The Tao of Stevie

Modern-day enchantress Stevie Nicks to weave her spell at the TECO on Tuesday

By NANCY STETSON, nrstetson@naplesnews.com

Stevie Nicks is a modern-day enchantress, weaving magic with her songs.

Even her tunes boast other-worldly themes, with titles such as "Enchanted," "Dreams," "Sorcerer," "Planets of the Universe."

On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Stevie Nicks brings her musical mysticism to the TECO Arena in Estero.

"I like her voice and I like her spirituality, which I think comes through in her songs," says Sally Maitland, of the Make A Wish Foundation in Bonita Springs. "She's grown spiritually, and it's reflected in her music.

"Her voice is so distinctive. That's something that stands out in all the songs — she's got a great voice.

"She's been through some tough times," Maitland adds. "She's not shy about singing about it. She struggles with a lot, like a lot of people in this generation. She's gone through a lot of personal challenges and issues, so it's nice to see someone who has gone through things and come out the other side successfully."

Nicks has battled broken hearts, cocaine addiction, an addiction to prescription drugs, weight gain, writer's block and depression. During her current tour, she had to cancel a few shows due to acute bronchitis.

Nicks and high-school sweetheart Lindsey Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac at the end of 1974, mixing California rock with Mac's British blues sound. The group's self-named album went platinum and produced such hits as "Over My Head," "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" and "Say You Love Me."

Their next album, "Rumours," went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, with hits such as "Don't Stop," "Dreams" and "Go Your Own Way." (The band eventually performed "Don't Stop" for President Clinton's inaugural and for a surprise farewell party for him.)

But in 1980, the band members started concentrating on solo success.

Nicks soon became known for her hits "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove)" and "Leather and Lace."

She was also known for her unique sense of style, dressing in flowing dresses, lace shawls and English silk top hats.

Seven years after her last effort, Nicks has released a new solo album, called "Trouble in Shangri-La." The CD includes guest artists Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Lindsey Buckingham, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines and Sheryl Crow, who co-produced five cuts.

In a press release from her label, Reprise Records, Nicks says, "My music often unfolds like the book of my life. I believe in telling the truth ... actually, it's the only way I can exist as a writer. Every step along the path of my life, I've been writing it all down, taking incredibly detailed notes. Instead of partying, I run back to my room, open my journal, and pour out my heart onto paper. It can take minutes, or it can take all night. But it's always deep. And it's always real."

Her lyrics explore the pain of lost love and separation. In "Bombay Sapphires" she sings: "You — beloved/Were to me — everything/That love stood for/To love one another for awhile/Was enough —-/It was all that I lived for/How can I go on without you/Can I go on —without you/I tell myself — this time/I'm going to have to —-/Move on."

And in "Love Changes" she sings: "It wasn't that I didn't love you/I just couldn't make you see/That as hard as I tried/To make it all better/It was not better for me/The love that I gave you was.../All around you/There was nothing left for me/But I hate to say it/But I saw it coming/My feelings were changing."

And, at 53, she still has that distinctive voice that sounds like a little girl with a worldly wise huskiness.

Jonathan Spafford, 16, a junior at Barron Collier High School, likes Nicks' style.

"She's raw, she's so uncut," he says. "She's real. She has her own way of things. She's unique."

His friend, Blair Eckhardt, 16, a junior at Gulf Coast High School, agrees. "There's nothing to describe her (unique) voice," she says. "She doesn't follow the formula of today's music.

"When I saw her in the Destiny's Child video, ("Bootylicious"), I was excited she was trying to appeal to a younger audience.

"What do I like about her? It's everything. I like her voice.

"I think she is an amazing artist."