Staff Review: Stevie Nicks

Who says that working for BPD doesn't have its perks?

We recently sent our own Maree Peters to see Stevie Nicks perform. Here's what she had to say:

There's something downright magical about Stevie Nicks' unmistakable voice and charismatic stage presence that puts audience members on the edge of their seats with a single note or signature spin of her glitter-laced shawl. In the case of the In Your Dreams tour, the longtime Fleetwood Mac co-leader weaved a hypnotic musical spell over 110 action-packed minutes that revealed her songwriting is still as sharp as ever, with old hits standing up as though they were written yesterday.

Opening with "Stand Back" set the ideal tone for the evening, pumping out massive guitar grooves and chunky bass lines all wound around Nicks' gloriously gravely pipes. She then jumped straight into the present to unveil the equally magnetic "Secret Love" from her first studio CD in ten years, adapting a folk-tipped modern rock motif that could've easily been in the current company of Sheryl Crow, Vanessa Carlton or even Taylor Swift.

A little later, the sultry singer turned in the ultra-infectious mid-tempo cut "For What It's Worth," which once again highlighted her poetic song craftsmanship and a timeless tradition reminiscent of "Landslide" or "Silver Springs." When it came to past Fleetwood Mac crests, Nicks put her own spin on the soft pop staple "Dreams," the psychedelic "Gold Dust Woman" and a rearranged, momentum building take on the tender ballad "Rhiannon."

Yet it was the new cut "Soldier's Angel" that served as an emotional apex, chronicling the myriad of emotions the troops have faced in both the line of duty and the aftermath of injury, all wound around a bluesy guitar growl. That stripped down tone carried over to the classic "Leather and Lace," which may have missed out on duet partner Don Henley, but still had Nicks' more than competent vocal coach conveying its romantic story of opposites attracting.

Even more enduring was "Edge of Seventeen," extended perhaps a little longer than needed, but nonetheless explosive with its guitar-doused dance direction that's since been sampled from Beyonce's old girl group Destiny's Child. Surprisingly, Nicks encored with the contemplative encore "Love Is," but it was still a satisfying reminder of the singer's unwavering delivery and meticulous craftsmanship that hasn't just made her an inspiration for other women in rock, but a very pillar of the entire genre regardless of gender.

Because of some scheduling conflicts (mine), we couldn't hang together backstage. So Stevie was gracious enough to invite me back to her hotel where I self consciously limited myself to 30 minutes with her.

And what a marvelous 30 it was. Thanks boss!

Member Review: Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart

BPD member Al Batross sent us this detailed report:

Stevie Nicks still looks and sounds great at 62-years-old. Same goes for Rod Stewart, now 66, great flaxen hair and all.

Stewart told me backstage that he felt that Nicks was “one of the greatest rock voices of the era and the 21st century.” I didn't get to spend any time with Stevie. Something seemed to go wrong with the lighting about 15 minutes before the show began and she was preoccupied supervising the way she wanted it to be.

Her 80-minute set was composed of solo, Fleetwood Mac and Buckingham-Nicks hits plus Secret Love, the first single from her new solo album, In Your Dreams, due May 3.

Nicks, in a sequined, corsetted and ruffled black dress, and wedge-heeled black boots - a downgrade from her signature black suede platforms of the ‘70s - could also still move, if more gingerly, as she performed a signature twirl just minutes into her set opener, Stand Back.

And with her interpretive dance moves, long hair, and numerous accessory changes in a little black tent at the back of the stage that saw her work her way through two gold shawls - including one for set highlight, Gold Dust Woman - she conjured up her image from Fleetwood Mac’s heyday, especially when she hovered around guitarist Waddy Wachtel with her arms outstretched.

Other set standouts included the Mac’s classics Dreams and Rhiannon - which included a video of unicorns and produced the first crowd clap along of the night - the poignant Landslide, which featured pictures of Nicks family including her late father, and Edge of Seventeen with a loving, long walk around the stage by Stevie, waving to her fans and paying tribute to her musicians.

With his arrival Stewart transformed Nicks stripped-down stage into an impressive gleaming white production reminiscent of a ‘60s British music variety show with 13 musicians joining him, including three horn players (two women in heels), for his set opener, a cover of The O’ Jays’ Love Train.

“Good evening my friends, what a night!” said Stewart dressed in a gold blazer, white shirt, black tie and black dress pants, a shiny black patent shoes.

He then delivered his own, Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright), prompting a major crowd singalong, before returning to another cover with Sam Cooke’s Havin’ A Party.

Then it was time for two collaborations with Nicks (now in her signature black suede platform boots) with one slightly improved over the other but neither great - Passion (not so good), and Young Turks (only marginally better).

