The announcement that Stevie Nicks’ August concert at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center would have to be rescheduled brought a universal “gasp” to fans and ticket holders who’d been thrilled the Queen of Rock (so named by Rolling Stone Magazine) was bringing her powerful voice to the borough. This past summer, an injured shoulder brought her tour to a halt, and the new date of November 19 seemed very far away.
But on that night, the cheerful crowd, grateful she ‘d recovered enough to fulfill her concert promise, was also relieved to see her back at her very best, sharing stories, performing her trademark twirls and cape changes with great flourish. To the sold-out crowd, Nicks could do no wrong. At 77, she’s in fine voice, even after a decades-long life in a rock and roll band, that had its ups and down with dysfunction and drug use. Ironically, she was only able to join Fleetwood Mac in 1974 as a condition set by her longtime boyfriend, Lindsey Buckingham. Now as a solo artist, Nicks sells out mega-sized arenas like the 19,000-seat Barclays Center.
Photo of Barclay Center by MJ Haley-Goff
Nicks covered many of her own hits and those recorded with Fleetwood Mac, including “If Anyone Falls,” “Dreams,” “Edge of Seventeen” and paid tribute to her friend Tom Petty with “Running Down a Dream,” and their duet, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” Nicks also acknowledged her publicist, Liz Rosenberg who was in attendance, and dedicated “Landslide,” a fan favorite with themes of life, love and making choices.
Most, if not all the songs, were accompanied by the supportive audience who knew every lyric, every pause, every emphasis. And, at one point, Nicks credited the Brooklyn show for keeping her inspired during her recuperation in California. Knowing she had this concert to fulfill kept her committed to getting her shoulder back to almost full use, as she demonstrated by raising her arms over her head.
Her life story is one of resilience and independence, with a gift for combining powerful lyrics with memorable melodies. That night’s audience was as eclectic as the performer: mothers with daughters, gray-haired couples, and twenty-something women who came dressed in Stevie Nicks style, and sang along to lyrics that spoke of female empowerment. Before leaving the stage after a 90-minute non-stop show, she encouraged her fans to “dance.” She says it’s what’s kept her going all these years. “Dance on the way to the kitchen, on the way to the TV, but most of all,” she said, “dance for me.”
Top Shutterstock: Brooklyn, New York – December 31, 2014: Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac guests with Deer Tick on New Year’s Eve at the Brooklyn Bowl music venue. (Adam McCullough)
