PRE-SHOW:
Hey I’m seeing Stevie tonight! No wonder I can’t sleep… I’ve been so excited the last few days and, of course now, I have huge butterflies fluttering about in my tummy. I wonder if this is how Stevie feels right before a show…I know she gets all nervous and stuff…seems hard to believe…Coffee’s made…check my email one last time, read a few reviews, double check hotel reservations. Getting more and more excited….I know it will be over soon but I really don’t care…Stevie’s in town and I’m rushing around my house gathering up the rest of my things…Black stretch pants, black leather stacked boots, 5 black tops because I can’t decide which one will look just right – and my crocheted hooded coat that looks awesome over anything black! Hubby thinks I’m weird…But, hey…It’s all about Stevie…Tonight will be beyond description I just know it! And it’s not because of the 6th row seats either! It’s more than that…OK, back to packing…camera, film, make-up, bathroom goodies (shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, nail polish etc.) clothes, boots, journal, tickets (don’t forget the tickets), hotel confirmation – hubby’s all ready of course…Stevie’s Mini Rhiannon Top Hat, the one I made just for her…Take pics with digital camera, so I can post on the Velvet Moon Designs site – it’s acting up again (I don’t have time for this) Note to self: Call HP on Monday 8.13 – Alrighty then…finally, get on the road I-5 North right off the Rose Quarter exit – cool, our hotel is so close we can walk to the concert. Which is great because parking is $13 and we’ve already paid $15 for hotel parking – life in the big city! This hotel is gorgeous…our room is on the 6th floor…hmmm…6th row seats…6th floor room. Unpack, relax, talk…you know married people stuff…off to eat at the Mexican restaurant downstairs…I’m really not that hungry so we split a fajita plate – one for me three for hubby…”Anybody want a pair of tickets to see Stevie like right now!” Oh well, poor spineless souls. Back to room, get ready – shower, make-up, hair, clothes (the v-neck shirt with 3/4 sleeves wins) topped off with gypsy crystal necklace I made and garage sale earrings that are so Stevie they dangle…fragrance “Black Rain” essential oil – my creation…tickets, top hat, camera bag…THE SHOW:
Out the door, 15 minute walk to the Rose Garden – arrive around 7:30 lot’s of (but never enough) Stevie attire, guys
in street clothes, women who are just trying to stay cool under the heat which has tapered off some…young, old and somewhere in between…we are all just fans after all…OK last chance to sell tickets – no luck…This concert cost me so much…but that’s another story in itself…Get in…get tourbook (I’ve heard it’s kinda cheesy but I have to have it) I know I’m going to freak when I see our seats! Aaaahhhh! 6th freakin’ row…hubby lets me have the aisle seat ; ) he knows I have to give my top hat to Stevie and hopefully she’ll take it…What am I thinking…if I can get to the stage for “Edge”… Ooooo…I have a direct view of backstage activity, curtain, ramp, backstage personnel…After a half hour or so Mr. Schneider comes out…he’s pretty cool – but really we’re so pumped up for Stevie the atmosphere is thick with anticipation! And the energy is really all for Stevie – Bob just happens to be super blessed to open for her! OK…he’s done – very gracious very nice….they begin setting up for Stevie 15-20 minutes max…the set really does looks incredible…they just brought out her mic stand complete with Stevie’s black and white ribbons! Soon she’ll be there pouring out her heart to us! I can barely stand it…
I have never been this close to Stevie before So…hubby and I are waiting…I have my camera all ready, loaded with 
800 speed film (I called a few days before to confirm with the Rose Garden’s management if I could bring my camera and talked with 2 people who said it would be fine) Stevie comes on I snap 5 or 6 images when some jerk from her, not the Gardens’, security grabs my arm, spits in my face saying “No Cameras!” “Give me the film NOW!” “No Cameras” “Where’s the FILM!” I’m in shock…tears…he was so mean…I said I was sorry and that I had called the Garden to double check with them, described my camera to them and they ok’d it…”THEY WERE WRONG!” “NO CAMERAS!” “Instamatics ONLY!!! NO CAMERAS!!! WHERE’S THE FILM” I began to bend down where my camera bag was…he was standing on top it practically so I couldn’t grab it to put my camera away without saying “Excuse Me!” He moved out of the way…I’m in full blown tears at this point…he says, “Put IT Away NOW!” “Don’t USE IT!” At least he didn’t take my film…needless to say he ruined “SDMHA” for me…I wasn’t really calmed down until half way through “Enchanted”….I was so disappointed. Not only did he come over and harass me but after that he had every security person eyeing us through the entire show! Like we were Hit Men or something! I just wanted some really cool photos of Stevie I could have for my website and my collection…jeesh!
