There are some concerts you see because of the buzz surrounding the headliner. There are some that you see live because you are infatuated with the singer (see Bieber, Justin). Then there are the rare individuals – the true artists and the legends – who you see not only because they are popular or loveable, but because you genuinely love music. They feed your soul’s need for the feeling you get when the notes and the lyrics come together perfectly and remind you to be thankful for your sense of hearing. Stevie Nicks is one of the rare, and every note and every twirl of her Saturday evening show at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA was electrifying.
America’s Got Talent winner Michael Grimm opened the show and got the crowd screaming within minutes. I for one refuse to watch that show until Nick Cannon is no longer the host (could he please stop yelling?), but I regret missing the rise of Grimm. Whether he was pleading or belting, his voice was pure power onstage. If Grimm’s soulful vocals weren’t enough to inspire awe, his talents as a musician certainly would have been. He seemed to be one with his guitar as he sang both original rock ballads such as I Am from his new self-titled album (out now) and crowd pleasers
such as Ray Charles’ You Don’t Know Me. His style was unique, but reminded me of Adam Levine and Michael Bolton at moments because of his striking passion during his performance. In case you could not tell by now, I am now a fan of Michael Grimm. And judging by the standing ovations I witnessed on Saturday night, he has more than just one.
The enthusiastic reaction for Grimm and his band, which included an awesome dueling pianos-style keyboardist (!), was nothing compared to the
full-blown mania that ensued once it was time for Stevie Nicks to take the stage. We yelled. We clapped wildly. Some of us even shook tambourines with long tassels attached. We all got out of our seats. You have to stand for Stevie.
The legend herself came onstage and she simply sparkled, literally. Her shawl twinkled underneath the bright lights and her radiant skin glowed as she delivered classic hits and contemporary tracks from her new album In Your Dreams. Stevie Nicks clearly understands that it takes more than a
great voice to shine like a true star. She effortlessly created an enveloping atmosphere with her whimsical dances and dramatic garments. Everyone on stage was clad in all-black, but the mood was far from dark; on the contrary, the vibe was more romantic and ethereal. Her mike stand even had silver chains and black tassels that moved in the breeze and music seemed to flow out of every thread of her full skirt and each strand of her waist-length blonde hair. While performing Gold Dust Woman, she became a shadow for her lead guitarist/musical director. On a large screen behind her and her incredible band, slideshows of family photos, beautiful artwork, and video footage of Nicks’ past performances made songs like the new Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream) and her dad’s favorite Landslide even more thought-provoking and moving.
The most emotional song of the evening was Soldier’s Angel, penned after a life-altering visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The song itself is not anything revolutionary lyrics-wise, but it is apparent that Stevie truly cares and she even implored her fans to donate to the USO. Glimpses into the character of the woman behind the leather and lace made this concert feel more special.
It is worth mentioning that while a superstar voice is not everything, Stevie Nicks definitely still has one. She works for at least 40 minutes a day with a vocal coach and wisely recommends that popular acts of this millennium do the same. She even brought her coach onstage to sing a duet
with her before bringing the house down with Edge of 17. People rushed the stage to give her flowers, shake her hand, and thank her for a truly magical night.
And a magical night it was. Jiffy Lube Live was the perfect venue for the talent of Michael Grimm and Stevie Nicks since it is a covered outdoor amphitheater. The setting lent itself well to the varying levels of intimacy and explosiveness throughout the night. From the guy in the front row
who jumped and fist-pumped nearly the entire night to the couple who casually sipped Cabernet in their comfortable seats, JLL allows you to enjoy the show your own way (show your own way-ay-ay…). I cannot wait to see who they have lined up for their next summer concert series, or until D.C. gets a chance to see its gypsy once more.
Final Grade: A+
TRR Concert Revue by Stephanie Taylor
This goes out to Stephanie Taylor. I read part of this review. Wow, just the first 2 paragraphs and I wanted to see this concert. I am an artist, singer and songwriter. Is there anyway I could get someone like to take a look at my website, or just to find out where I could get some writing like this done on me?
Hope to hear back, look me up – Michael Hensen, Virginia beach, VA on Facebook! THanks,
-Mike
http://www.michaelhensen.com
Hey! First off, thanks for reading – I’m so glad you liked my review. I checked out your site and your band sounds great – you have such a wide variety of both original and cover tracks and your voice reminds me a bit of Ray Lamontagne, whom I adore.
This site typically covers entertainment in Northern VA, DC, and Baltimore, so if you’re ever up here, I’d like to see you guys perform live. And I would be glad to get the word out about your group and promote an upcoming show. I didn’t see a schedule or a calendar on the site, so just let TRR know when the next show is or when you have new songs out. You can email us at therogersrevue@gmail.com. Please keep us posted! I love local artists and think it’s awesome that you reached out to some local writers.
Have a great weekend!