Customer Reviews

Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Buckingham's hair has a grayish sheen; Nicks, who I have seen several times as a solo act, is clearly a mature woman long past the days of her svelte Welsh Witch; John McVie and Mick Fleetwood lead both of them in age. Given this, one almost expects a "nostalgia" tour, but nostalgia be damned: even in the absence of Christine McVie, this is still one helluva band, and God help recent girl singers and boy bands who might be tempted to sneer: when Fleetwood Mac takes the stage, you get Big Time Take No Prisoners Rock And Roll.

I was fortunate enough to see Fleetwood Mac on this particular tour when the band played Biloxi, Mississippi--and I was even more fortunate to be sitting within arm's reach of the stage, directly in front of the wall of energy the band generates. While nothing can really duplicate the experience of a truly powerhouse live concert, LIVE IN BOSTON comes very close to capturing the authority of what I experienced that evening, and that says a great deal for both the band and this concert film.

Christine McVie's absence, the loss of her cool blue voice that so perfectly balances out Buckingham and Nicks extremes, the loss of her uniquely beautiful songs--that's regrettable, but I must say the band doesn't let it slow them down any. From such Mac standards as "Go Your Own Way" from the classic RUMORS to picks from the recent SAY YOU WILL, everything crackles with energy.

Nicks' voice, always a delicate instrument, has darkened with time and is no longer as ethereal as once it was, but her richness of tone more than makes up for the loss; songs like "Landslide" and "Beautiful Child" sound better than ever. Buckingham's poetry-in-motion guitar playing and electrically eccentric vocals combine with a manic physical energy to create a huge musical and physical presence. And while the unassuming John McVie fades into the background to work his wonders on bass, Mick Fleetwood is positively demonic in the star drum trap--and the two roll it out like thunder. It's just a knockout all the way.

The previous DVD of THE DANCE tour is perhaps more technically perfect--but while excellent, that performance was more formal in tone; LIVE IN BOSTON is simply raw rock and roll, ready to blow the roof off. True, the accompanying CD is weak--but CD or not CD, if you'll pardon the bad pun, is no major question. This is a concert DVD that will simply blow you away. Worth every cent!

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

I am a huge and passionate Fleetwood Mac fan. I was lucky enough to see this last 'Say You Will Tour' 6 times throughout 2003 and 2004. My last concert being May 23, 2004 in Jacksonville, FL. where I had the great opportunity of being front row, and interacting with the band (playing Lindsey's guitar and much more)- technically I actually had 3rd row tickets, but security let the first 4 rows move up front and stand at the stage.

I was greatly anticipating the release of this DVD set. I purchased it on the day of its release, and I still love it..in fact I actually watched it about an hour ago.
I will start off with what I love about this DVD, and later get into what I do not love.
First off it's just great to have a new DVD since the Dance video. It's also great to have a video filmed from an actual concert, compared to the Dance when the crowd was invite only.
Lindsey Buckingham is portrayed best here, and his wildness on stage is really shown. I felt it at the concerts and I could feel it watching this DVD as well. He has proved himself to be a musical genius. You really get a sense while watching what he's actually like in concert.
Stevie Nicks, through all her criticisms that every video performance receives her...shines. She has always been deeply scrutinized, especially when performing live. Some fans and especially critics have it in their heads that this 56 year old woman (55 when this was taped) should be EXACTLY like she was in 1975 screaming her vocal chords out to RHIANNON.. I guess you would like her to still be on drugs as well??

Anyway...'Say Goodbye' is one of the highlights of the DVD. It is a new song from their SAY YOU WILL CD, and this live performance is much better than the album version. The way they perform it live, is somewhat slower than the album version. Stevie's voice is so delicate in this song, and this is one of the intense moments of the set.
'Beautiful Child' has been one of the highlights of this tour. Never performed live until this current tour, it is truly a delight to hear. Stevie Nicks sings this tune with such intensity , while watching you feel like you are sitting in her home watching her sing it for the first time.

