Fleetwood Mac – Saddledome, Calgary – May 17, 2013
Rumours (1977) is one of those rare albums with no skips. Perfect then, perfect now, it’s a true classic—not just for those who were there when it came out, but for anyone who puts it on today. Timeless.
That’s why I gave Fleetwood Mac a second chance live. A few years back, their show barely convinced me. This time, I thought maybe they’d prove me wrong.
They didn’t.
Kicking off with three Rumours staples—“Second Hand News,” “The Chain,” and “Dreams”—the band made it clear they weren’t interested in anything beyond pandering to nostalgia, and in the laziest way possible. The energy was flat, the magic absent. Friday night at the Saddledome felt less like a celebration of Rumours’ 35th anniversary and more like watching a tired band go through the motions for two and a half long hours.
The stage design didn’t help: dim spotlights, a setup that looked like an old theatre past its prime. Buckingham had a few inspired guitar moments—his solo “Big Love” stood out—but he was the only one who seemed invested. Stevie Nicks, when not buried in the mix, was a shadow of her former self. Without Christine McVie, her voice grew weary quickly, leaving me wondering if she even wanted to be there, or was simply clocking in for the paycheck.
The “lost song” story they tried to revive fell flat—it should have stayed unreleased. And while “Go Your Own Way” and “Don’t Stop” briefly lifted the crowd into singalong mode, the spark didn’t last.
Rumours remains eternal. Fleetwood Mac on that Friday night, however, were old, worn, and uninspired. I found myself checking my watch, counting down until the end of an embarrassing performance. When it finally came, it felt less like a finale and more like relief.
My second attempt at enjoying Fleetwood Mac live ended with a mental note: never again.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Matt Becker, 2009 )
