Project Description
STEVIE NICKS
with THE PRETENDERS
@ PERTH ARENA 2/11/17
(Live Review)
Reviewer – Jarrod Henry
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Rock troubadour, poet, storyteller, fashionista, STEVIE NICKS is one of the truly greatest female music icons of our age. Having joined a revamped FLEETWOOD MAC in the 70’s and being propelled to stardom, the imagery of her long flowing dresses and scarves, twirling in the stage light, and her distinctive delicate yet raspy vocal style has ensured her place as one of the most instantly recognisable and influential figures in music. And a successful solo artist in her own right to boot.
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Stevie Nicks – Photo by Klowe Photography
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Thursday night saw Nicks kick off her long awaited return to Australian shores for her 24 Karat Gold tour and the night held all the promise of a stellar performance by the rock legend.
Opening the show were THE PRETENDERS and as Chrissie Hynde and co took to the stage set against a tasteful backdrop, they instantly set about laying down some of the ballsiest rock ‘n’ roll swagger the Perth venue has ever seen. Dressed in a sparkling jacket the singer lead her band – including long time “best rock ‘n’ roll drummer” Martin Chambers – straight into Alone and Gotta Wait off their most recent 2016 album before offering fans a taste of some of their biggest hits via a gorgeous Hymn To Her, Brass In Pocket and Back On The Chain Gang. Their debut single, a cover of The Kinks’ Stop Your Sobbing got a welcome response and it was clear that Hynde was in a damn good mood and is still in full possession of her hardened ‘tough woman in rock’ attitude as well. Brash, raw, honest, The Pretenders are still a powerful live band and the perfect opening act for the night.
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The Pretenders – photo by Klowe Photography
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And then there was Stevie. Decked out in her familiar flowing black garb, the pint sized blonde launched into Gold And Braid and instantly had several thousand fans firmly in the palm of her hand. Nicks is not merely a singer in any way; the often humorous anecdotal recountings in between songs shed light on her as a person and made each new song that much more special, more intimate. With Hynde joining her onstage to duet on Stop Dragging My Heart Around the pair – with guitarist Waddy Wachtel taking the vocal duties from the sadly departed Tom Petty (who more than once would appear spectre-like on the screen behind Nicks during the course of the show) – exclaimed upon the song’s conclusion “that’s the first time we did it right!”.
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Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde – Photo by Klowe Photography
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There were always going to be a few Mac songs thrown into the mix and an early airing of Gypsy had the crowd on their feet, singing, dancing and living the moment. And again Nicks’ weaving, often slightly rambling train of thought song introductions only sweetened each number all the more. Her hilarious tale of how Prince’s Little Red Corvette became Stand Back was a standout of the night, and was perfectly juxtaposed with the darkly Gothic Moonlight (A Vampire’s Tale) that left all present spellbound.
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Stevie Nicks – photo by Klowe Photography
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A live performance of Crying In The Night from her debut album with Lindsay Buckingham was a true fan’s delight – the more solid rock number sitting alongside Nicks’ more well known back catalogue perfectly. If You Were My Love saw the Arena turned into a cathedral of harmonies, the sound swelling until it filled every corner of the cavernous space. Gold Dust Woman, the only song lifted from the multi platinum selling Rumours album in the set – was as dramatic and passionate as ever, Nicks twirling around the stage to the delight of all. But crowd reaction hit the roof when Wachtel kicked into the intro to Edge Of Seventeen, throwing in snatches of AC/DC’s Hells Bells for good measure, before Nicks kicked into the familiar chorus refrain. A song written partly to express her grief over the 1980 assassination of John Lennon, it’s still an absolute classic and the perfect song to round out the main set.
Returning to the stage to encore with a sublime Rhiannon, it was left to just the duo of Nicks and Wachtel to bring the night home with a beautiful take on Landslide that bought the house down.
Many have imitated her, many have been influenced by her, but in the end there is really only one STEVIE NICKS. Likening herself to “your crazy aunt no one wants to know” it was clear that she still has the ability to draw a crowd in with her magic, her charm, and those incredible songs.
Long Live The Queen.
AMNPLIFY – RL
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