Stevie gives her trademark "GOLD DUST WOMAN" scream, and wears her trademark gold shawl. She even breaks out her cream colored high heeled platform boots of days gone by for GYPSY.
"Come" another song from SAY YOU WILL, really shines on this DVD as well. Although Lindsey doesn't play a whole lot of guitar in this song, he focuses much more on his crazed screaming and intense flirting with the ladies in the front row. The backing band really deserves credit for the incredible music in this song. Carlos Rios, and Neale Heywood play some incredible and hard pounding electric guitars in this one. While Mick's drumming is great, Steve Rinkov's backing drumming is what makes this particular song. Also we cannot forget "the backbone of Fleetwood Mac" John McVie on bass, which is very prominent in "COME."
Another highlight is Stevie Nicks' solo hit "STAND BACK." I have been reading the reviews her, and I too think her performance was superb. It is a moment within the show that really allows Stevie to rock out. Many of her Fleetwood Mac tunes are not what one would call "upbeat" songs, so this solo addition to the site really adds a lot to the show. You get to see her do her classic twirls, here. During Stand Back she probably twirls about 10 consecutive times, gives a few kicks and does all that famous dancing Stevie Nicks is known for, love it or hate it!
Stevie dedicates "LANDSLIDE" to her former lover and band-mate Lindsey Buckingham, and she performs a memorable rendition of this classic.
"TUSK" is another musical performance which the backing band deserves much credit. This is another tune which Lindsey plays little guitar, opting for another crazed vocal and stage performance instead. The USC Marching band is not here, but their horns are nicely sampled in via today's new technology. A video of the USC Marching Band is also shown in the background during the song. You get to watch Lindsey yell "TUSK" "TUSK" and then chase Stevie Nicks around the stage as they perform a mock boxing match.
Now, my disappointments with this set. The editing, the editing, the editing is all that needs to be said. This show was filmed over two consecutive nights - Sept 23 (with an invite/winners only crowd of 1000 lucky fans) for closeup purposes as well as audio, as well as the actual concert on Sept 24 - both at the Fleet Center. This is all fine and dandy, except those who edited failed to do a great job in putting this all together. Once in "RHIANNON" Stevie's vocal continues for about 1 sec after her face is away from the mic. This is a problem caused by filming over two nights, and not watching little mistakes like that.
I agree with a previous reviewer that there is too much camera cutting in certain songs, that are not even fast songs. In slow songs the camera should be a little more "Steady" and focus on one thing, rather than jumping all over the stage. It makes it have a much less intimate feel. I agree also that there is not much point in all the long distance shots. We KNOW they draw a huge crowd of 20,000 + and a couple of nice crowds shots would have done it. It seems as if the editers wanted to remind everyone of the size of the crowd, except in THE MIDDLE OF SONGS.
The sound is great, except sometimes it seems to fluctuate. In slow songs like "SAY GOODBYE" Lindsey's guitar seems to get louder in some parts, where it really doesn't do that in the actual concert. I feel the need to turn the tv down a little in certain parts. However, overall the audio mixing is great and the sound is pretty tight.
Another little problem I have is this being 2 DVD's. Certainly it could have all fit on one DVD, as did the Dance video which still had superb quality (I would say a little better quality than this DVD)..Was the purpose so the price could be jacked up? Well, I dunno that's for everyone to decide. Regardless, it's pointless for this to be a 2DVD set...it kind of interrupts the show if you are watching the concert in its entirety to have to change discs in the middle.

Overall I was quite satisfied with this DVD. I strongly recommend it to those who love this great band. It has it's technical problems, but the band is superb. The sound is incredible for the most part, the video is the only rough part at times. The packaging is nice...although most of the pictures in the booklet are not actually from THIS particular concert, that's ok. I would say even without Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac managed to really shine. This tour was the 3rd highest grossing tour of 2003, and there's a reason. THEY ROCK!

I am a diehard Fleetwood Mac fan who attended five concerts in Australia and watched this DVD three times over 96 hours. Despite my fanatical tendencies, I can still be critically objective about Fleetwood Mac.

I am ambivalent about this DVD at best. One the one hand, it is great to have a DVD recording from the current tour. It allows you to relive the concert and to reconnect with idiosyncracies such as the boxing sequence in 'Tusk', to Stevie's 'Say You Will' dance, and Mick's drum solo. There are beautiful moments captured from the acoustic delicacies of 'Say Goodbye' to the epic 'I'm So Afraid' or the spellbinding 'Gold Dust Woman'. Musically speaking - whether you attended a concert or not - you will enjoy the music. Not only is the music superb but the performances are great. Some fans will miss Christine but they should also look at it as an opportunity for the band to head in a different creative direction - and therefore offer us something different as well.