But through the course of the evening Stevie graced us with her amazing ability to grab us and put us in another stratosphere. She truly has a gift that is beyond words. 
I’m not sure if it was the songs themselves or just her voice or all of it combined…all I know is she calmed me down and allowed me to thoroughly enjoy this evening after that mess…”Dreams” and “GDW” blended amazingly well – I didn’t even miss “OTR”. She seemed to give a little bit too much of her voice especially during the end of “GDW” where she sent me back to 1982 as I closed my eyes…”Every Day” was well received and sounded better than the album version, she really makes each song her own even if she didn’t write it. She tells us about the next song and how it came to be, “When her and Lindsey moved to Hollywood after living with their parents and it was all scary and exciting and everything…” “Sorcerer” was, well…incredible…really awesome…vocal harmonies blended well…she left off the high notes which is just fine by me.
Then during “Rhainnon” some security guy came up and asked if I had a video camera, (in my bag) which I replied “No, it’s just a camera” “Well can I see it?” 
“Sure” He looks at it and says “I’m sorry, just don’t use it” “I know they already told us we couldn’t use it – so we’re not…” Good grief…even the girls in front of us turned to say, “I feel so bad for you guys!” “We do too!” Anyway…She was “Rhiannon” and gave, again, a bit too much of her voice were she sang an old school version complete with “Dream on silly dreamer, try hard you can’t leave her…” Incredible, complete with dripping black sleeves, twirls etc. At the end she told us how, “A song is only as good as the response the audience gives back to it…so…” (paraphrased) “Stand Back” was a show stopper I think maybe 50% of the people were singing along – everyone on the floor was for sure! Oregon people are so sedate – no, more like zombies! It’s Stevie you peeps, come on and dance! After the (I’m calling it a high leg lift ok…) More twirls, Waddy’s guitar connection dance – she floated off stage for another shawl change…
“Planets of the Universe” what can I say about this song…as Stevie told us, “I wrote this song after we were finished with Rumours, all the tracks were laid, and Lindsey and I were really over…really finished. So I wrote this song, this angry song and every time I would present it to Fleetwood Mac they turned me down. Because it’s so full of anger and everything…so about 6 years ago I sat at the piano and I thought how can I make this song not so angry, because Lindsey and I have forgiven each other and we still really love each other and I really love this song. So I re-did it and I still love this song”. And so do we Stevie…another awesome live song I can’t put it into words…”Texas” was great I didn’t hear any problems with vocal harmonies as others have stated in previous reviews. “Fall From Grace” a true rock classic if I ever heard one…Stevie really let loose on “Maybe I fought this long and this hard just to make sure you survive…”OK…I know what’s next because I memorized the setlist…”Bombay Sapphires” is such a rich song, there are so many layers to it, again vocals were top notch with no problems, she got all the lyrics right…I heard some thought her mic went out in a few places but it didn’t, she was singing away from the mic as Stevie does…because she’s so into it! Same was taken note of in “Sorcerer” as well…she purposely didn’t sing the high notes. I must say her shawl for “Sapphires” was really gorgeous, light blue with tiny crystals all over it.
