Live Review: Stevie Nicks at UBS Arena

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble. There’s no perfect way to encapsulate the essence of Stevie Nicks’ witchy vibe, which has garnered adoration for her beloved style. Nicks embarked on her musical journey with her first band, Buckingham Nicks, alongside her partner at the time, Lindsay Buckingham. When Fleetwood Mac found themselves in need of a lead guitarist and singer after the departure of their members, Buckingham and Nicks were invited to join, thus forming the iconic band we cherish today.

With nearly five decades of touring under her belt, Nicks has maintained an unwavering presence on stage. Despite her ventures into solo projects, she consistently delights crowds with nostalgic hits and covers. A notable aspect of Nicks’s career is the unwavering devotion of her fans, spanning across generations. This devotion was evident as fans of all ages gathered at UBS Arena to witness her captivating 17-song set, crafting lasting memories, particularly on this Valentine’s Day show.

The set started at 8:25 with an original song of hers “Outside the Rain.” Deviating from her usual setlist, Nicks surprised the audience with an early rendition of the Fleetwood Mac classic, “Dreams.”  Accompanied by her long-standing band, comprised of two pianists, a drummer, two guitarists, and three backup singers, Nicks’ stage presence was amplified, enveloping the venue with her magnetic aura. After the song, which thousands of fans sang to, Nicks’ said “We are here, we are all you.” As she gracefully took her bow under a single spotlight, the crowd erupted in applause, setting the tone for the evening. The momentum carried on with her performance of “If Anyone Falls.”

 Lesser known is the fact, Nicks who was lacking a single on her album Bella Donna was gifted (her next song) “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”  by Tom Petty. Nicks expressed her admiration for Petty, reminiscing about their first encounter. Illustrating that she was “Dressed to the nines and Tom was a swampy kind of guy.” The backdrop visuals paid homage to contemporaries, such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty, in a mesmerizing display of colors and patterns, setting the scene for her subsequent performances, including “Fall From Grace.”

Taking a moment to engage with the audience, Nicks shared the backstory of her cover of “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.  To those who are unaware, the song though thought of as a protest song was about the “Bands” back in the day on “Sunset” referring to Los Angeles, being told they had to leave a bar and go home. When the musicians refused, the police were brought in. Though the song may not be the protest song everyone thinks it is, Nicks used this as a platform saying  “The one thing in this country, we all have, is to vote.” 

 Continuing her set with hits “Gypsy,” “Wild Heart,” “Bella Donna,” and “Stand Back,” Nicks addressed political themes, particularly before her performance of “Soldier’s Angel,” amidst the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine. Nicks proclaimed “If I was not 75 and a girl, I would go over there and sign up.” The crowd had mixed reactions to this with one fan shouting out “Fuck Biden.” Following this she played “Gold Dust Woman.”

Expressing her gratitude, Nicks welcomed her vocal coach, Steve Real, to the stage for their duet of “Leather and Lace.” Nicks drew attention to the fact that she was the one who referred Harry Styles to Real stating “If you work with him you will never have a bad night.”  Wrapping up the set with a crowd favorite, “Edge of Seventeen,” Nicks and her band briefly exited the stage before returning for an encore, treating fans to renditions of “Free Fallin’,” “Rhiannon,” and “Landslide,” famously covered by the Dixie Chicks. 

Setlist:

1. Outside the Rain
2. Dreams (Fleetwood Mac song)
3. If Anyone Falls
4. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
5. Fall From Grace
6. For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield cover)
7. Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac song)
8. Wild Heart
9. Bella Donna
10. Stand Back
11. Soldier’s Angel
12. Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac song)
13. Leather and Lace (with vocal coach Steve Real)
14.  Edge of Seventeen

Encore

1. Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty cover)
2. Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac song)
3. Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song)