Fleetwood Mac begins their 2009 Tour

photo: David Brewster, Star Tribune

Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band ever. My sister Renata and I are huge fans of Stevie Nicks. It was Renata who introduced me to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie's solo music when I was 16 years old (on the Edge of Seventeen...?? ok, I couldn't resist that one!!) We always said how cool it would be to go to a Fleetwood Mac concert. We finally got the chance in 2004. It was a phenomenal concert! The whole occasion was definitely one to remember. We still talk about it as if it happened last week. Renata and I drove 8 hours to Calgary for the concert, all the while dealing with cruddy weather (it was beautiful when we left home but freezing and windy in Calgary in July, which was ODD!), a decapitated bird stuck on our windshield, lack of sleep and not really knowing where the heck the Saddledome was and which train we were supposed to be on to GET to the Saddledome. We eventually found it. We shopped and hung out for the afternoon, went for supper at an awesome Chinese Restaurant, took the LRT to the concert and had a blast. Then we took the LRT back to the mall where our car was parked and proceeded to drive 8 straight hours back home, stopping for coffee at Timmy Ho's about 3 times on the way. Then Renata drove an extra 2.5 hours to her place. ALL IN ONE DAY. Talk about a marathon trip!! Renata says she was up for 29 hours straight. I catnapped on the way home off and on. Call us crazy. Call us insane. Our parents thought we were nutso. But it was all for Stevie and Fleetwood Mac. And it was the best concert I have ever been to.....that is, until last year, when my husband and I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in concert (Stevie's friends), who topped them.

Anyway, Fleetwood Mac is on tour again this year and I jumped at the chance to get tickets immediately after finding out about it on Ticketmaster. I did end up buying tickets for a concert in May, which I am excited about, but I wasn't so excited to pay $199 (each!) for good available tickets........especially with the state the economy is in. Oh well. I know this may be the last time I see FM in concert, so I am justifying it.

An early review of the Twin Cities concert was good but Stevie's review was so-so, her voice apparently wasn't in top form. I hope her health is ok and that her voice will improve as the tour goes on. It would be very disappointing if her voice wasn't up to par.

I did sneak a peek at the early tour setlist and Stevie is performing my favorite FM song ever, "Sara". That is cause for celebration! She performed it at the Calgary concert and I cried during the whole song. I knew from the opening chords what the song was going to be and she even wore the famous red 'Sara' shawl, reserved to be worn only while singing "Sara"....while the original 'Sara' concert video from 1979 played on the screen behind her. At that time, she hadn't performed the song live in 14 years (I knew that fact from nicksfix.com), so that was a big bonus for me -- the highlight of the concert.

An interesting note about this setlist - it includes "Storms" from Tusk (1979), which is possibly the first time Stevie has performed that song live on tour. I love "Storms".....very raw, very beautiful. I wish "Seven Wonders" could be included as part of the setlist (LOVE THAT SONG!!), "Thrown Down" from Say You Will and "Oh Daddy" as a duet between Stevie and Lindsey....one can dream though, right?

Words with humour spoken...music ramblings

The Grammys.
Such a treat.
A night of performers, shockers, non-shockers, never-before-thought-of-music duets, Kanye West's next televised I'm-the-best arrogant moment, bad outfits, cheesy interviews... like, on the red carpet, genuine reactions to Grammy wins (and losses). Sigh. You just can't beat that quality entertainment. Rivals the days of Soul Train. Remember that diddy? What's up with Don Cornelius these days, anyway?

This is [deepest bass voice] Souuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul Trraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain. Cue opening dance theme music and the full camera zoom-in of the Soul Train dancers.

Switching now to country music. I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Sugarland. The only song I can stomach while listening to Jennifer Nettles' vocals is the duet with Bon Jovi, "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" Oh, Jon. No "h". Love the hair. You are so cool.

