Stevie Nicks /The Pretenders – Botanic Park -Saturday 09 November 2017
Review by Geoff Jenke
Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 and out of all the Mac’s, she is the most successful when it comes to a solo career alongside the bands output.
It would have been easy for Stevie to just play a barrage of her solo hits and top the show up with Fleetwood Mac songs but to give her due, she didn’t do this. This was Stevie’s night and she could play what she wanted.
Stevie opened with Gold and Braid from the 24 Karat Gold album and immediately had the predominately female audience on her side. When it came to Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around she told the story of how she got to play with Tom Petty, how and why it was recorded. (There was no “hit single” on the Bella Donna album according to the producer). Chrissie Hynde surprised everyone by coming out and duetting on the song, along with the male voice of legendary guitarist Waddy Watchel.
This was then the theme for the evening. Stevie telling stories about the songs being sung. A good move, as it is always interesting to hear these stories, although the Prince story did go on a bit long.
Outside the Rain morphed into Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams which bought an arousing reception from the audience, but in the main set of 17 songs there were only 3 Mac songs, as it should be.
Stevie isn’t so graceful gliding around stage anymore and the voice not quite the same as 40 years ago but no one cared, including me. She still delivered. Her touring band was first rate, with many of the members having been with her since the 1980’s.
A surprise was the beautiful Crying in the Night from the highly underrated 1973 Buckingham/Nicks album, an album that bombed badly on release, getting them dropped from the label but ironically getting them the job in Fleetwood Mac.
Waddy Watchel’s intro to Edge of Seventeen was dynamic and when the band joined in, it took the audience to a new high. It rocked!
Encore was predictably Rhiannon, Stevie’s signature tune and she finished the night with the gentle beautiful Landslide.
On a clear but chilly evening, Stevie warmed everyone’s heart and soul.
The Pretenders put in an admiral support for Stevie. Chrissie Hynde owned the stage as she led her band through a hit packed set. Before playing Kid she gave thanks to James Honeyman-Scott, who passed away in 1982, “Without whom there would of not been The Pretenders”.
Hymn, Back on the Chain Gang, Stop Your Sobbing and I’ll Stand By You were surprisingly bought out in the middle of the set but went down a treat with the crowd. People danced and sang along to the tunes. Guitarist James Walbourne was set loose several times with some incredible solo’s.
It was Brass in Pocket that got the biggest roar of approval and rounded out an excellent set of songs from The Pretenders.
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