Arizona Heart Institute Benefit
Phoenix, December
6th 2001 (Review One)
Stevie Nicks' annual Stevie Nicks and Friends concert to
benefit the Arizona Heart Institute looked mostly like an extendedversion
of the singer's recent tour to support her new album, Trouble inShangri-la,
but an album loaded with highlights deserved another act in theeyes
of many in attendance.After the Destiny's Child hit
"Bootylicious" played through the arena tosignal
the concert was about to begin and the vocal arrangement of "Troublein Shangri-la," the now-trademark booms led to
"Stop Draggin' My HeartAround," and started
the show off with Nicks' biggest solo hit.Three songs
later, "Gold Dust Woman" brimmed with an intensity notusually
found in the song on her solo tours and followed with the first ofSheryl
Crow's appearances on stage. Nicks and Crow followed with
"Sorcerer,"the most recent single off
Trouble in Shangri-la, then Nicks left to giveCrow
the stage to herself for the latter's "My Favorite Mistake."
Up next was Don Henley, who sang "Leather and Lace" with Nicks,
then didhis own "End of the Innocence" and
"Boys of Summer." Unlike last year'snearly
acoustic, Storytellers-esque version, "Boys of Summer" was more
likethe original version, then Henley left and Nicks
told the audience they hadto cut a song from the set.
Most likely, the song to get the axe was "TheHighwayman,"
a cut from Nicks' first album, Bella Donna, which she said shewould
perform with Henley in a radio interview.
Nicks followed with "Every Day," the first
single off Trouble inShangri-la, then went back to
her classics, "Rhiannon" and "Stand Back."Fleetwood
Mac bandmate and former lover Lindsey Buckingham came next,playing
guitar on "Landslide," which Nicks did not perform on tour thisyear. Buckingham followed with two of his songs, then Mick
Fleetwood came upand they, along with bass player Al
Ortiz and percussionist Lenny Castro,previewed a new
Fleetwood Mac song.
Crow's return signalled "Every Day Is A Winding Road," which
saw Nicks singing occasional background vocals on it,
then Natalie Maines switchedplaces with Crow to sing
her duet from Nicks' album, "Too Far From Texas."
After band introductions, Crow returned to the stage to a version of the anthemic rocker "Fall From Grace," delivered with a
conviction thatsuggested the song may become a
concert staple for years to come.Unlike last year's
show, this one didn't have too many surprises instore,
but one that counted was Maines, not Crow, coming out to sing the TomPetty and the Heartbreakers song "I Need to Know"
with Nicks. For many fans,that song added to their
case that Nicks and Maines sing well together.
Even though the magic of the previous year left this year's show with too tough an act to follow, Nicks and her friends still
delivered a powerfulshow that left few stones
unturned.
Review sent to me by Mike Sarzo, with
thanks
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Arizona Heart Institute Benefit
Phoenix, December
6th 2001 (Review Two)
First off the arrival. I got to the main entrance a little before the doors opened. One of the local radio stations had this fun little
sing a
long (I know what its really called but I can't spell it for the life
of
me............I can't spell a lot of things for the life of me) thing
going on. People coming up and singing Landslide, Stop Dragging My
Heart
Around. A fun little way to get pumped. I was tempted.......I
was.......but the doors opened. So I got inside and bought three
special
AHI/TISL T's. One for moi, one for my mummy, and one for my oh so
cute
guitar teacher (now continue to imagine a cute little purring sound
rolling off my tongue. Also I gotta the TISL teddy that I have now
named
Sapphire (in the tradition of naming my last bear Glitter. (He has a friend now! Damn that's more than me. Heehee)
The entering of the arena. This is the very first time I have gotten
a floor seat for a Stevie AHI concert and I'm pretty damn psyched. So I
get
down to the floor and the usher takes me to my seat in section B. Now
I'm
almost in the center and I'm happy, I'm cool, and I find out that its
the
freaking ushers first day. Meaning to put me on the wrong side of the
row.
So I move my butt to the other side. Now I'm buuuumin for just a
moment.
Just until the hand of "Wake up and count your clues"
smacks on the head
and reminds me that I STILL have a better seat than last show and the
show
before that. That and I meet a sweet guy named Mike who was sitting
next
to me asked me out on a date. WOO.....whoa......that was close. Ok
enough yadda yadda's lets get to the set list.....
Before the show even started there were a few announcements and now I
can say that everyone got a little bootie last night. Bootlishous of
course.
Everyone seemed to have fun bopping up and down to that one. Ok then,
the
lights are out, the crowd is hyped, my cupith is runith over from my
blouse, and then...........
A funk remix intro of Trouble in Shangri-La - Which was a cool way to
start the show. It was too bad her
father wasn't there to introduce her. But I guess it was best for his
health. Anyway the funky bunch that is Stevie's band takes there
places.
Then walks out on the ground that many fans would worship, sleep on,
lick
and then spit into a little vile and sell it on Ebay (What? I'm the
only one??) Its Stevie Lynn Nicks!!
