Fleetwood Mac belt out the hits

BY MATT RILKOFF
Last updated 10:28 20/12/2009
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Fleetwood Mac in New Zealand

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Just as the rain kept falling the hits kept coming at Fleetwood Mac's sold out New Plymouth concert last night.

Unashamedly playing their most popular songs the supergroup had taken to the stage 15 minutes earlier than scheduled and managed to avoid the rain for that long.

The heaving crowd of nearly 18,000, one of the biggest ever seen at the Bowl of Brooklands venue, took the weather in their stride and let out a roar of approval to the opening lines of The Chain, the second song of the set.

"Well it's taken us a long time to get back here. I think it's been 25 years,'' said singer Stevie Nicks. "That being said I think we should just get this party started."

But it already was.

The hits Rhiannon, Landslide and Go Your Own Way kept adding to a thrilling momentum that threatened to derail in a tangled mess of middle-aged dance moves by the time Don't Stop was played as the second encore song. 

The gig, which was the first of only two New Zealand concerts and the last in a 10 month world tour, pulled in people from all over the country.

More than half of the crowd in New Plymouth for the night had travelled there from outside of Taranaki.

Accommodation in the city had been booked out for months and despite hundreds of locals putting up visitors in their spare rooms and garages, many concert goers spent the night in their cars.

Others like Andy Blair of Taupo had no other choice but to drive home when the show finished at 10.30pm last night.

"It was worth it though,'' she said.

Drummer and founding member Mick Fleetwood gave the fans two pieces of advice to take away.

"Take care of yourself and more importantly take care and be kind to those around you in this crazy world we live in. We love you and remember the Mac will be back'' he said.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

18 comments
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Linda T   #18   12:04 pm Jan 25 2010

AWESOME SHOW!! LETS DO THAT AGAIN!! Loved the whole trip down from Auckland to arrive in a piece of paradise with Fleetwood mac rocking out all the songs we so love to hear especially LIVE! WOOOHOOO! Stevie and Lindsay had lost love words on stage on their very last show of their world tour, man....Im glad Mick made the call to Stevie to kick off this world tour.....Stevie put Lindsay on the spot on stage by saying so .....Lindsay came back with "What about that kiss in Highschool?" We all could feel it thick in the air........Lindsay admitted he didnt make the call to Stevie but should of, as he's body language clearly showed and so Stevie in turn said "Well..maybe there was a kiss" As Lindsay and Stevie hugged closely to the clapping crowd all I could hear was someone yelling...GET BACK TOGETHER! Never too late aye

Sheila   #17   12:38 pm Dec 31 2009

We were very lucky to get good tickets. It was an AMAZING SHOW which we will remember forever... We didn't mind about the traveling and decided to start our holiday earlier... In our opinion this was the best venue, walking through the park, it felt like we having a party in the forest. View was good too, in bigger venue only you could of seen is "ants" jumping on stage... They are all "rocked" and still THE BEST players:)

Erin   #16   06:56 pm Dec 21 2009

I have waited years to see this fantastic band in concert. They were absolutely brilliant; a real class act. Stevie looked fantastic, Lindsey sounds better than ever...THANK YOU FLEETWOOD MAC, you have made this fan very very happy. Please come back!

the big mac   #15   04:55 pm Dec 21 2009

WOW...what an awesome concert, who cared about the rain!!! Grew up listening to my parents playing their music...what a class act. The bowl of brooklands was an amazing venue, Taranaki people should be proud to have such a great place to live in...will be coming back for sure!!!

Brent   #14   10:33 am Dec 21 2009

Absolutely stunning concert. Great musicianship! Lindsey Buckingham's guitar solo on "I'm So Afraid" was just magnificent - one of the best solos I've ever heard. I was lucky enough to meet Lindsey the next day and got to tell him that in person. He seemed really flattered and came across as a really cool, friendly and down to earth guy. Just brilliant when great stars turn out to be great people too!

Sam   #13   09:05 am Dec 21 2009

just too out of the way.

Should have been in Auckland or Wellington, where there is adequate infratructure to provide for the out of towners.

Jez   #12   07:47 am Dec 21 2009

An unbelievable night!!! 5 hour drive, expensive hotel and sat at the back of the venue but so totally worth it. What a magical place and what a perfect band for the bowl of brooklands. Taranaki should be royally pround. The band was on great form and the show, lights and sound superb. One of the best nights of our lives. Stevie, Lindsay, Mick and John - thank you so much.

Keri   #11   06:54 am Dec 21 2009

Hi Mac...It's only my opinion and my experience... yours was clearly different which is ok too. The point was "I" enjoyed the show. I don't speak for you or anyone else.

Danny Blackman   #10   10:54 pm Dec 20 2009

Rain ....What rain. What a fantastic Venue & what a fantastic act, Brilliant.

From one of the 000's of "Unwashed Mases" (See above comment) who was really glad he was not sat next to John who should maybe have just sat at home & popped a Fleetwood Mac DVD in the Player where he would not have been bothered by other annoying people Drinking & Enjoying themselves at a Concert....Whatever next.

p.s I think the Middle aged Dancing the reporter commented on would be called "Passion" by a great artist.

Another Mac   #9   10:26 pm Dec 20 2009

@ Keri

Perhaps we were at different concerts? Venue: tick. Audience: tick. Technical team: be grateful if you ever get another gig again. The backdrop sucked. The lighting show was a no show (some pathetic little laser got lost amongst the tree's). The sound may have been great where you were standing but it was appaling where we were, so much so we had to strain to understand the words. I'd be VERY interested on the bands perspective of the technical team. Certainly hope it wasn't their own that's for sure! What was performed was great & it was a great concert. I would have preferred to see more Fleetwood Mac though, seemed more like "The Lindsay Show". Still, I'm glad I spent $120 on my ticket & enjoyed it for sure.


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