The Nicks Fix - Stevie Nicks Fan Reviews

Stevie Nicks Summer 2005 FAN REVIEWS

8/2/05 Journal Pavilion Albuquerque, NM

Newest reviews posted at the top.

Dolores McElroy
I have seen Stevie both solo and with Fleetwood Mac several times. Her concert Tuesday night (August 2, 2005) was different. You should know that the Albuquerque crowd at the Journal Pavilion was lame. Traditionally, no one sits at a Stevie Nicks concert. If you want to sit, please purchase your James Taylor tickets through Ticketmaster. Apparently, there were a few people who would have been better off following this advice. Though the majority of the crowd seated front and center were enthusiastic, even the people from the third row back on the sides were hissing at those of us who were here to rock. While it's true that classic rock concerts have gotten impossibly bloated and impersonal, part of the reason Ms. Nicks inspires such devotion is that she can take an arena and fill it with her peculiarly intimate power. That's not to say that her style is confessional. She's not in the mold of so many members of the next generation who think that an emotional connection with an audience can best be established by the particulars of your own dirty laundry list set to music. Nicks's lyrics are vague, evocative and a little like mass spoken in Latin instead of English: so much more stirring if only because they tremble on the brink of comprehension instead of withering in its merciless glare. And yet the key to her brand of rock theater is that we do know the dirt. What makes it all so personal is not songs that detail clear narratives of her life, but that we know the stories behind the songs. We know the climate of heartbreak and insanity in which Rumours was written, so that when she performs a song, she performs an era. And when Stevie takes you back, you follow. The canned tunes stopped and the fast, hard-rocking drumbeat of "Enchanted" took the arena by storm as Stevie walked purposefully to the mic and we took to our feet. She sang the hell out of her 1983 track and launched into the next, "Outside the Rain." It's one of those epic-sounding things that Stevie works so well. She doesn't overdo it, but gives just enough gravity to the lines to make you feel the emotional weight and expansiveness of her writing. "Outside the Rain" bleeds into "Dreams", which I never initially think will work live, such is its crystalline perfection on Rumours, but which never fails to hypnotize me none the less. The first real treat of the evening came with a reworked favorite. The huge face of a girl appeared on the background screen that took up practically the whole stage. It was a close-up of a painting by Sulamith Wulfing. As the evening breeze wafted over the fans at the Journal Pavilion, a small figure emerged, dripping with wispy black chiffon that floated on the wind and created a ghostly impression as the figure paused, back to the audience. She turned and approached the mic with a distant look in her eyes. This was not the Stevie of the previous four songs, this woman could not even see the audience. This was one of those few songs that Stevie inhabits as another character. Now she was Rhiannon, not the goddess of Welsh mythology, but a specter of her own making and perhaps the first discernable foundation of her legend. It's still just as mystical as ever, more mournful than violent and she's wisely stuck with the slow and soulful piano intro she added in the mid-1990s. There was a moment of silence before the famous guitar riff kicked in and the crowd rose to a roar. Stevie turned her back again and came back fierce for the rock verses and the screaming cries of, "Dream on, silly dreamer. Try hard, you can't leave her" for the foot-stomping ending. The ceremony had begun and the faithful were ready to receive the next offering. And then it came, one transformation fast on the heels of the last. After the airy mysticism of Rhiannon, the band brings us down to earth with the molten beat of doom that kicks off "Gold Dust Woman." This song benefits from her stillness, control and slow-burning 'tude. She takes the verses easy but driving and then erupts into the inevitable wail as the bass drum beats out a pow-wow foundation and Stevie starts her incantations of "running in the shadows.", etc. And this is when she really began to scare me. Donning the mantle of those dark, self-destructive years, Stevie began chanting a new mantra of "Baby, baby, baby you can't save me now" as a huge moth zoomed to close-up on the screen. For the fairy princess of rock 'n roll who, even in her darkest songs, finds something hopeful or at least morbidly attractive, the big ass moth was unexpected and downright frightening. She was in a trance now, unreachable and, for the moment, we couldn't save her. But the next song saved us from the bad place. Starting with a drum solo straight from the jungle and into the desert, the crowd rocked as the familiar synthesizer chords of the almost completely nonsensical "Stand Back" started up and Stevie entered, twirling, in the signature "Stand Back" shawl. The words make no goddamn sense and no one cares because it works so well live. The tune proves that rock 'n roll is all about attitude, not cohesive narrative structure. The drums, the anger, the high kicks. That's what we came for and that's what we got. Next came a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "Circle Dance", a mellow tune that could have been saved if it featured the loving acoustic attention Stevie could give it had she been alone with a guitar, but instead it relied upon an unfortunate, overdone whole band/ synth arrangement. Most of the audience took this as a cue to get some beer. And