Fleetwood Mac: In Concert

Fleetwood Mac Sprint Center Kansas City, MO October 19, 2018

Members: Mike Campbell (guitar) (MC) Neil Finn (vocals, guitar) (NF) Mick Fleetwood (drums) Christine McVie (vocals, keyboards) (CV) John McVie (bass) Stevie Nicks (vocals) (SN) l to r: John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Neil Finn, Mick Fleetwood, Mike Campbell; image from ultimateclassicrock.com Review: This was close to, but not quite, the familiar Fleetwood Mac lineup. True to their history, the band is surrounded by drama as they embark on this tour, having ousted Lindsey Buckingham (who is now suing them) and replacing him with Neil Finn (best known from Crowded House and Split Enz) and Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers). They proved capable and welcome additions to the band, resulting in some highlights which wouldn’t have occurred if Buckingham were still part of the mix. Not only did the band dip into pre-Buckingham/Nicks era songs like “Oh Well” and “Black Magic Woman,” but they tackled representations of Finn (“Don’t Dream It’s Over,” “I Got You”) and Campbell (Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”). Most of the show relied on fan favorites from their biggest albums with five songs from Fleetwood Mac (1975), seven songs from Rumours (1977), and three from Tango in the Night (1987). Occasionally McVie would introduce one of their “old” songs which made me snicker, considering the most recent song they played the entire night was “All Over Again” from 1995’s Time. That song was a rare duo from Christine and Stevie on a non-hit from a largely forgotten album. That was a highlight as was the extended drum solo and some amusing, albeit sometimes indecipherable, verbal spouts from Mick Fleetwood during “World Turning.” “Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. Set List (vocalists in parentheses) The Chain (live in Tulsa, OK, 10/3/18) 1. The Chain (NF, CM, SN) 11 2. Little Lies (CM) 16 3. Dreams (SN) 11 4. Second Hand News (NF) 11 5. Say You Love Me (CM) 10 6. Black Magic Woman (SN) (1968 single) 7. Everywhere (CM) 16 8. I Got You (NF, Split Enz cover) 9. Rhiannon (SN) 10 10. Tell Me All the Things You Do 4 11. World Turning (NF, included drum solo and band introductions) 10 12. Gypsy (SN) 13 13. Oh Well (MC) 3 14. Don’t Dream It’s Over (NF/SN, Crowded House cover) 15. Landslide (SN) 10 16. Isn’t It Midnight (CM) 16 17. Monday Morning (NF) 10 18. You Make Loving Fun (CM) 11 19. Gold Dust Woman (SN) 11 20. Go Your Own Way (NF) 11 Encore: 21. Free Fallin’ (SN, Tom Petty cover) 22. Don’t Stop (CM, NF, SN) 11 23. All Over Again (CM/SN) 16 Discography: 1 Fleetwood Mac (1968) 2 Mr. Wonderful (1968) 3 Then Play On (1969) 4 Kiln House (1970) 5 Future Games (1971) 6 Bare Trees (1972) 7 Penguin (1973) 8 Mystery to Me (1973) 9 Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974) 10 Fleetwood Mac (1975) 11 Rumours (1977) 12 Tusk (1979) 13 Mirage (1982) 14 Tango in the Night (1987) 15 Behind the Mask (1990) 16 Time (1995) 17 Say You Will (2003) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Fleetwood Mac Dave’s Music Database: “Fleetwood Mac: Top 100 Songs” Dave’s Music Database: “Concerts” First posted 10/19/2018; updated 9/15/2021.

In Concert: The Who

The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, image from chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk

Venue: Sprint Center; Kansas City, MO

The Players: Pete Townshend (guitar, vocals), Roger Daltrey (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Simon Townshend (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Pino Palladino (bass), Zak Starkey (drums), Loren Gold (keyboards, backing vocals), John Corey (keyboards, backing vocals), Frank Simes (musical director, keyboards, backing vocals, assorted instruments)

Opening Act: Slydigs

“We’re late. Thanks for waiting.” It was the perfect opening line from Pete Townshend to open the Kansas City show which had been postponed twice. Judging from the full house, no one seemed to mind the wait.

Only Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey remain from the original incarnation of the Who, although Pino Palladino and Zak Starkey have been long-time band replacements for John Entwistle and Keith Moon respectively. Daltrey doesn’t have the voice he once did, but still could hit the classic scream on “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and belted out the powerful “Love Reign O’er Me.” He and Townshend engaged the audience in plenty of stage banter and broke out their trademark moves of mike swinging and windmilling on the guitar.

My favorite moment was “The Rock,” a largely unknown instrumental accompanied by a powerful video showcasing world history moments during the history of the Who. The song was part of a trifecta of tunes from 1973’s Quadrophenia (the others being “I’m One” and “Love Reign O’er Me.” There was also a four-song set from 1969’s Tommy amongst a largely hits-based set list. See full list below.

The Set List:

1. I Can’t Explain
2. Who Are You
3. The Seeker
4. The Kids Are Alright
5. I Can See for Miles
6. My Generation
7. 5:15
8. Pictures of Lily
9. Behind Blue Eyes
10. Bargain
11. Join Together
12. You Better You Bet
13. I’m One
14. The Rock
15. Love Reign O’er Me
16. Eminence Front
17. Amazing Journey
18. Sparks
19. Pinball Wizard
20. See Me Feel Me
21. Baba O’Riley
22. Won’t Get Fooled Again

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Resources and Related Links:

• The Who’s DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry
• The Who: The Good, the Bad…and Their Top 30 Songs (6/27/12)
• Now Presenting the Half Time Show Starring the Theme Songs of CSI (2/8/10)

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In Concert: Roger Waters - The Wall

image from notefornoteblog.wordpress.com

Venue: Sprint Center; Kansas City, MO
Tour: The Wall Live

Best concert I’ve ever seen in terms of theatrics. This was on the top of my concert bucket list since I first heard about the Pink Floyd The Wall concerts in 1980-81 which only hit a handful of cities because the show was too costly and complicated. It took nearly 30 years before Waters tackled the project again, turning it into one of the most successful concert runs of all time.

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The Set List:

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1. In the Flesh?
2. The Thin Ice
3. Another Brick in the Wall Part 1
4. The Happiest Days of Our Lives
5. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2
6. Mother
7. Goodbye Blue Sky
8. Empty Spaces
9. What Shall We Do Now?
10. Young Lust
11. One of My Turns
12. Don't Leave Me Now
13. Another Brick in the Wall Part 3
14. The Last Few Bricks
15. Goodbye Cruel World

Intermission

16. Hey You
17. Is There Anybody Out There?
18. Nobody Home
19. Vera
20. Bring the Boys Back Home
21. Comfortably Numb
22. The Show Must Go On
23. In the Flesh
24. Run Like Hell
25. Waiting for the Worms
26. Stop
27. The Trial
28. Outside the Wall