Fleetwood Mac – December 12th – Pepsi Center

Estimated read time 4 min read

Fleetwood Mac 2013-06-01-21-2026Photo by Jim Mimna
(Taken in June 2013)

The Scene: The Pepsi Center was flooded with Baby Boomers this past Friday evening for a truly remarkable performance by the still-blossoming legends, Fleetwood Mac. Generation X’s sprinkled here and there followed by Millennials who shrieked with excitement, clad in their mother’s hand-me-downs. Before the show, strangers bought drinks for each other and shared stories. Elderly couples told wide-eyed girls about the first time they had ever seen Fleetwood Mac; they told them of their emotional turmoil, their many reunions and their many fallouts. Stories continued to buzz throughout the packed arena, drinks were flowing and hands were clenching. Then the lights fell.

Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac are fresh off of their 2013 Fleetwood Mac Live tour and decided to stop back in Denver this time around for a holiday performance. One could sense the group was alive and well during that 2013 show, but there is a pivotal difference for their 2014 The Show Must Go On tour. They have Christine back. After a long 16-year hiatus, the band’s most popular lineup has reunited. Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks joined hands and walked onto the stage. The audience erupted.

An incredibly powerful start was ignited with the Rumours classic, “The Chain.” Stevie and Lindsey belted heavy lyrics to one another. Cheers followed and the group flowed into “You Making Loving Fun,” which gave Christine her moment to emerge and allowed the city of Denver to welcome her back. Buckingham’s first song of the night was “Second Hand News.” In this moment, everyone in the audience thought, “Yep, he’s still got it.”

The first singalong of the night came from the defining hit, “Dreams,” and the intro of “Rhiannon” had the crowd buzzing so loud you could feel the chills. Two back-to-back Stevie songs. Yes they can, and they will. The next song was Christine’s “Everywhere” and she expressed her gratitude for being back in the band for this central song. She emerged from behind her piano, grabbed some maracas and sang front and center. A dark and deep “Tusks” came shortly after Lindsey spoke about how great it was to have Christine back. They jammed out together and Stevie laughed maniacally. The rock stars of the 70’s were here and they wanted everyone to know it. “Say You Love Me” followed suit and this is where they truly connected, almost ignoring the audience and vibing off of each other’s heartfelt harmonies.

The show was a whirlwind of magic, classic hit after classic hit. “Seven Wonders” led into the powerful Buckingham masterpiece “Big Love” which set Stevie up for her poetic solo; “Landslide.” She told a story of her grandmother who crawled into a trunk and hid, crossing over the Rockies during an American-Indian war. Her great-great-great grandmother survived a landslide and that’s why Stevie is where she is today. Her family was in the audience and she dedicated this song to “her tribe.” Stevie stories are pure and whimsical. It’s like talking to a goddess that you happen to be best friends with.

The pseudo-70’s “Gypsy” was next; an ode to their influences. Stevie’s voice shakes and stirs during this song. It’s wondrously treacherous. Soon to follow were the extraordinary  “Little Lies,” “Gold Dust Woman” and “Go Your Own Way.” “Gold Dust” was Stevie’s excuse to leave the mic and dance like we all do when we’re alone. “Dance like no one’s watching” is definitely the Gold Dust Woman’s motto. “Go Your Own Way” finished the main set and Mick Fleetwood decided it would be his time to drum solo for five minutes. The bug-eyed man is wild and vivacious and there ain’t nothin’ stoppin’ him. The truly classic “Don’t Stop” continued the momentum during the encore, followed by the soft “Silver Spring” and the night wrapped with “Songbird.” Stevie spoke about Christine’s return and how she believed the Fleetwood fans woke up and inspired her to come back. She said the world is all connected and the fans had a hand in her return. Finally, Mick Fleetwood ended with the show with the goosebump-inducing sentiment, “The Mac is back.” Yes, the Mac is back. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Energy: A
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A-
Stage Presence: A+
Set/Light Show: A-

Overall: A

Lindsay Lynch

Lindsay was born in Georgia, raised in Florida, and moved to Colorado when she turned 18. All Lindsay asks for in life is music, hoppy beer, and the written word. The necessities of family, friends, water, and food naturally follow.

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