The last notes have fallen from “Sapphires”…hubby holds the tourbook and the ‘evil’ camera…I get ready to walk several feet to the stage…while security is 
turning away people left and right…a younger fan is stopped with a teddy bear…and while they’re debating…hubby says “GO!” Past 2 on my left and 1 on my right who tries (but not really) to stop me. I wedge myself between a stacked monitor and a woman shorter than me, on the far left of the stage…I’m glad I wore my 4″ heels! I pray for the first few minutes, “Lord, don’t let them whisk me back to my seat…PLEASE!” So we’re all standing there about 25-30 of us…I really couldn’t see how many and quite frankly I really didn’t care…Because I was pressed up against the very stage that Stevie Nicks was just on and will be on again to sing “Edge of 17”! There really was no room for me to stand normally so I was kinda standing sideways the whole time with top hat in my left hand and my right hand free in hopes that she’ll come over for a moment… Waddy comes out and does his “Edge” thing all of us are dancing, whistling, whoo-hooing… eye contact… smile… cool… OMG…here comes Stevie and I’m within several feet of her as she starts to sing…I can’t believe I’m standing here : 0 The song is intense and again she gives quite a bit more than she needed too – I think she must have felt like it was 1981 all over again…because it came through in her voice…”I still hear the call of the nightbird…”It seemed like this song went on forever…I was so excited…I was about to, at the very least, have Stevie walk right by me…She starts to turn from her mic…and walk toward me…OMG…I’m the first person in line! I have eye contact with her the entire time…smile… tears…”Stevie”…”I made this just for you”… she reaches for my hand and says “Thank You”, holds it briefly while I hold up my top hat then she moves on to the next lucky fan…her attendant who’s behind her reluctantly took my top hat along with the other items that were being showered upon the stage as she walked by…She’s so gracious and more beautiful up close…I’m all tears at this point…I can’t believe I just held Stevie’s hand! A dream come true…The most awesome part came after “Edge” finished up…”I know what it sounds like…just like a white…winged…dove….” No her mic did not give out (again) she was mouthing this line over and over away from the mic as she turned to Waddy…Crowd goes nuts…she waves and again is whisked off stage… I kept waiting for them to move us back to our seats but, they never did… I stay right where I am… I hope hubby understands…
She came back to do “I Need To Know” I didn’t mind this song so much since I was this close! She left and came back for the grand finale’… “HAEWAFY”… Her black velvet top hat complete with white, black and peach colored ostrich feathers…and a gorgeous sheer crystal laden top…This is such a beautiful song…a single stage light shone on her from above…she’s an angel and I’m in heaven…just leaning my head on my hands which were clutched at the end of the stage…I cried like crazy….The last notes fell she gracefully holds her hat and waves “I don’t like to say goodbye so, take care of yourselves and we’ll do this again real soon…take care…” I will never forget this night…dare my wild heart…Stevie is the best of the best and always will be no matter what circumstances come my way!
POST SHOW:
Take the MET back to hotel…relax…unwind…talk about the evening’s events, hubby was very understanding and very happy for me “It was all worth it just to see you so happy” “I Love You”…laugh…journal…married people stuff…Yes Stevie, the feeling does remains even after the glitter fades…God Bless Stevie…
We Love You ; )
COMMENTARY:
With my huge un-edited journal…I thought I should have a simplified rendition of the events of the evening…This was my third time seeing Stevie – The 1st time was in 1983 during the Wild Heart tour in Oakland, CA – The 2nd time was in 1998 during the Enchanted tour in Denver, CO…HIGHLIGHTS:
Absolutely gorgeous stage, the perfect backdrop for Stevie’s Shangri-LaSeeing Waddy together with Stevie again and sounding better than ever
“Dreams” Stevie held us in the palm of her hand as we stood mesmerized
“Gold Dust Woman” Stevie twirled and danced, we were taken back with this performance
Stevie seemed completely at ease and really happy
“Rhiannon” How fitting to witness this song as the living legend herself pours out her heart right in front of you
“Sorcerer” Amazing even without the high notes or Sheryl Crow
“Planets of the Universe” I love how Stevie told us how this song came about… absolutely incredible to hear live
“Fall From Grace” Rocked the house with high powered electricity only Stevie could deliver
SURPRISES:
Transition from “Enchanted” into “Dreams” I didn’t miss “Outside The Rain” as much as I thought I would…“Every Day” was very well done I really love the song now
“Bombay Sapphires” No tech problems and Stevie sang it like she’s been singing it for a thousand years
I really didn’t noticed that she chose to wear comfy shoes over her trademark platform boots
She thanked us after “Rhiannon” saying a song is really only as good as the audience
Holding her hand while she smiled and said, “Thank You”
The outfit she wore during “HAEWAFY” and the top hat was perfect even though she had to keep adjusting it throughout the song
Crying my eyes out as she sang “HAEWAFY” accompinied by a single piano
Hanging out at stage front during the last 3 songs!