Lindsey Articles and Reviews: Seattle Times, March 12, 1993

BUCKINGHAM AND BAND GET OUT ON THE ROAD
TOM PHALEN

The last time Lindsey Buckingham came through town, about August, he was promoting his third solo album Out of the Cradle. But he was talking about a dream band, the one with all the guitars.

"I got the band," Buckingham said brightly from Los Angeles recently. "It's working out really well." They will play the Moore Theatre tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Buckingham's latest release, despite critical acclaim, didn't set the charts on fire, even though he toured. It wasn't something he had to do. He's still making money from Fleetwood Mac, from the classic hits he wrote for the kazillion selling "Rumours" album.

He lives in a nice place in Bel Air that didn't slide away with the recent rains and has a fine self-contained recording studio. But he knew last summer it was time to get out again. That well-publicized side trip to D.C. for the inauguration was just that: a side trip.

"It's out of the way and they'll stop talking about it in another two or three years." End of story. The new story is the new band.

"When I first started putting it together we were auditioning bass and drums, like people from Don's (Henley) band. But after a week I thought, `This isn't working. If I want a guitar band, I have to get the guitars first.' We did that and everything else fell in place."

So who's in the band?

"Nobody you would know," he answered, laughing. "Is this a test? There's a lot of new people here . . . a lot of talent in Los Angeles that never gets tapped. For a lot of these people it's a first chance, first break. These people haven't had a chance to get jaded, which I like. I don't need that."

Buckingham took a breath. "We've got Steve Ross [Mick Fleetwood's Zoo], an old friend of mine, on guitar; another guitarist Neal Haywood; two female guitarists, Liza Carbe and Janet Robin, who also do vocals; myself; and then on bass Kevin Wyatt; keyboards is Dan Garfield [Fleetwood Mac's 1990 tour]; and on percussion is Michael Tempo - you think that's his real name? - John Wackerman; and lastly Scott Breadman. Yeah, that's it."

Buckingham plans to hit 25 cities, with more, he hopes, in store.

"We're just trying to break through a barrier, get out and get heard. This band is taking on a life of its own, and I want to see where that goes. If this works, I'd like to take this group back to the studio.

"It'd be a lot easier that doing it all by myself again."

BUCKINGHAM AND BAND SHOW THAT MAC-LESS ISN'T FECKLESS
Seattle Times
March 15, 1993
TOM PHALEN
Lindsey Buckingham at the Moore Theatre, Saturday night.

One pale voice tweaked through the enthusiastic applause for Lindsey Buckingham as he walked on the Moore stage Saturday night.

"Where's Stevie?" came the muttered query, presumably referring to Buckingham's ex-partner Stevie Nicks and his former band Fleetwood Mac. It's doubtful Buckingham heard the call. The singer/songwriter/guitarist was there for himself, his work and his new band. After three self-made solo albums (the latest is Out of the Cradle), Buckingham has gone live with a fine new conclave. With five guitars, three percussionists, solid bass and ample sample-and-note work from the keyboards (nice elephant on Tusk), Buckingham and his talented crew of nine not only recreated the silken, multi-textured weave of his recorded material, but imbued the cloth with new color and richer hue. Even an old wrap like Go Your Own Way had grand new style. It was sound, energy and joy you could wear in and out of your skin.

His set was decidedly personal. He began solo with Big Love, then segued with a little self-written spoken verse into Go Insane - big love gone around the bend. After bringing on the band, he solidified an insightful musical progression and connection of doubt, family, pain, passion, indecision, fear and commitment with Don't Look Down, The Chain, Trouble, Tusk, You Do Or You Don't and I'm So Afraid. It was as powerful a musical life-journey as one could want to experience.

Once again performing solo, he played the lovely instrumental This Nearly Was Mine then beautifully delivered the angst and heartfelt Street of Dreams.

But the final section and encores with the band were a whip-snapping rave-up. Buckingham playfully butted leads with each of his guitar players. Steve Ross and Janet Robin were among the standout lick-sters, although everyone in the band deserved equal praise. The capacity 20-to-40-something crowd came to its feet more than once.

As a solo artist, Buckingham hasn't received all the recognition due him, possibly because until now he hadn't found a straight-seamed, well-woven way to present his music live. It wasn't a Nicks he was missing, it was a proper niche - the right groove, the right group. If this Seattle performance was any indication, he's there.