Lindsey Buckingham is an incredible singer, songwriter and guitarist whose talents are vital to Fleetwood Mac. As a solo artist, Buckingham, like many others going it alone away from big bands, hasn’t exactly set the charts on fire. He had a few nominal hits in the 80s with “Trouble,” “Holiday Road,” featured in National Lampoon’s Vacation, and “Go Insane.” Since then, however, Buckingham’s solo ventures have been low-key and personal. This is especially true of his sixth solo release, 2011’s Seeds We Sow, released independently. To promote the record, the singer hit the road and filmed one particular performance for a DVD / Blu-ray Disc release called Songs From The Small Machine: Live In L.A.
Within the intimate confines of the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, California, Buckingham enters the stage with only his acoustic for five songs. This includes “Go Insane,” “Trouble,” and “Big Love,” which puts the spotlight squarely on the guitarist’s unique picking style. After a standing ovation, the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Famer is joined on stage by his band – drummer Walfredo Reyes, keyboardist Brett Tuggle, and bassist Neale Heywood. The acoustics get some light bottom end, beginning with “Under The Skin,” from Seeds We Sow as the mellow strains slowly harden and solidify. Buckingham’s fluid guitar work on “In Our Own Time” and “Illumination” draws a wave of appreciation before the flood of Fleetwood Mac tunes are rolled out.
A stripped-down version of “Second Hand News,” sans Stevie Nicks, plods along nicely while a refresh of “Tusk” offers a new perspective on a song originally driven by the USC marching band. “Go Your Own Way,” no matter how you slice it, easily gets the crowd on its feet. Even as Buckingham jettisons the momentum by returning to more obscure solo material, the enthusiasm remains until the very end – when the singer is once again alone on stage, acoustic in hand, for “The Seeds We Sow.” Topped off with a revealing and lighthearted interview, Songs From The Small Machine: Live In L.A. is an essential disc for any Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac fan.
~ Shawn Perry