Now, I am sure Jennifer Nettles is a very nice person, has songwriting talent, and has a multitude of adoring fans who a) will definitely disagree with this post, and b) can identify with at least one of her songs. I know. I just can't stand her singing voice. It kinda grates on my last nerve. I'm talkin' about that song, "Stay". Yes, the song about infidelity, the point of view from the mistress, and THAT man. Yes, the song that just won two Grammys. Yes, the song that literally struck a chord with everyone.

A co-worker of mine (Loretta Nettles) simply adores "Stay". It's her most favorite song ever. One day last summer, Loretta brought in a cheap radio to the office so that she could blast the song "Stay" every. single. day. on the local country station. When I first heard the song, my initial thoughts were "oh my..............OH......[cringe]....yikes....[brow furrowing].....OH DEAR. What does this song remind me of? Hmmn. Oh yes!!! Howling cats in an alley!! Right!!" Then, I felt some momentary waves of anger. I'm not the hugest fan of cats, either. I waited until my anger subsided and Loretta took a trip to the ladies'. I then calmly surveyed my remaining co-workers, clearly still in shock over the song.

Lacia: Ok, seriously peeps. This is just my gut talkin'. I had a reaction to that song, and it wasn't pretty. What's with the howling cats in the alley??

Co-worker #1: OMGAWD, I sooooooooo agree.

Co-worker #2: Looks up momentarily from her computer, then looks back down and whispers, Yes, something has to be done.

Co-worker #1: ok ssshhhhhhhhh. She's back from the ladies'.

Everyone pretends to go back to work. We didn't have the heart to tell Loretta Nettles to switch the station on her radio because of one song. I mean, just listen to the SONG. The mistress is hurten enough!! Surely we could spare some sympathy. But, honestly, we all were scare-dee-cats to change the station in front of Loretta. Just sayin'.

So, with that attitude, we all tolerated the song for about a month, all the while cringing, rolling our eyes, gritting our teeth, jabbing our gel/acrylic nails in our palms while Loretta crooned along Mick Jagger style to "Whhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy don't youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu STAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY". Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Loretta took a summer vacation! Finally, we would have control of the radio! Radio Ga-Ga!! This is our chance to intervene, peeps! At promptly 8:01am the next morning, we switched the radio station to good old 80s pop. My shoulders immediately relaxed knowing that John Tesh and Phil Collins would be taking over from Sugarland. At least for a week. Go 80s!!

A week later, we all sat on the edge of our seats on Loretta' s first day back from vacation. Is she gonna change the station?? Would she?? Is she gonna do it?? Loretta sat at her desk, no word about the changed radio station. hmmn.....suspicious.

The next day, I came into the office and caught Loretta singing along to "Against All Odds". Phil Collins ALWAYS prevails, people!! Just take a look at me now!

ANYWAY.

Speaking of 80s stars, my husband and I watched Whitney Houston's biography on the Bio Channel last week. It was quite the bio. I just love TV bio stories. There's something about the innocence factor and just getting into the business.....then succeeding.....then watching the inevitable train wreck exploding...the drugs! the shady business partners! the love! the money! the rehab! the tell-all interviews with "good" friends and family who can't help but blab to everyone what REALLY happened! Then....the COMEBACK!! This career is back on track! Sucks me in everytime.

Yesterday I read online that Whitney Houston performed at the pre-Grammy party thrown by her good friend and cheerleader, Clive Davis. I have to admit, I'm rooting for a Whitney comeback. I want those glory days back.....the days when I couldn't wait to sneak/borrow my older sister's Whitney cassette tapes. SO GOOD. SO MUCH BETTER than New Edition. Ok, I admit it. I've only listened to one song by New Edition. And that was enough.

So, Whitney dearie, after seeing your TV bio and hearing about the proposed comeback, I'm rooting for ya. I know you've probably heard this advice from countless others, but please take these words to heart. STAY AWAY FROM BOBBY BROWN. I repeat, STAY AWAY FROM BOBBY BROWN. I know you two named your daughter Bobbi Kristina, so there's no escaping the Bobby name, but please. Just stay away from Big Daddy, Bobby B. You ain't Bobby's boo no more. All of us are cheering for you. Go Whitney!