Christmas music may be playing everywhere this month, but last week at the Majestic Theater in Dallas, Texas the seasonal songs would have to be put on hold because one of the truly great icons of 70’s and 80’s rock, Lindsey Buckingham was stopping by to bend some strings and belt out some tunes. When thinking of the legendary band Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie sang all the radio friendly, pop songs while Stevie Nicks gave us those mystical songs, we thought were so cool. However, it was Lindsey Buckingham who sang the really good stuff. However, Lindsey could have been singing Beastie Boys songs for all I cared. I mostly showed up to hear the guy play guitar. Of course, this wish was soon answered as the 72-year-old rocker took the stage not looking a day over 52, and launched into some wild, acoustic guitar rift on the opening of the song NOT TO LATE. I’ve always said that Mr. Buckingham is one of the most underrated guitarists in the realm of classic rock, but compared to most classic rockers, the guy looks pretty good for 72 years old as well. Of course, 72 years old for normal people usually translate to somewhere around 150 for the average rock star.
I don’t know anything about Lindsey’s normal, senior citizen’s aches and pains, but his voice sounded like vintage 1976! The guy could still bring his voice down to a mesmerizing whisper making the audience hang onto every word, and then he could also belt out lyrics with such force that the folks walking outside, down Elm Street could probably hear!
Just to make sure everyone was paying attention, Lindsey pulled out his first, big solo hit TROUBLE and slowed it down to such a hush, that we all thought that he might be concerned about waking up the neighbors. Then keeping that leisurely, acoustic vibe going he flowed into the Fleetwood Mac classic NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN with such emotions that none of us dared go back again. Where ever that might be. Although Lindsey isn’t listed as a member of Fleetwood Mac these days, he seemed to pull that song off just fine, all by his lonesome. At times he did stand all alone on the stage, but most of the time he had a pretty good band backing him up, and apparently there’s a new solo album out there. So, this meant that Mr. Buckingham had a few new songs to play, but as he pulled out his familiar Rick Turner Model guitar (for the guitar buffs) the guy dove back into the Fleetwood Mac tunes with SECODN HAND NEWS, and nobody at the Majestic Theater seemed to be complaining. Especially the woman directly in front of me who decided that she needed to stand up throughout all the Fleetwood Mac songs, although no one else in my section felt such a need. Although she wasn’t very tall, what the lady lacked in height, she generously made up for in width, and I could barely see Lindsey as he launched in the 1980’s hit TUSK. Oh well, I could see the drummer, and the drum part is really what takes that song to another musical level.
But drummers be darned, for the next song allowed Lindsey to really show off his guitar chops, and while bounding all over the stage he cut loose on a guitar solo that could have shut down the outside Dallas traffic. It’s amazing what that guy can do without a pick. And before we could catch our breath, he led his band into one of the ultimate classic rock songs, GO YOUR OWN WAY, which brought everyone to their feet regardless of their height or width. Although everyone in the audience seemed to be into the old favorites, I had to wonder what the majestic rocker thought as he finished up the show with one of his new songs while watching at least a fourth of the crowd drift out the doors of the Majestic Theater. By the time Lindsey took his final bow, I was the only one left in my row. I guess after the Fleetwood Mac songs were over some of the fans just, “went their own way.” Now, that just ain’t right.