they best have hurried back because the next song was a deep cut from 2001's Trouble in Shangri-La and one of my personal favorites. Though most of the audience was unfamiliar with the words of "Fall From Grace", screams rose from the hardcore fans with the line, "High priestess, she's the keeper of the peace in this, twice as much intensified. What people will do to get this high." Then our girl trotted out another gem. The late-night, bluesy "How Still My Love" was a Stevie concert staple throughout the 80s and one of her sexiest songs. It's been retired from her repertoire for the past 10 years or so and this fan was glad to see it back in action. With a straight face and a little swagger in her hips, Stevie let "How Still My Love" groove over the audience, insinuating a so-wrong-it's right, humid affair with the lyrics "Doin' all you can for me, they say you're not the man for me. Oh, don't make it easy in the still of the night." Lulled into a sense of security by the moon-blue strains of the previous song, I was jolted into heart-pounding hysteria by the first dribble on the drum marking the beginning of the epic "Edge of Seventeen." Earlier in the evening I had approached the security guards with a request. Toting an enormous bouquet as a tribute to La Nicks, I deployed all the wide-eyed innocence I could muster to persuade the kindly gentlemen that I should be allowed to present my flowers to Stevie herself. They said they'd see what they could do, then approached me with the news that I could come up during "Edge of Seventeen." So I was up with the downbeat and centered almost directly under her mic as Waddy (whom she introduced previously as "The love of my life, but he married someone else. What can you do?") busted out the deadly sixteenth notes that kick off Stevie's most energizing anthem. She came on without the traditional Edge 17 shawl and the corners of her mouth were turned down (I now realize that her father was ill). She sang the song with depth and power and didn't disappoint at the bleeting goat/speaking-in-tongues moment that we fans look so forward to. When I first saw her live as a teenager in Chicago on the Enchanted tour, her makeup was streaked and her eyes red as she reached into the crowd to shake hands. Though times have changed and her security has multiplied with the number of schizophrenics claiming that her magical powers can save them, she still takes time to gather her rosebuds and shake a few hands. I was flush against the stage and next in the hand-shaking row and I vowed to myself that all I would say was, "Thank you" and hand my bouquet to her as a simple tribute for the simple fact that I am very grateful to have had the music of Stevie Nicks in my life all these years. As my proximity to a rather crazy lady was so disturbing, she almost passed me by, but after she scooped up my flowers, I reached out my hand and she shook it, then she looked me in the eye, softened and said, "Thank you." She gave me such a genuine, sweet smile that I couldn't help but loosen my resolve and declare, "I love you!" So I'm a dork. In my state of utter nerdiness, I was not prepared for the shock of the impossible sight that greeted my wide eyes: Stevie in pants! That's right, folks, for an unforgettable cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock 'N Roll", Miss Nicks sported tight leather pants with silver circles on the sides and an oversized top hat with a ginormous multicolored feather coming out of it and she looked sensational! For those of you who don't know, Stevie Nicks has not worn pants in concert since, like 1975, and to witness such an event is like being caught in the middle of a crop circle: unexpected, magnetic and oh-so-right on some sort of cosmic level. Looking like a bad-ass and knowing it, Stevie delivered the rager like a woman who'd been to hell and back and lived to tell about it, in other words, like a rock star. Now at fever pitch, the audience could not be sufficiently calmed for the intake of the truly haunting performance that was to end the concert. The resurrected "Beauty and the Beast" has now evolved into something truly spectacular. With scenes from the newly re-mastered Criterion edition of the film playing in the background, Stevie emerged in an enormous black off-the-shoulder gown, hair piled atop her head. So we're back to the difference I mentioned at the beginning of this maddeningly long review. Stevie Nicks has graduated. She took the stage with a touching dignity in place of the little-girl vulnerability with which she attacked the song in earlier years. Her dark eyes looked past the Journal Pavilion and into the night as she ignored the screams of fans and caressed the first words, "You're not a stranger to me" with her specific vocal mixture of raspiness and rock-solid foundation. She used her hands and red-lacquered nails with such grace and unfailing instinct for drama that it made you wish she had pursued a career in opera, or at least acting. They alternately hid her face, implored the gods and begged the audience for understanding. Her 5'2" frame filled the atmosphere with grandeur and pathos as the climax broke the night with the words, "My love lives in a world of false pleasure and pain," and people began to realize what was going on here. I remained with my mouth open, utterly stunned by the mature artistry of this woman who took such a musically simple song and turned it into a timeless aria. If it sounds over-the-top, it probably was. If it sounds trite, you weren't there. Stevie Nicks has taken all her mileage and hope and transformed it from semi-adolescent longing to a fully-embroidered statement on life and love and it was something magical to watch.