Ok now for the rock and roll
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Now this was a pleasure since she
had dropped this song just before I was going to see her first solo
concert a
couple years back. But now I'be had my chance. I tell I love Waddy
and Tom
singing this song with her but for some reason I just think it would
be
killer if Roger Daltrey of The Who would sing it with her. Its a
dream, a
highly unbloody likely dream, and it shall sit next to Johnny Rezinik
wrapped in nothing but guitar strings (ya you can do the purring
thing again.) Enchanted - -Dreams- Yes Dreams and not Crystal. Believe me if she sang that one
my
legs would be sticking out from behind my neck just from one round of
flipping out. Gold Dust Woman - Its classic glad shawl wearing, twirling, chanting
Stevie throgh and through. Sorcerer - In the words of Pete Townshend.....There is Crow
everywhere!
The first of many entrances of Miss Sherl Crow. I tell you all right
now.
I'm tried of Britney, Chistina, JLo, Shakira (although I do like her.
You
know "Butts thou are wide stick side by side.") Sheryl is
100% pure sexy.
She just looks hot in her black blousey, dressy, rosey, slits up the
side,
guy gettin chicwear! She makes me say "I think I can wear
leather pants. I
think I can wear leather pants. I Know I can wear leather pants!)
What? Oh
ya the song. Heehee You know what I really love about a live show?
When
the band is moving in the same fluid motion as the song itself. Thats
what
you can call N-sync. Ya I'm sticking it to ya Timberlake! My Favorite Mistake - Sheryl minus guitar or bass guitar. Just her
and sexiness. Leather and Lace - Every AHI benefit I have seen them perform this
number
this one has to be my all time favorite performance. I have always
been a
longtime Lindsey and Stevie romantic. Now I think I'm converting to a
Stevie and Don romantic! I'll just mention this first. Before Don
walk out
on stage. He was standing by the side playing around with one if the
buddaish TNSL figurines. Hey it was funny so I mention it. Then when
it
came for his part of L&L it was just too sweet the way he was
holding her
in his arms while he was singing. Stevie was singing along with him
to
herself and he kissed he softly on her head. Awwwwwww. Just a
beautiful
sight for sore eyes. Stevie and Lindsey has there moment last year
and now
I think it was Dons turn. Just makes my heart melt. Cupid! Can you
like
not see the target crazy glued to my heart?? End of the Innocence - Boys of Summer - The rockin version this time next too the more
mellow
version he did last year. He played electric guitar and rock with the
guitarist that played along on his set. Although when he strapped on
the
guitar I was hopping for "Dirty Laundry." Well lets hope
for next year then Everyday. Piano solo for Rhiannon - Classic Stevie. Fists pumping during "All the same,
All the same....." Imagine the concussions that could have occurred.........especially with the people in the row in front of
me?? Stand Back - Infreakintastic Classic Stevie. Landslide - People, I hope your sitting down. Ok....here it goes.....Lindsey......wore..... a white shirt! :-o Oh my goodness I'm shaking! I was in Lindsey drag just for him and he bumps me one!
Lookin oh so fine with age. A fine wine my friend. Anyway people have been
taking about the tension between S&L but I though it was them feeling
more comfortable as friends the second time around. Just what my eyes see. ANYWAY back to Landslide. It was Dedicated to her dad one last time. Tearjerker all the way. Big Love - BRILLIANT. A poem, Go Insane - Hulloooooo?? Guitar World? You need to do some reviewing
of the top 100 greatest guitar players. Ya? Ok? Good.My Love - A new Fleetwood Mac song with Lindsey and the nickerless
(notnaked, just in a suit) Mick Fleetwood. While Lindsey was making a
speechMick would do his little "ba dum dum ching" during every
little break in between. Again like Don with the Budda a funny moment. Then Lindseydedicated the song to the hardcore and in my mind the cute Beatle,
andtheir friend George Harrison.-EDIAWR - Sexiness is back again for a very funky jamming version of
thissong. Too Far From Texas - Out comes Natalie Maines in a cool funky black
minidress with the top drooping in various directions. But hell it lookedbetter on her than it will ever look on me. Very nice new duet. I
wouldhave loved to have heard the both of them crank out Goodbye Earl but
somany songs so little time. Band
Introductions - I'll bet Lenny Castro has some very nice hook-upsafter Stevie's intro for him last night. Lite a cigar for Lenny!Fall From Grace - The Crow needs to spread herself around a little
moreone of the best r&r songs Stevie has done in a long time.Drum solo which lead into- Very cool although I actually missed the
20minute drum solo from Mick. Man, you don't know what you got till
its gone. A moment of silence please...Edge of Seventeen - Angela I am so jealous of you! Heehe. Encore: I Need to Know - With Natalie Maines. HAEWAFY- Stevie with the classic Top Hat and feathers. Toni girl
that one is for you.
And last but not least the bows, the bows, and the bows. Another
magical night has ended folks and I am on my way home.
Review sent to me by Shayne Annan Bittebender
with thanks
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