Live Review: Fleetwood Mac

There was an unspoken sense of excitement surrounding the smorgasbord of punters cramming their way through thickening rain into Domain Stadium to witness one of the world's most influential and loved acts.

Despite playing Perth's biggest venue, there was no need for theatrics, as a punctual Fleetwood Mac casually strolled onto a dark stage and wasted no time, diving headfirst into The Chain.

It was a seated affair, but like moths to a flame punters were drawn to the front of the stage for a better view of their idols.

Soaring seven-part harmonies bled into the reverb-drenched solos of You Make Loving Fun and pianist/vocalist Christine McVie took the spotlight in the Perth for the first time in a long time. "We're very glad to have her back," eternal romantic Stevie Nicks declared, commenting on McVie's 16-year absence from the band before stealing the attention with Dreams.

The inner turmoil of Fleetwood Mac has always been largely under a public light, which was inevitable, given that there was numerous marriages between band members over the years, which guitarist Lindsey Buckingham broke down through lyrics in Bleed To Love Her.

His heartfelt words about mended relationships were cemented when Nicks sung from his microphone and then slow-danced with him during Sara.

Buckingham was then left by himself, with nothing more than an acoustic guitar to tame the masses.

Buckingham doesn't play with a guitar pick, instead thrashing the strings with his fingers, and as his hands turned into a blur and he showed the crowd Big Love, it was almost as if the driving force behind the band had made a deal with the devil.

A diverse and emotive set was capped off with hit Go Your Own Way and epic drum solo from Mick Fleetwood himself before McVie reiterated her return as the band's Songbird. There's something special about watching timeless classics Little Lies and Don't Stop through pouring rain.

There's a reason their songs have gone the distance generation after generation, and unlike other acts of their era whose younger fans don their K-Mart tee for hipster status, all ages appeared to be there for genuine reasons, and it could be because although Fleetwood Mac are one of the biggest bands in history; their lyrics are so painfully honest and revealing that they can leave a whole stadium feeling connected.