How about them doing Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, Whenever I Call You Friend, or Leather and Lace - i.e. a proper duet from Nicks’ back catalogue - instead?

Stewart, who ditched the blazer and untucked his shirt pretty early in the show, also dug deeper into his five-decade long stash of well-known covers with Cat Stevens’ The First Cut is the Deepest and Bob Dylan’s Forever Young, the latter which he dedicated to his six-week old son - and eighth child - Aidan.

But mainly he seemed intent on having a good time over the course of an hour and 40 minutes, dancing around the stage, and swigging red wine, as he returned to such covers as Sam Cooke’s Twistin’ The Night Away, Tom Waits’ Downtown Train - complete with a Brooklyn Bridge backdrop - Tim Hardin’s Reason To Believe, and Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Rock And Roller.

Stewart second dedication of the night was “to all servicemen, past and present,” during Rhythm of My Heart, which prominently featured his three female back up singers.

His standout outfit, however, was a purple suit and lavender shirt, which he donned for his cover of Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately, his own Hot Legs, the latter which saw him kick soccer balls into the crowd in his trademark move, the show-ending Maggie May and the encore number, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?

STEVIE NICKS SET LIST:

Stand Back

Secret Love

If Anyone Falls

Dreams

Sorcerer

Gold Dust Woman

Fall From Grace

Rhiannon

Landslide

Edge of Seventeen

ENCORE:

Love Is

ROD STEWART SET LIST

Love Train

Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)

Havin’ a Party

Passion (with Stevie Nicks)

Young Turks (with Stevie Nicks)

The First Cut is the Deepest

Forever Young

Some Guys Have All The Luck

Twistin’ The Night Away

Downtown Train

Reason to Believe

You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)

Sweet Little Rock and Roller

Rhythm of My Heart

Knock On Wood (by his backup singers)

Have I Told You Lately

Hot Legs

Maggie May

ENCORE:

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?

Thanks so much, Al. Sounds like a great night.

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Setlist: Rod Stewart/Stevie Nicks

BPD member Teresa252 sends us this killer setlist from the duo's tour:

Rod

Love Train
Tonight's the Night
Havin' a Party
Passion
Young Turks
The First Cut Is The Deepest
You Wear It Well
Downtown Train
Reason To Believe
Forever Young
You're In My Heart
Sweet Little Rock & Roller
Rhythm of My Heart
Proud Mary
Have I Told You Lately
Hot Legs
Maggie May

Encore:
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Stevie

Fall From Grace
Secret Love
If Anyone Falls
Dreams
Sorcerer
Gold Dust Woman
Stand Back
Rhiannon
Landslide
Edge of Seventeen

Encore:
Love Is

Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks: HEART & SOUL TOUR

Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks have announced that they have joined forces for one of the most anticipated musical events of the year, THE HEART & SOUL TOUR. Launching March 20, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the tour will unite two of music’s most legendary forces for a series of arena concerts throughout the US. The tour will feature both artists performing all rock & roll sets from their incomparable catalogs of hits and backed by an incredible band of musicians and stage production.

Said Rod Stewart: “We haven’t yet begun rehearsals but I can already tell you this, with Stevie on board our audiences are in store for an evening of pure rock & roll music. I’m already thinking about which of my old favorites to bring back and vocally, I think we’ve both begun thinking about which songs might be great fun and well-suited for a duet or two.”

In a career spanning five decades, with an estimated 250 million album and single sales, Rod Stewart is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and indisputably one of the most successful performers of all time. He finished 2010 at the top of both the touring and album charts - highlighted by his critically-heralded, sold-out first run of concerts at The Colosseum in Las Vegas, a “Boxscore,” chart-topping, 33-date European summer tour which included 4 sold-out dates at London’s O2 Arena.

Throughout his prolific career, he’s garnered 16-Grammy nominations, including his current for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album," and sales of more than one million albums worldwide for his 2010 album FLY ME TO THE MOON…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, VOLUME V. In addition, Rod Stewart is set to release THE BEST OF…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK available in stores February 1st, 2011 (J Records).

Stevie Nicks, Rock and Roll's reigning queen, will be releasing her highly anticipated new CD “IN: YOUR DREAMS” on May 3, 2011. The new album, her first album of new material in a decade, was co-produced by former Eurythmic Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. The official release date of the first single, "Secret Love”, is February 3rd.

Confirmed dates:

Sun 03/20/11 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
Wed 03/23/11 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Thu 03/24/11 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Sat 03/26/11 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena
Sun 03/27/11 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Wed 03/30/11 Boston, MA TD Garden
Tue 04/05/11 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Sat 04/09/11 Chicago, IL United Center
Sun 04/10/11 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Fri 04/15/11 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center
Sat 04/16/11 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

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