Back way back when, 1990 I think, I left Wembley football stadium feeling a little underwhelmed by a Fleetwood Mac concert, similar feelings tore at my consciousness leaving the O2 in London last night. 

The band members are older now. One short in number (Christine Mcvie, who appeared for the encore of ‘Don’t Stop’, to the biggest cheer of the night), the venues are still mega domes and the songs, well the songs are ingrained into our beings so deep, that perhaps any live renditions will always run the risk of falling short sometimes.

 

No support, lights dim at 8.20pm and the band kick off with an almost unrecognisable (from where we were sitting) ‘Second Hand News’. The sound was all over the place but settled more for ‘the Chain’ and found a balance on ‘Dreams’.

 

New arrangements (?) meant songs were either, barked out by Lindsey, abruptly finished, or dragged on to an indeterminate conclusion. The stunning ‘Gold Dust Woman’ was a case in point of the latter.

 

New song ‘Sad Angel’ from this year’s EP I thought was actually good, although it seems to get generally panned. 'Rhiannon', 'Tusk', 'Sara' along with others were nailed. ‘Landslide’ was rather awkwardly dedicated by Stevie Nicks to Peter Green, who was also in attendance last night she said. 

 

The main set finished with a tremendous ‘Go Your Own Way’ when the crowd, who could not make their minds up whether to stand or sit all night, finally stood up in unison

 

 

 

 

I guess the size of the venue did not help, it’s amazing the amount of times people need, the bar, the toilet, a fag, or air during a gig these days so, there is always someone on the move. With three sold out nights in London alone, this just shows how many people still want to see the band so, I guess an acoustic tour of a few UK concert halls anytime soon is out of the question?

 

Overall though, the band was there on stage in front of our eyes. Legends without a shadow of a doubt, playing their songs and on the road again. The crowd were smiling and indeed, we will all most probably be playing ‘Rumours’ sometime today!

 

If there is a next time, Hammersmith Apollo, Odeon or whatever it is going to be called after its latest refurbishment would be bloody marvellous but, I think a field in Somerset beckons for 2014.

 

 

Pete

 

Set

 

Second Hand News  

The Chain   

Dreams  

Sad Angel   

Rhiannon  

Not That Funny  

Tusk   

Sisters of the Moon  

Sara  

Big Love P  

Landslide   

Never Going Back Again  

1Without You   

Gypsy   

Eyes of the World   

Gold Dust Woman  

I'm So Afraid   

Stand Back  

Go Your Own Way

  

Encore 1

 

World Turning  

Don't Stop

 

Encore 2

 

Silver Springs

23.Say Goodbye