her song about her romantic breakup with Lindsey Buckingham. The song has a very interesting history told by Ken Caillat who engineered Rumours and wrote "Making Rumours" (which I highly recommend if you are a Mac fan!).

Lindsey Buckingham's incredible talent was on full display through out the 2 1/2 hour concert. His passion and unique guitar playing style were mesmerizing. "Big Love" was spectacular! - my favorite moment of the evening. Watch the guitar work in videos below. The fit-looking Buckingham was on stage the entire concert and was just spent at the end of "I'm So Afraid". It is truly great stuff! He remains the heartbeat of Fleetwood Mac!

Seeing old rock and rock bands is a hit and miss proposition. You never know if you'll see enough of the original band that it reflects their previous identity. You don't know if the energy or passion will still be there. In some ways, you don't even know if the music is relevant anymore.

Fleetwood Mac still brings it with more passion and energy you could ever expect from five senior citizens. Their music is still as relevant to me (in some ways more) as it ever was. I thoroughly enjoyed the concert and am glad my sweetheart and I made the trip.

Here is the setlist:

1. THE CHAIN