Lindsey is the most active member of the band in this concert. You really get the sense that it's his moment to take center stage. The dialogue between Stevie and Lindsey (whether staged or not) really comes through. The sound and lighting is stunning.

The problem remains in the visual presentation of the concert. I found it alienating and and lacking in emotion. For starters, the editing is too rapid. This makes the concert's pace very snappy. That pace is fine for faster songs but Fleetwood Mac songs are often hypnotic and packed with emotional fibre - that a camera shot would be better to sit and pause for a while to capture that emotion. The film does not know when to be still. Compare any song to 'Silver Springs' from 'The Dance' DVD and look at how the camera sits on Stevie for a while before cutting away to a different band member. In short, the editing is not always appropriate and doesn't allow the audience to engage with the emotion as much as it could.

Secondly, there are too many long shots which creates further alienation between the band and the viewer. Again, this is an editing issue. The idea of a film concert is to bring the viewer closer to the band. It is awful to have Stevie sing a slow song only to cut to a long shot from the back of the Fleet Center. Nicks' fans will hate the fact that you hardly see close-ups of Stevie's face. That may have been a conscious choice on her part but that adds to the alienation as well.

Therein lies my ambivalence: I cherished the DVD because the music is superb but I was disappointed by the visual presentation. I don't mind rapid editing but I think it should be appropriate for the song. Hopefully one day, it will be re-edited. In the meantime, I'll listen to the DVD rather than watch it. That said, it's still a worthwhile purchase.

Being a longtime member of the online Fleetwood Mac fan community, I have come in contact with some of the fans who were in the audience for this performance. The audience was only about 1,000 if that, but they sounded like a full arena. And, seeing two stops on the tour, I can tell you that Fleetwood Mac definitely turns up the intensity when they're performing for a potentially huge audience.

Making a song-by-song comparison of the songs on The Dance or any prior videos to Live in Boston would take much too long, so I'll just throw in some highlights.

"The Chain" was better on the Mirage concert video and it was better on The Dance video. There was practically no communication at all between Stevie and Lindsey. In The Dance, Stevie's glaring at Lindsey during this song. In the Mirage video, they're both glaring at each other.

"Rhiannon" has become very tame in concert lately, but Stevie seemed to display more intensity for this version than she did on The Dance. However, it still pales in comparison to her earlier days when she was a dervish on stage for this song. There's just a different kind of intensity now, more of the smouldering variety.

"Gold Dust Woman" was at its very peak on The Dance, so there was no topping that here. The Tango In The Night video was also not nearly as good as The Dance version. "Gypsy" just loses too much live. The Dance version was marginally better than this one or the Mirage video version because it was recorded live in a studio.

"Eyes Of The World" was better on the Mirage video because Christine was there, but you can tell it's a fun song for the band and Stevie is having a blast with that song. It was interesting to hear Stevie sing Christine's parts on "Don't Stop" but I've wanted Stevie to play a larger role in that song anyway.

One of the few songs that was dramatically better on this video than on any previous video was "Stand Back." Stevie has not performed that song with as much energy as she has displayed on that video in over 20 years. The Live in Boston version of that song easily beats the Tango In The Night version or the Live at Red Rocks solo version. No question.

As for the CD, it's ridiculous that they only included 10 songs and they picked mostly the ones that every Fleetwood Mac fan already had many times over. The only songs I was really excited to get on the CD were "Stand Back" and "Eyes Of The World." Not only that, but the editors spliced in Christine's vocals in some songs and replaced the end solo in "Go Your Own Way" with the version from The Dance CD.

"Stand Back" and "Eyes Of The World" give this CD the four star rating.

When I viewed this DVD, I was in tears due to the fact that I had not witnessed such a fabulous concert in so many years. Frankly, I was shocked at the greatness that was exhibited in an era when music is only about looks and the money.

Ådditionally, Fleetwood Mac is not nor ever has been my favorite band.