Brenda and Yoly
My Love and I attended the show on August 2, 2005..The wind was blowing as it always does...blowing Stevie's hair. She certainly rocked this town. We were so honored for her to come her as we just moved here having relocated so we could be together. All night long Stevie sang in her wonderful voice...It was wonderful. My love and I were so happy we got to share this...as I believe Stevie magically brought us together thru her music..Our love for Steve is still strong..our love for each other...never-ending..Thanks for the memories..

Stephanie McReynolds
Seen Stevie in NM. I have previously seen Stevie 4 times in Phoenix. STEVIES PERFORMANCE WAS AWESOME, HER VOICE IS BEAUTIFUL, SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST PERFECT. A NIGHT UNDER THE NM STARS WITH STEVIE NICKS WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE. THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THIS NIGHT EVEN BETTER WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE PERFORMANCE TO HAVE BEEN LONGER, NEEDLESS TO SAY I COULD HAVE SAT THERE AND LISTENED TO STEVIE ALL NIGHT. WHEN SHE SANG BEAUTY AND THE BEAST IT GAVE ME THE CHILLS THAT VOICE THAT BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL VOICE. May I say this STEVIE IS THE ROCK AND ROLL GODDESS. STEVIE IS THE GREATEST WOMEN ON EARTH AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYONE AS GREAT AS HER. SHE IS FULL OF LIFE, SO DOWN TO EARTH AND JUST THE GREATEST. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD THE FUNDS TO GO TO PHOENIX FOR HER BENEFIT CONCERT I WOULD HAVE GONE TO SEE HER AGAIN. THANK YOU STEVIE FOR YOUR GIFT OF SONG, AND INSPIRATION, AND FOR JUST BEING YOU. MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT KEEP YOU SAFE ON ALL YOUR TRAVELS AND MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT CONTINUE TO GIVE GOOD HEALTH AND LONG LIFE.

Carol Espitia
Once again Stevie you are amazing. I'm so happy you came back to Albuquerque. Your shows keep getting better and better. My friends and I were very pleased with your show. I had already seen your Vegas show (Dreams) that was an intense performance. I was speechless but when I heard you were coming back to Albuquerque I couldn't believe it I was actually going to see you again. Twice in just a matter of months. Who could ask for anything more. The evening was perfect just a slight breeze just enough to make Stevie's dress and hair flow with beauty, it was magical. The song line up changed just a bit from the Dreams tour but it was still powerful. Yet again I was in a trance just focusing on Stevie, how can you not. I stood the entire time singing along, what an amazing show. Thank you Stevie for making a stop here again. Your Albuquerque fans really appreciate your interest in doing a show here, and thank you Lori for choosing the Albuquerque show to help out the girls, you were awesome just like in Vegas. Much love for you Stevie and the gang Thank you!

Dianne and Angela
We are fortunate for being able to see Stevie at the Journal Pavilion in Albuquerque for two reasons. One is that this is the fourth show we’ve seen on this tour, and the second is that, although we live on the East Coast, this show coincided with our annual vacation to Aspen, Colorado, and we were able to make a short side trip down to Albuquerque to catch the show! Stevie looked and sounded great, as she has throughout the tour. There were a few pleasant surprises tonight when Stevie added How Still My Love to the set, and Lori joined everyone for the second part of the show. It was great seeing her again after all these years, and the crowd showed their appreciation. Another highlight was when Stevie introduced the band, she announced that it is Jana’s birthday today, and she sang Happy Birthday to her, after commenting that she didn't know how old Jana is, but she guessed she must be 27. Another plus was that the local newspaper sold a Stevie souvenir before and after the show, which consisted of a newspaper section they had specially printed. The front is a photo of Stevie with the date and concert info. Nice enough to frame! Landslide was sorely missed, especially the scenes of Stevie’s life and career that appear behind her during the song..this has become a definite highlight of each show for us, and it was missed. Otherwise, the set was pretty much as it has been during the entire tour, and we’re glad we could be here.

Nikki M.
As always I was not happy with my seat; I was willing to pay for the best possible available. This always troubles me; you get there and theres tons of unoccupied great seats! Anyway, my freind flirted with a guard and we got much better seats and free tour books. The show was awesome. It got rowdy where I was and my niece (12) was freaked. I loved the drum solos I originally expected to be a bore. I was so happy that Lori and Sharon were doing the backround and Jana was good, but I was not familiar with her. We all followed Stevie and sang her Happy Birthday. Stevie tore it up, and as always everyone around mre cried (and calmed down) during and after Beauty and the Beast. I did'nt see the traditional birds when edge of 17 was played, but hey it's been a long time, and I had always seen Stevie in California. The sound was sometimes distorted which annoyed me, but I have heard worse. At the end of the show my friend and my niece were blown away and had a new found respect for my taste in music. In fact my friend said 'lets go to Arizona and Nevada and catch those shows! Stevie now has two new fans. The next day the local radio stations were complaining that Stevies tour t-shirts did not have Albuquerque on them; Who cares?! We now what city we're in!

more reviews coming......

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