After over a year on the road, Fleetwood Mac are wrapping up their massive world tour, An Evening With Fleetwood Mac. The 88-date trek began on October 3, 2018 and is expected to run through November 16, 2019, with a final stop in Las Vegas.
The lineup consists of core members Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks, as well as newcomers Neil Finn (Crowded House) and Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), who replaced ex-bandmate Lindsey Buckingham after he was fired last year.
Many fans speculated whether seeing a 2019 version of Fleetwood Mac, one without Buckingham, would even be worth it. But I'm here to tell you that it most certainly is.
The band has been performing hits from their entire discography, including "Dreams," "Rhiannon" and "Landslide," as well as a few famous covers like Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."
According to our Setlist.fm data, the band has been playing the exact same 22-song setlist each night on this run.
Take a look:
With the same setlist each night, you may think their shows are predictable. Once again, I'm here to tell you otherwise. With a career spanning more than half a century, they've perfected the art of the live performance, and still find ways to throw in surprises here and there.
That being said, here are some of the best highlights from their sets.
Opener "The Chain" gets the crowd going right away. This favorite from 1977's Rumors rattles defiantly through the air and gives fans a first listen to Finn, who plays the role of Lindsey Buckingham for the night – taking over for all of his songs, starting with "Second Hand News" – and Campbell, who shreds the song's iconic riffs as naturally as if it were his own.
They follow up with "Little Lies" and "Dreams" before Finn finds his place front and center for "Second Hand News." "I know there's nothing to say," he sings, almost hauntingly. "Someone has taken my place."
It's hard not to feel Buckingham's absence, but Finn and Campbell manage to hold their own and each add a personal flair to the legendary tunes.
"Black Magic Woman" serves as the show's centerpiece. Originally written by founding Fleetwood Mac member Peter Green, this blues-y rock version has never been as popular as its subsequent Carlos Santana cover, but after nearly 50 years of perfecting it, it's become the climax of the band's live performances. Nicks will usually address the crowd before it starts, acknowledging the fact that it was written from a man's perspective. She then bursts into a female reading of the song, and a jam sesh ensues.
After a cover of Split Enz' "I Got You" and hit "Rhiannon," Mick Fleetwood gets his 15 minutes. Literally.
A second standout moment comes in the middle of "World Turning," when Fleetwood and percussionist Taku Hirano go at it on the drums and bongos. The two slug it out for 10-15 minutes before the rest of the band slowly trickles back on stage.
The band pay homage to Finn's Crowded House days with a punchy rendition of "Don't Dream It's Over" (hey now, hey now!), that's followed up by the somber and poignant "Landslide."
During "Gold Dust Woman," Nicks takes complete control of the arena – donning a sparkly gold shawl and owning the stage with her signature enchanting twirls.
The group close out the main set with the upbeat "Go Your Own Way" before bursting into their 2-song encore of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'," which pays homage to the late musician with a slideshow of pictures flashing behind them on the screen, and "Don't Stop."
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If you want to see these songs performed live (who wouldn't?), head to Live Nation to cop your Fleetwood Mac tickets, and head to the band's website for their remaining 2019 tour dates!