However, after viewing Lindsey Buckingham live I was floored. The guy is the closest thing to Jimi Henrix I have ever heard. Obviously, we all know he is grossly underrated.

I would advise anyone who loves music to watch this and see a real player in action. You will not be disappointed. His humility in today's society is a rarity which makes him even more awesome.

God bless all. The Music Goddess.

Not even the absence of Christine McVie could get me to lower my score to 4 stars. Lindsey Buckingham makes up for any flaws in this concert. His chops on I'm So Afraid alone would be worth the cost of the DVD. Mick Fleetwood has calmed down a bit, but he still does a great job and Stevie is still Stevie.

The quartet version of Fleetwood Mac hit the road not long after the release of SAY YOU WILL, and this deluxe set of two DVD's and one CD does a respectable job of serving as a permanent document of these shows. Although the lovely-voiced Christine McVie will always be missed, the remaining members pull together surprisingly well into a tight, energetic unit. The concert set is a bit too predictable for my taste, and most of the arrangements do not differ drastically from the studio versions, but this is perhaps to be expected. In any event, these four individuals (all them well over 50 years old) still put on one hell of a show.

Some of the highlights from the show include Buckingham performing some of his brilliant, rarely-heard album tracks ("Eyes of the World," "Second Hand News") and Nicks' pulse-thumping performance of her 1983 solo hit "Stand Back." The new material from 2003's SAY YOU WILL is seamlessly incorporated, with the gentle, hushed "Say Goodbye" (featuring Buckingham's phenomenal acoustic guitar playing) emerging as the emotional highpoint of the show. The most pleasant surprise for me was Nicks' wrenching performance of 1979's "Beautiful Child." This song has always been the best composition that Nicks has ever written in my opinion and her impassioned-yet-restrained performance will leave listeners wonder why the complex, intricate song is not considered among the Mac's very best recordings.

On the downside, some of the lengthy tags (which are too be somewhat expected in a concert) seem to go on forever, particularly in "Come" and "World Turning" - which are drug out far past the tasteful level. There are also too many numbers that are performed in a manner identical to that of 1997's THE DANCE ("Dreams," "Big Love," "Landslide," "I'm So Afraid," "Silver Springs") that feels as if the band was trying too hard to capture lighting in a bottle twice. I would have personally rather heard some more rarely-performed material such as "Crystal," "I Know I'm Not Wrong," "Storms," or "Can't Go Back" instead of so many retreads from THE DANCE. I also didn't care for the lip-synched performance of "Tusk" - if the band couldn't effectively perform it without a large marching band, then the number should have simply been omitted.

Aside from these missteps, however, LIVE IN BOSTON is a good recording of a highly entertaining concert with many memorable moments. The band is largely in terrific form, with Lindsey Buckingham especially in peak condition and finally becoming a fan favorite in his own right. The sound quality is terrific and the video transfer is fine (although it is irritatingly presented in non-anamorphic widescreen), but the included "highlights" CD is disappointedly skimpy with only 10 tracks included. This DVD/CD combo peaked at #84 on the Hot 200, which isn't bad for a pricey, multimedia package.

I love Stevie Nicks as much as the the next fan and she is an integral part of this band, but let's be honest here, without the musical genius of Lindsey, there would be no Stevie Nicks and she knows it so why doesn't everyone else? Actually, there would be no Fleetwood Mac. Period. If you don't think so, consider this: When he left the band in the 80s' they needed TWO guitarists to replace him - and they soon folded like a house of cards. Where are those guitarists now? Do you know? Do you care? Didn't think so. Lindsey is without question one of the most underappreciated musical geniuses in popular music in every conceivable way - and the fact that supposed "Fleetwood Mac fans" would write a review and not mention him is scandalously incompetent and insulting. His guitar work is nothing less than breathtaking, whether it's bluegrass finger-picking or screaming electrical chords - and you get all of that on this DVD. The live acoustic version of Big Love is one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen and I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. On top of that, he's a gifted composer and vocalist. In every song, you hear nothing but exquisite melodies dripping from his guitar chords and he sings like it he means it - with unequivocal emotion. Even Stevie has said that Lindsey is the magic behind her best tunes. Listen to her solo music and then her Mac tunes and you really appreciate his subtle, but fluid guitar work. Christine's absence in this concert is bittersweet. Her smoky voice is indeed missed, but then it gives Lindsey the room he needs to really loosen up and expand. I do wish Stevie had performed more of her newer material like Silver Girl and Illume instead of Stand Back. Both are very haunting and sound like vintage Stevie. But her rare performance of Beautiful Child is a gem that can't be overlooked. I was hoping she too would loosen up more, but sometimes she seems uncomfortable on stage - like she doesn't know what to do with herself. But that's minor quibbling. I was fortunate to see this show in Worcester, MA and was blown away by it then. A year and half later, seeing the details and facial expressions that I couldn't see in person and the explosive chemistry between these two performers, I am still blown away. Say Goodbye is a sad and touching duet that will remind real music lovers that THIS is what great music and artistic integrity is supposed to sound like.

