Fleetwood Mac tribute band played at Smash Palace, Gisborne. Video / Kim Parkinson
Stevie Nicks came to town on Saturday.
Well, New Zealand’s version of the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, that is ... Andrea Clarke, whose Fleetwood Mac tribute band Landslide performed at Smash Palace, scattering musical gold dust over their audience.
Clarke is a seasoned Nicks. Singslike her and looks the part, too, with her long, blonde mane, flowing outfits, lace gloves and makeup.
And the band are similar to the original, capturing their essence through chart-topping tracks written by Nicks and Fleetwood Mac bandmates Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.
Andrea Clarke sang the songs of Stevie Nicks during a performance by her Fleetwood Mac tribute band Landslide at Smash Palace. Photo / Roanne Storey
Most hits from the iconic band were played at Smash, along with Black Magic Woman, written by original Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter Peter Green in 1968, released by the band a year later and famously covered by Carlos Santana in 1970.
While the highlights of the show were Clarke’s versions of Nicks-sung tracks such as Gold Dust Woman and Dreams from the band’s classic album, Rumours, she also sang excellent renditions of tracks vocalised by the late McVie, including Say You Love Me.
The lyrics include “I’m fallin’, fallin’, fallin’ at your feet” and an appreciative crowd of at least 200 seemed to do just that in unison on the dance floor.
The song Sarah was among the favourites in the Nicks-heavy set, while the emotionally charged Buckingham track Second Hand News, a song about his failing relationship with Nicks, was countered by Dreams, written by Nicks about Buckingham.
I enjoyed Clarke’s version of the Nicks song Rhiannon and another standout by McVie was the hit Little Lies.
But it wasn’t just Fleetwood Mac classics that were enjoyed.
The crowd was haunted by the ghost of Tom Petty, as the band played Nicks’ famous duet with him – Stop Dragging My Heart Around. It was a worthy tribute to Petty, who died in 2016, as he worked with Nicks on a range of songs over the years.
The band also gave a cool version of the hit Tusk with Gareth Scott perfectly emulating the famous drum solo of Mick Fleetwood, the rest of Landslide leaving the stage as he ripped into it.
Fleetwood Mac are ageless, appealing to people across multiple generations. Those born during the band’s heyday in the 70s or 80s have become familiar with the tracks through their parents and now the grandchildren are enjoying them.
Landslide took the crowd on a trip down Fleetwood Mac memory lane. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin
Landslide may not be the real thing, but their gig evoked a powerfully shared sense of nostalgia among a thoroughly entertained Gisborne crowd.
