Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Imitation, so they demand, is the greatest form of flattery, yet as the Philharmonic Hall resounded to the songs of one of the greatest groups, the most dynamic, and arguably one of the most beautifully headstrong and verging on the forever self destructible, Fleetwood Mac, the sense of proportion given to the tired old clichéd phrase, was to be scorned, was to be left alone in a corner where all clichés must finally rest and disappear when in the face of the overwhelming evidence before the crowd’s eyes, that this was not imitation, this was not an impression of glory, this was genuine, heartfelt and authentic in every way possible, this was no idle gossip masquerading as truth, this was Rumours of Fleetwood Mac in their home town being simply awesome.
Rumours may fly, and who can blame them when one of the finest tribute acts of all time comes on stage, undeniable and irrefutable in their choice of music, and if it was just that, if it was just the recreation of songs such as The Chain, Go Your Own Way, Songbird, Black Magic Woman, Man of the World and Albatross then even that would stand them in good stead amongst the fans of band, but it is, and always has been no matter who filled the big shoes of a band who brought one of the best selling albums of all time to life in Rumours, it is the capacity and genuine appreciation to make sure the songs are offered to the audience with love, with as much bite and softness of spirit as was originally laid down in the studio.
It takes skill to replicate, in the middle ages it was seen a gift to be able to take someone’s work and present it in the same exactness and timing, and who are we ever to argue with people that knew more we ever might.
In Allan Cosgrove, Jess Harwood, Etienne Girard, Emily Gervers, Dave Goldberg, Scott Poley and James Harrison, the music of Fleetwood Mac is illustrious, given life to in an age where the fans of the band have only had the briefest of tours in which to attend in recent memory and one that does not shy away from delivering, not only the songs that many in the audience would have loved between Rumours and Tango in the Night but also the songs of Peter Green, the standard bearers of the British Blues explosion and the illuminating, hard hitting finale of the forceful response to the Punk generation coming through in Tusk.
Imitation may be the easy way to gain applause, the sense of purity and truth is a much harder beast to tame and control and in Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, this is not so much a mask worn by other players but the exposed soul being marvelled at with open and honest respect. A tremendous evening enjoyed by all inside the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, a night of memories and love adored throughout.
Ian D. Hall