Singers share casino stage

Thursday, June 09, 2005
By DONNIE MOORHOUSE
Music writer

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - It's all about star power.

Don Henley has it; Stevie Nicks has more.

Henley and Nicks shared the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena Monday night, splitting the evening into two separate sets that featured solo performances by each, and selected duets of their hits.

Review It was not designed to be a popularity contest but, if anyone was keeping score, Nicks won handily.

The first appearance from one of the original rock divas sent the crowd into a standing-room-only frenzy, the enthusiasm doubled by the fact that she was backing Henley on "Hotel California."

While the excitement for Henley's set ebbed and flowed out in the crowd, Nicks' was a constant stream of adulation, often spilling over into ovation.

The pairing of the two rock stars works in theory and practice. They are of the same era, have had hits together, and their respective bands share much of the same audience.

It was Henley who started the night, rattling off three songs before introducing Nicks. The pair added "New York Minute" and "Last Worthless Evening" to "Hotel California" before Nicks slid back into the shadows.

Left to his own devices, Henley responded with a strong run of hits, from "Boys of Summer" and "Heart of the Matter" to "Dirty Laundry." His 90 minutes of stage time closed out with satisfying takes on "End of the Innocence," "Desperado" and a rousing "I Will Not Go Quietly."

After a 20-minute intermission, Nicks upped the ante, electrifying the crowd with an early offering of "Dreams" and "Rhiannon," followed by "Enchanted."

Truth be told, Nicks could have simply come out to the microphone, raised her arms and spun into her signature twirl and the crowd would have been satisfied. She offered so much more. Nicks is as strong vocally as ever and her recent reunions with Fleetwood Mac have seemed to reinvigorate her passion for performing.

Henley was brought out for a trip though "Gold Dust Woman" and a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "Circle Dance," and did little more than stay out of the way and pipe in with the occasional backing harmony before his graceful exit.

Nicks introduced the band and gave ample room for guitarist Waddy Wachtel to solo during the charged version of "Stand Back." After "Edge of Seventeen" closed the set, Nicks and Henley returned for a final encore of duets that included "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Leather and Lace."