from Jim Morrow

Tonight at the MGM Grand Stevie Nicks kicked off the Andre Agassi benefit for the inner city youth of Las Vegas with At Last. As the lights dimmed and the announcer asked the audience to view a video about the purpose of the Foundation, Stevie took the stage in silence and darkness. Then the moment came. "Ladies and Gentlemen-Stevie Nicks!" People all around me in the upper-deck public seats joined in cheering and applauding her return to the city she christened "The City of Dreams" only a few months before. The stage lights came up and the Las Vegas Symphony joined Stevie in this very bluesy tune that sounded very 1940s and very romantic. With long notes and rich harmonies shared between Stevie and the orchestra the audience was mezmorized as she swayed right and left. Dressed in a beautiful red ballroom-type gown, she opened the benefit with a performance that had many of the fans in the public section on their feet (including moi). If this song is available as a single somewhere, someone please let me know. Stevie treated it like no other song I have ever heard her sing. All of a sudden she was a crooner celebrating that at last she had found the love she had been looking for. She was wonderful and was in wonderful voice.

For fellow Mac fans, composer David Foster (the host for the evening) later introduced Mick Fleetwood in this way, "Before there was Mark MACguire, even before the Big MAC, there was the man who started Fleetwood Mac. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mick Fleetwood!" Mick came out playing his tribal drum and was accompanied by Shiela E. and her brother Patrick on percussion. The three offered a blistering performance that everyone really enjoyed.

Upon her return to the stage, Stevie joined Mick, Shiela E., Patrick, Carlos, Sharon, and Mindy as they melted into Dreams. Wearing a lacey black dress Stevie swayed her voice around the lyrics ("I seeee the crystal vision") as Carlos spent an extra effort to play as if the riffs were rolling over the audience like waves. After Dreams, Stevie said, "During the last tour I got used to talking to the audience so I wanted to take a moment and thank you for coming tonight. It is so easy to play music in front of all of you and so hard to raise money. Thank you." With that, Stevie glided stage right and was dressed in her red shawl as the orchestra began to play Rhiannon. Her hands grestured palms-up in smooth circles as she wove the tale we all know so well. Stevie let the ending fly as she pleaded to the audience, "Dreamer-never leave her". After the applause died down she stated that she has performed Rhiannon every time she has taken the stage and that she imagines that in large places like the MGM Grand Garden, Rhiannon's spirit flies inside the venue while she performs. After a brief pause, Mick, Shiela, and Patrick pounced into the newest opening to Stand Back. Bongos and cymbals exploded as the complex beat caused Stevie to dance. When a minute had passed Carlos pulled the stem of his guitar to his chin and threw it down to his hips as the band and orchestra ripped into the song. Sharon and Mindy, who were in perfect voice as were the three back-up singers that accompanied the orchestra, were dressed in complimentary black. Sharon was in a strapless dress while Mindy wore a wonderful dress that sported lacey sleeves. They swayed with Stevie as she closed her set with her trademark spining and beautiful, haunting voice.

I didn't expect to see Stevie again but was pleasantly suprised toward the end of the event. Carlos was kind enough to join Lionel Richie on stage during his set and jammed on Dancing in the Streets, Penny Lover, and a new song called Your Voice. At that point Richie began to sing Brick House as Carlos moved to stage right and offered his hand to Stevie, who climbed the steps and joined Richie on stage. With a black tamborine in hand, Stevie danced to the R and B beat as Richie sang the chorus to her. After the song Stevie remained on stage as Richie closed the show with All Night Long. Halfway through the song, Richie yelled to the private audience that, "I want the ladies on stage! Come on up!" Stevie danced with fans on stage as she played her tamborine. Richie, on the other hand, could not dance because he was surrounded by women who were really showing their appreciation :-). Stevie then joined Carlos as both of them traveled up the stage to the orchestra and played while what seemed to be about 1,500 people, danced on and off the stage. Afterwards, Stevie took her bows and left the stage with Carlos. Mick left some minutes afterward after high-fiving the orchestra conductor. It was wonderful to see Stevie again so soon after her tour. I hope she knows that we all love her here in her "City of Dreams".

Anyway, Saturday the show was great. We had center seats on the third row. As the lights dimmed and a video began to play, I was shocked to see that Stevie Nicks was being guided to the center of the stage in the darkness. As the video ended, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Stevie Nicks." The crowd went wild! She was dressed in the most stunning red gown I have ever seen. I know I was just standing there in shock. She looked and sounded out of this world. At Last was a blues number which she really belted out.

