Fleetwood Mac Take Dublin By Storm

Ever since their inception in 1967, Fleetwood Mac have been one of the most indomitable bands of them all. Their first incarnation gave them a UK No.1 with 'Albatross' and some of the most memorable tracks of the British blues revolution. Almost everyone in Ireland will be familiar with 'Oh Well', which was the theme tune to the Dave Fanning Show for many years.
And yet they could afford to leave all of that behind. Not a single track from those inspiring early years features in their current repertoire.
In 1975, the new classic Fleetwood Mac line-up of Mick Feetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham released their first (eponymous) album and it went to No.1 in the US. Successful as that was, it was subsequently dwarfed by the extraordinary Rumours, which went to No.1 all over the world, selling a cumulative total of 40 million records.
That line-up has gone through so many personal upheavals that it is almost impossible to fathom how they are still on the road, some 40 years after their debut. There was, of course, the small matter of Christine McVie dropping out for about 16 years, but she is back now, ensuring that this is the tour that every single Fleetwood Mac fan of the modern era really wants to see.
No wonder the 3 Arena is filled with the young and the old, the lovers and the loveless, men and women together and separately – all united in their eagerness to see if this extraordinary band can still thrill the masses like no other.

Opening with 'The Chain', Christine McVie in particular receives a rapturous reception, her inimitable croon fleshing out those country and gospel soaked harmonies. She sounds like she hasn't missed a beat despite the 16 year lay-off on the soulful shuffle 'You Make Loving Fun' and even at this early stage it's obvious that her presence has breathed new life into the band. 'Dreams' and 'Second Hand News' are up next and if the thousands in attendance weren't already won over by four songs from Rumours, the gloriously gloomy 'Rhiannon' and 'Everywhere,' (every bit as bright as the former is dark), ensure that the crowd is eating out of their hands.

On the night, Stevie Nicks' voice sounds slightly ravaged, but it is also resilient and full of character: particularly on the beautiful 'Landslide', on which she is backed only by Lindsey Buckingham and his guitar, she could provoke tears from Mr T. Speaking of her former paramour, the singer and guitarist must have the proverbial "painting in the attic" as he looks ageless and his innovative playing and impassioned singing on Tango In The Night classic 'Big Love' remains spell-binding.

There are those who might want to pour scorn on a so-called "heritage act" trotting out the hits from decades past. Well, sod 'em. For this reviewer, weaned on his parents' Fleetwood Mac LPs, it's a genuine pleasure to witness a band who still very much have that indefinable something which distinguishes great bands from the herd. 'Little Lies' is a particular joy, as is the proto-goth delight, 'Gold Dust Woman,' on which Nicks really shines.

Mick Fleetwood's drum solo, I could perhaps live without, but then that's just me: either way, his rallying cry of "Don't be shy!" while he thumps his tubs is oddly charming. 'Don't Stop,' as expected, brings the house down, and after that it's left to Christine McVie to wrap things up for a soulful, solo run-through of 'Songbird'. Just the right side of sweet, the song's refrain of "I'll love you like never before" feels like the perfect summation of the previous two and a half hours. Gorgeous.