Fleetwood Mac Fest (The Fonda)

The Fonda Theatre | Los Angeles, CA | February 10, 2016 | Photos: Cortney Armitage |

All hail Best Fests and the veritable hodgepodge of brilliant – along with absolutely confounding – musical moments they tend to create as artists and actors, alike, break out into song for the best of causes. As entire events, Best Fests tend to never disappoint even if they are notoriously loose affairs. But that looseness is half the fun and/or horror. But mostly fun.

This night’s honoree: FLEETWOOD MAC. That band whose internal and external drama made for legendary songs and song craft. Who came out to pay homage and raise money for charities Sweet Relief and Sweet Stuff on night #2 of Fleetwood Mac Fest? That veritable hodgepodge I referred to as all came together and channeled their inner Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.

HIGHLIGHTS: By far the goldest star goes to Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara who powered up, bounced through and owned Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” with the voice of a rock and roll goddess. Equal parts woman and spastic, feral feline, Juliette Lewis put every ounce of her 95lb body (we’re being generous with 95) into “Stand Back” to where all the audience wanted to do was get closer to her and she to them. Is she a great singer? Hell no, but that over the top, all in or not at all performance dedication is her gift. Z Berg’s smokey vocals were perfectly suited as Phases shined on “Everywhere” and we may never be the same after the deep, dark and eerie place Ruby Amanfu took “I’m So Afraid.” Trust me, we were and it was the best kind of fear.

LOWLIGHTS: We surely love Cold War Kids, but it was hard to love their downright dreary “Man of the World” and whatever that was that Alison Mosshart did to “Dreams.”

Yes, some were far more capable than others but it’s the spirit of the intent that we can ultimately appreciate. As for Courtney Love diving into “Silver Springs”? It happened and we lived to tell about it.

SETLIST:
Tusk – The Cabin Down Below Band
Hold Me – The Pierces
I Don’t Wanna Know – Jess & Holly of Lucius
World Turning – Elvis Perkins
Holiday Road – Jack Dishel
Little Lies – Noah Gunderson
Never Going Back Again – Jamestown Revival
Edge of Seventeen – Emily Armstrong
Rhiannon – Karen Elson
Landslide – Dhani & Mereki
Second Hand News – Danny Masterson, Adam Busch & Bijou Philips
Everywhere – Phases
I’m So Afraid – Ruby Amanfu
Monday Morning – Butch Walker
Gypsy – Jessie Baylin
Say You Love Me – The Pierces
Black Magic Woman – Doyle Bramhall II
Man of the World – Cold War Kids
Stop Draggin My Heart Around – Will Forte, Karen Elson, Brian Bell
You Make Lovin Fun – KT Tunstall
Stand Back – Juliette Lewis
Go Your Own Way – Sarah Silverman & Butch Walker
Silver Springs – Courtney Love
Dreams – Alison Mosshart & Mark Ronson
Gold Dust Woman – Perry & Etty Farrell
The Chain – KT Tunstall, Butch Walker, Alison Mosshart, Perry & Etty Farrell, Emily Armstrong
Don’t Stop – FINALE