Stevie's performance of Beautiful Child alone would make this DVD/CD set worth purchasing. Beautiful Child is one of those hidden treasures that deserved to be heard and now it is.

Yes, the band is older. No, Stevie doesn't twirl as much and can't kick her foot higher than her head anymore...but who cares. The band's music and Stevie & Lindsey's voices are as strong as ever.

If the band needs to prove anything, they do! They prove that they can sing their classic songs with older, wiser voices and they prove, with their new songs, they they still have what it takes to touch their audience.

I have only one disappointment and it concerns the packaging of this DVD/CD set. There is only 1 song on the CD that isn't a classic. I think the CD should have been filed with the live versions of their newest songs because I'm sure Mac fans have numerous live versions of the classics already.

I read a review on here where somebody described Stevie Nicks as "pear shaped" and this is so shallow.FYI Ms. Nicks lost over 70 pounds and now weighs 125 pounds.She did this with no drugs, and slowly and steadily the past few years.No liposuction, no diet pills, she has simply remained on the Atkins diet and is healthy, drug free, and nicotine free.She is 5'1, so at 125, she has a little bit of hips, but give the lady a break.She is a singer/songwriter, a rock icon and the only female rock artist that STILL sells millions of cd's and sells out tours for 30 years and counting. Stevie is NOT a fashion model, she is an artist, so passing cruel comments regarding her weight is shallow and has nothing to do with the music, which, obviously, millions still enjoy.Unlike other females approaching 60, Stevie doesn't have that stretched out plastic surgery, or rely on trends to stay popular.Nicks is adored by her loyal fans because of her music.While she doesn't have the range of, lets say, a Pat Benatar, she excells with the most emotional sounding voice in rock.The songs she has written are classic rock staples, her image never changes, and she remains true to herself and her loyal fans.Like it or not, Stevie Nicks has lasted longer in terms of record and concert sales than any female rock star in history(sans Tina Turner, but Tina is not straight-up Rock and roll all the time).If being 125 pounds qualifies a person as "pear shaped." then the person who wrote that cruel comment needs to realise Nicks is a singer, and not a model.Besides, she is a very very good looking woman, an amazing singer and writer, has her own style of wardrobe and a hypnotic stage presence. 30 years later, she obviously created a genre of her own that seems to never bore her fan base.As for Buckingham, give him a break--he is an amazing guitarist and producer.As a member of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is a potent part of this band. As a solo artist, she proved to be a mega selling artist and one of the few that balanced a popular solo career while maintaining her position as a member of a major band(Fleetwood Mac).Regarding the few negative reviews of this concert, I do not agree. One person says the performers smiles are missing here. I watch this concert dvd over and over and love it and see a LOT of smiling amongst the band, plenty of energy and certainly no evidence of a tired band simply going through the motions.Bad editing? I found the camera work and editing wonderful. The sound qualty is amazing, the set list has new songs, rare songs and classics.Ths is a band who always have been able to combine great rock and roll with great melodies and an animated stage show that does not rely on special effects.And Mick Fleetwood and John McVie are one of the best rythym sections of any band in history.No matter how many people try and diss this band simply because they are older now, it will never stop the millions of fans who appreciate and love this music.If you enjoy Stevie and the Mac, buy this dvd set.It is another classic performance by one of the most succesful rock and roll bands in history.