Fleetwood Mac woos Minneapolis

Standing amongst the swaying group of Fleetwood Mac fans and almost deaf from the mesmerizing sounds of Lindsey Buckingham’s electric guitar, I kept thinking…what wine would I possibly drink with this concert?  While Minneapolis’s Star Tribune viewed the concert as ‘addictive’ and Buckingham and Nicks’ performances as ‘non competitive’, I have a different take on last night’s concert at the Excel Center in St Paul.
Hitting the road with their ‘greatest hits tour’ is certainly the attraction to the revived group, but digging its old band members up to ‘rehit’ the road maybe isn’t going to be best idea for its participating icons.  Yes, we all love Stevie Nicks…crazy with her witchy, almost gypsy-like ways – spinning her way, with lacy shawls in hand, amid center stage – but from the looks of her half-opened sleepy eyelids, she may be better off resting on her retired laurels- at home – with a fat glass of Shiraz.  Her vocals unmistakable, her velvety top hats entertaining and her greatest hits, always a joy to hear but I wonder… is she a little too past her prime to get up on stage and really give her fans the Stevie Nicks that stunned a crowd 30 years ago?
As for her counterpart, Mr. Buckingham, the local paper is quoted as saying him to have had ‘the energy of a punk rocker half his age’  – do I agree?  Sure he jumped around stage demanding the crowd’s attention, falling to his knees after his ‘God like’ guitar solos, banging both hands on the strings of his electric guitar like he were ready to bleed from his fingertips, and his vocals dark and dusky as ever – but didn’t Minneapolis get to see that same performance with a bunch of ‘washed up’ rockers from a little group called: Motley Crüe – just last month?  
I’m not here to say that the show was bad, because I know it’s sounding like I didn’t enjoy it…I did.  With a solid 2 hour performance of 18 of their greatest hits, how could you not remember how much you love Fleetwood Mac?  But, with all honesty – I felt it to be a little bit of a competition between the two lead performers.  Don’t get me wrong, the band was there too.  Let us not forget Mick Fleetwood’s stage stealing, bizarre African-like chat drum solo, but overall – was Lindsey there to outdo the sedated Miss Stephanie Nicks?  
So back to my original thoughts – wine, right?  What would you drink while in the midst of a crowd twice your age and drowned out Lindsey Buckingham’s slowed up and over sung riffs of your favorite Fleetwood Mac songs?  It’s a toss up – but I do know one thing – it comes with a short skirt and it may overtake the palate.  What is it?  A promiscuous Shiraz or a busty Zinfandel.  I’m not sure which Stevie had in her glass on stage, but I do know that there is only one other person on this planet that sounds terrific with that raspy, cut up, backstage, partied up voice like hers – JB from Widespread Panic.  And, I’m quite sure he’s not a wine drinker.  
Fun and certainly a ‘must see’ within what may be their last official tour, but still a fierce competition between the two rockers who may be better off recounting the days of their convoluted relationship while sipping on a couple of exuberant reds – Shiraz and Zinfandel.
Overall, a great way to break up a long Minnesota winter and a reminder that even some of those fat, sassy, convoluted, competitive reds need love too.  Keep ’em on hand for the next time you break out your ‘Greatest Hits’!