By RICHARD BORDELON

OPINIONS EDITOR

Photo courtesy of wikimedia

The “Gold Dust Woman” and her band mates were on in full force on Monday night, as Fleetwood Mac performed to a packed house at Madison Square Garden.  This concert was the third part of their 2013 World Tour coinciding with the re-release of Rumours, the band’s most popular album, originally released in 1976, whose new edition includes songs from previously unreleased recording sessions and recordings of live performances.

Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, accompanied by a few backup singers and musicians, performed a wide list of songs, from classics like “Go Your Own Way” to the recently-recorded “Sad Angel.”  Mixing in commentary with music, the concert presented the origin and  history of the band and its music.

Although they may be much older now, their performance is still just as electric.  They opened with a driving “Second Hand News,” followed by the signature twangy opening of “The Chain.”  Buckingham’s and Nicks’ vocals blended just as well as they did in 1976, and the duo of backup singers compensated for the lack of Christie McVie, who left the band in 1997.

A highlight of the night was Nicks’ rendition of the classic “Landslide.” Accompanied only by Buckingham on guitar, she took center stage and blew everyone away with the ballad that sounds just as fresh as it did in the 70s.  Its musical foil, “Gold Dust Woman,” was a rollicking hit, featuring one of Buckingham’s signature guitar solos and Nicks on vocals with her classic showmanship.

For an encore, they performed another hit, “Don’t Stop,” featuring an incredible drum solo from Fleetwood, one of the band’s original members.  McVie played steady bass throughout the show, notably during his bass solo in “The Chain.”

The band will play two more shows in the New York area, performing at the Prudential Center in Newark on April 24 and at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on June 22, and with these four members taking the stage together for the first time in years, you should definitely “Go Your Own Way” to one of these great nights of music.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Ram Review

Tags: RICHARD BORDELON