[The Nicks Fix]

Stevie Nicks - FAN REVIEWS

04/9/2011 United Center Chicago, IL




Fan in Illinois
Let the Spectaculars begin!
That was the general mood that could be felt after a whole day of waiting. It was 7:30 at United Center in Chicago and time to begin. The first star of the evening to step on stage was Rod Stewart, clad in a sweater and slacks (he pulled out the classic purple suit for his performance later) with the purpose of introducing Stevie.
And then, in her classic Stand Back march, she appeared, the music pulsating and driving a crowd of fans to happy madness.
There was Stevie in all her black regalia, looking more beautiful than ever, with a mission on her face to please.
The girls performed and looked as wonderful as always. Sharon’s sure shot voice delivered everything we always expect her to, and blended with Lori’s beautiful harmonies which made for sheer perfection. Lori’s hair is getting so long! It was good to see them again, supporting Stevie in her every move.
And of course the sensual dances with Waddy, reinforcing that affair of the heart that never really died.
A special guest appeared that just happened to be in town yesterday for a performance with Stevie at the Oprah show….None other than the stellar Ms. Sheryl Crow…you can’t describe how good it was to see them together. An extra treat! Stevie is always doing whatever she can to make the show as special as possible.
It was a little shorter set than ususal, but what can we say with two stars sharing the stage? It was good to hear “Leather and Lace”, and I know Rod loves that song. It was the right thing for them to do, although I wasn’t sure if Stevie would only reserve that song for Don Henley.
“Edge of Seventeen” pulled out all the stops, and you just wanted to cry it was so special.
At the end, Stevie implored us all to pray for the world, which is in so much trouble now. That being said, Waddy, we love you, but lose the “Homicide” shirt. I’ve seen it more than once and it just doesn’t make sense to me. Wear a different shirt and save that for rehearsals if you must. Or better yet, just don’t wear a shirt at all.

Jeff in Chicago
Here it is the morning after. Had a wonderful time taking in yet another Stevie Nicks concert, just last night at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Stevie has never looked so beautifully vibrant and healthy. Whatever you are doing Stevie, it's paying off big time. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. She sounded amazing and her show was spectacular. I read the reviews from other fans who reviewed previous shows on this tour and like one fan, I too was originally disappointed that her set list has become so predictable. Stevie has such an amazing selection of songs to choose from and I personally wish that she would take some risks. I assume that many other fans feel similarly. I'd love to hear live versions of Blue Lamp, Battle of the Dragons, Gate and Garden, Greta, Thrown Down, Thousand Days, etc., etc., etc. Having said that, the songs she did perform were extremely enjoyable, as they always are. Unlike another fan, who 'dissed' Fall From Grace, I sorely missed this song, since it seems to have been cut from the set list. I have learned to rock that song like I never thought I would.
Our Chicago show was made extra special by the presence of special guest Sheryl Crow. I enjoy both artists immensely, so this was a definite bonus! I had heard that Sheryl has joined Stevie on stage in the past, but I had yet to experience it. What a splendid surprise. Sheryl joined Stevie for Sorcerer, Landslide and encore selection Rock & Roll. I am not a big fan of Zeppelin's Rock and Roll and have wished in the past that Stevie would choose a different song from their repertoire, if she feels the need to pay homage to that legendary band, but last night as a part of a joint concert with Rod Stewart, there couldn't have been a better choice. The exclusive Rod Stewart fans ate it up. It was right up their alley. (And I must admit, I enjoyed it too.)
Which brings me to my only disappointment of the evening. I was not convinced I would go this joint concert because I am not a big Rod Stewart fan. Sure, I like some of his songs that I have heard throughout my lifetime, especially the ones I heard during the impressionable years on my youth, but I don't consider myself a fan to the extent of investing in his music for my home audio collection, let alone the expensive investment of live entertainment. However, weeks after tickets went on sale, I found some relatively good seats and afraid I would miss the only opportunity to hear selections from Stevie's new solo album, (of which she played Secret Love only), I bit the bullet and bought the tickets. Well, just as I feared, those of us wearing Stevie Nicks apparel were outnumbered by about ten to one to fans who wore Rod Stewart T-shirts. That wasn't so bad, but sitting among Rod fans who weren't as interested in Stevie's songs, I found myself annoyed a good portion of the night as they talked through Stevie's set, asking one another if he/she wanted tonic with their gin or club soda, then proceeding to get up and down the entire set. Stevie, I believe this was an incredible opportunity for you to experience something new, but please, 'headline' all your shows from now on, even if it means a more enjoyable, intimate and smaller venue. You are worth every penny spent in your presence. It isn't fair to those of us that invest in you to have our experience compromised by others who out of their lacking interest demonstrate poor concert etiquette. I hope we get to hear a recorded version of the live 'Love Is' since it was incredible. Unfortunately, this was the one song that was diminished most by the selfish Rod fans that surrounded me.
I have seen Stevie Nicks each and every concert since the Rumours tour and I expect to continue to age gracefully in this satisfying relationship that she and I have established as Rock Goddess and lifelong fan. Be blessed, Stevie, in all you do and I hope to see you soon, with both of us surrounded by the love of, and for, Stevie alone! I am looking forward to the release of In Your Dreams, and the solo tour to follow, I hope. Rock on.