Shortly after Mick Fleetwood came out and played a set with Sheila E. And with time Stevie was back. She was dressed in a black dress and platform boots as she sang Dreams. Her hands were in motion as she seemed to tell the story as she sang. She then put on a red cape. The opening cords to Rhiannon began and was an outstanding performance. "It's all the same...It's all the same" it was great to see her trademark ending that we had missed durning THE DANCE tour. As she disappeared, Mick and Shelia E began the opening beats of Stand Back. It had the entire arena on their feet. The Symphony joined in and really added to the song, as the USC marching band added to the sound of Don't Stop on THE DANCE cd. If you blinked you missed the kick at the end.

The show continued with other great performers. However, as Lionel Richie was on- stage and began singing Brick House, Stevie walked out and the crowd went wild. She was dancing and playing her tamborine. She knew every word. She got into it. She stayed on with Richie for the last song, All Night Long with the other performers of the night coming out at well. Richie invited people to get up on the stage and dance with them.

After the show, we ran into a friend of mine that got us back for a quick meet and greet type thing. I have to say it was best trip I have ever taken. We didn't get back to the hotel room until 7:30 AM Sunday.

I do have one little story I want to share. I was going down the escalator and a woman was humming to a guy right behind me. I didn't want to be rude and look back but it sounded pretty good. When I got off I saw that it was Sharon Cellani and Carlos Rios! Then I realized she was humming Rhiannon. As mentioned before, the benefit started off with Stevie singing At Last. If you ever get a chance to see her sing this, GO! It was so wonderful to hear her give new meaning to this song. Everyone loved it(including some people that didn't even know who Stevie was)(can you imagine that?) Her rendition was truly surreal. A little later, after some really great people, Stevie came back with Carlos, Mick, Sharon and Mindy, and the event band and sang Dreams, Rhiannon, and Stand Back. I know she sings these alot but she never ceases to amaze me everytime. The event band gave the songs a slightly different sound(especially Stand Back) (less of a rock sound) but it was still great. Stevie's portion was definitely not long enough, but it was great seeing her again. It may be quite a while before we have the privilege again.

by Hannah Castellaw

Stevie's performance was stellar. She opened the show showing off her vocal versatility with "At Last" -- a bluesy 40's tune. She nailed every note with raw power and finesse. To hear her backed with a 100-piece orchestra was a first for me. It was awesome. And she looked absolutely stunning in her red satin spaghetti strap gown complete with feather boa (which she knows how to use)! I trained my binoculars on her feet as she lifted her dress slightly from the floor -- burgandy platform boots! Whoohoo!

She came back later in the show dressed in her black dress with the layered skirt and feather boa. Mick played drums while she sang "Dreams", "Rhiannon", and "Stand Back". It was good to hear Mick play. His sound is so distinct and familiar. At some point she traded the boa for a red shawl. She talked to the audience after "Rhiannon" saying that she had just finished a tour where she talked a lot, which she never did before, but was now in the habit of doing. She said she had performed "Rhiannon" every tour with FM and solo since 1975 and it sounds different every time. So, she concluded that the song has an extra special something to it. Then she seemed a little embarrassed and turned quickly to Carlos Rios and said something like "All right". Mindy and Sharon were there, too, sounding crystalline.

Stevie managed to give even more emotion to each song than I have seen previously the last 3 times I have seen her live. She was very gracious and grateful to the audience. I am glad I had the opportunity to see the show. It was all for an extremely worthy cause, a cause you cannot top -- children. I am thankful I was able to be a part of it. What can I say? Though I do not know Stevie Nicks, there is something extremely endearing about her. As I have said before in other reviews, it is not my habit to say I love someone I do not know, but I might be able to make an exception for Stevie Nicks. In addition to being a talented, strong person, she is also sort of vulnerable. I guess that is what makes her so loveable.

Stevie came out to open the Andre Agassi Benefit Show in her stunning red dress from last spring's "Stormy Weather" benefit concert to sing "At Last"! She sounded terrific! After Marc Cohen, Amy Grant, & Dennis Miller performed, David Foster, the Emcee, introduced Mick, who did his drum solo gig! He is a showboat! Then, Stevie came out in her black layered lace dress & boots...She did Dreams, Rhiannon, and Stand Back!!! She was in excellent form and ROCKED!!! The crowd loved her! Then, Robin Williams performed--He is a real hoot! Great live! After Lionel Ritchie sang, then all kinds of people came up to the stage & danced...Stevie was there playing her tambourine! It was a fantastic show! WHERE WILL STEVIE BE SINGING NEXT??? I CAN'T WAIT!!!