Chris
I got the chance to see Stevie in Chicago. Her voice still sounds wonderful. It would be great to see Stevie in a theater setting where the acoustics were geared more towards music (Chicago Theater, Benaroya Hall).

Curtis
Did not wait for the Rod stewart show. Stevie Nicks and comapany are as tight and professional as ever. where was Rod to sing with Stevie and her band as he announced on Ellen???? The cost at the United Center is way out of line, $25.00 to park , $10.00 each for beer , wine cocktails and shots. the $40.00 T-shirts must come with oil shares and there was no program for Stevie Nicks fans. not to mention the teribble acouistics in this place.

Ronald
I was at the show last night in Chicago. 13th row! Awesome seats, and luckily I only paid the face value of the tickets. I still cannot get over how unfair the ticket process is for all concerts. All the really good seats are bought up by scalpers, would love to know how all the 'ticket brokers' get all the good, stage front seats, and then sell them to poor suckers for way more than face value. Anyway...back to the GREAT SHOW....Stevie and band looked and sounded awesome..they always do!! no need to go into set lists, as I see other people's reviews cover all that in full detail. ( thank you for that ). It was great to hear Stevie talk about how EXCITED she was to have done the OPRAH Show the day before while she was in Chicago ( will have to see when that show is going to air so we can all watch or dvr!! ) It was also cool of her to bring Sheryl Crow out on the stage to sing along..nice treat for the audience!! Rod Stewart was very entertaining as well. You have to give it him...being 66 and that great of a performer!! He really rocked the stadium. All those soccer balls he kicked into the audience was a lot of fun as well. He must have sent at least 25 of them out to fans! Now.....my ONE BIG COMPLAINT....perhaps it is not a good idea for this type of ' combined concert '. I paid good money..$150 each, for my tickets, and I was glad to do it because I am a huge Stevie fan...evidently...a lot of the people were NOT!! I could NOT get over how many people TALKED very loudly while Stevie sang her closing ballad...' Love is..'. It drove me insane!! I was furious! They could not care less that she was standing in front of them singing her song, with tons of emotion no less!! I could not even fully enjoy it because people were playing with their cell phones and carrying on conversations as thought they were in a loud bar or something. Rude and ignorant...is all I can say!! I wanted to say something...but I would have had to yell at everyone around me...and then I would have looked like the nut. I just tried my best to focus on Stevie while she sang that great song!! Hope to catch her in a completely SOLO tour for ' In your dreams'...I am sure she will be back to Chicago once the album is released!!

Jeremy
On Sunday, April 10th, 2011, I attended the Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart concert at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. My friend and I were in the 4th row on the floor to Stevie's left. It was incredible watching the band come out of the darkness and onto the stage. Stevie opened the show with "Stand Back," which is not my favorite opening song, but she made it work well. After several tours without playing it, she finally performed "Outside The Rain, which sounded awesome as it faded into "Dreams." She also included "Sorcerer," Gold Dust Woman," Rhiannon," "Landslide," and her new single, "Secret Love," in the setlist. Since the opening night's setlist, she dropped "Fall From Grace" from the set, which was a bummer because it's one of my favorite songs. She did a cover of Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me," which she sounded good covering. She ended the set with "Edge of Seventeen," as usual...which sounded really good. She did one encore, "Love Is," which sounded more like the demo version than the Shangri-La version. Either way, it was intense and good to hear live for the first time. This was my 8th time seeing Stevie...and the closest to her that I've ever been.

When Rod Stewart came out to play his set, he sounded really good too. I've never really been a Rod Stewart fan, but after seeing his show, I walked away liking his music more. Part of the way into Rod's set, he brought Stevie out to perform "Young Turks" and "Leather And Lace," both of which sounded really good. Overall, I was pleased with the entire concert, and I am so fortunate to have been watching it from the 4th row! I also can't wait for the new CD to be released! :)

Lisa
I attended the Chicago show on Saturday and was very disappointed. My husband paid a lot for floor seats as a surprise for my birthday and I couldn't see a thing. Stevie sounded so far away. I assumed it was the sound guys but then Rod rocked the house. Sheryl Crow dropping in was fantastic but then we couldn't hear her either. I have seen Stevie's Arizona Heart Institute Shows in Phoenix and was so looking forward to this show in my home town. I am usually entranced by her, but then again I couldn't see a thing so that would explain my disappointment. I hope this hasn't happened to anyone else.

Jeff from Joliet, Illinois
Here it is the morning after. Had a wonderful time taking in yet another Stevie Nicks concert, just last night at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Stevie has never looked so beautifully vibrant and healthy. Whatever you are doing Stevie, it's paying off big time. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. She sounded amazing and her show was spectacular. I read the reviews from other fans who reviewed previous shows and like one fan, I too was originally disappointed that her set list has become so predictable. Stevie has such an amazing selection of songs to choose from and I personally wish that she would take some risks. I assume that many other fans feel similarly. I'd love to hear live versions of Blue Lamp, Battle of the Dragons, Gate and Garden, Greta, Thrown Down, etc., etc., etc. Having said that, the songs she did perform were extremely enjoyable. Unlike another fan, who 'dissed' Fall From Grace, I sorely missed this song, since it seems to have been cut from the set list. I have learned to rock that song like I never thought I would.

Our Chicago show was made extra special by the presence of special guest Sheryl Crow. I enjoy both artists immensely, so this was a definite bonus! I had heard that Sheryl has joined Stevie on stage in the past, but I had yet to experience it. What a splendid surprise. Sheryl joined Stevie for Sorcerer, Landslide and encore selection Rock & Roll. I am not a big fan of Zeppelin's Rock and Roll and have wished in the past that Stevie would choose a different song from their repertoire, if she feels the need to pay homage to that legendary band, but last night as a part of a joint concert with Rod Stewart, there couldn't have been a better choice. The exclusive Rod Stewart fans ate it up. It was right up their alley. (And I must admit, I enjoyed it too.)

Which brings me to my only disappointment of the evening. I was not convinced I would go this joint concert because I am not a big Rod Stewart fan. Sure, I like some of his songs that I have heard throughout my lifetime, especially the ones I heard during the impressionable years on my youth, but I don't consider myself a fan to the extent of investing in his music for my home audio collection, let alone the expensive investment of live entertainment. However, weeks after tickets went on sale, I found some relatively good seats and afraid I would miss the only opportunity to hear selections from Stevie's new solo album, (of which she played Secret Love only), I bit the bullet and bought the tickets. Well, just as I feared, those of us wearing Stevie Nicks apparel were outnumbered by about ten to one to fans who wore Rod Stewart T-shirts. That wasn't so bad, but sitting among Rod fans who weren't as interested in Stevie's songs, I found myself annoyed a good portion of the night as they talked through Stevie's set, asking one another if he/she wanted tonic with their gin or club soda, then proceeding to get up and down the entire set. Stevie, I believe this was an incredible opportunity for you to experience something new, but please, 'headline' all your shows from now on, even if it means a more enjoyable, intimate and smaller venue. You are worth every penny spent in your presence. It isn't fair to those of us that invest in you to have our experience compromised by others who out of their lacking interest demonstrate poor concert etiquette. I hope we get to hear a recorded version of the live 'Love Is' since it was incredible. Unfortunately, this was the one song that was diminished most by the selfish Rod fans that surrounded me.

I have seen Stevie Nicks each and every concert since the Rumours tour and I expect to continue to age gracefully in this satisfying relationship that she and I have established as Rock Goddess and lifelong fan. Be blessed, Stevie, in all you do and I hope to see you soon, with both of us surrounded by the love of, and for, Stevie alone! I am looking forward to the release of In Your Dreams. Rock on.









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