What do two iconic artists from the 70s have in common? Everything, actually. Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks took the world by storm during the 1970s and 80s; they became idols for seemingly two different cultures of music. Now, their paths have intertwined for the “Two Icons One Night Tour,” where the audience can experience BOTH of their discographies in a single concert.
The tour has continued since March 10 in California. Since then, they’ve visited Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, and Massachusetts. They currently have two cities on the tour scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 in Baltimore, Maryland, and Friday, Nov. 10 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I can only imagine the nostalgia of hearing “Dreams” and “Vienna” played during the 2-hour and 25-minute concert. In all honesty, it’s one short concert for artists with as many songs as them.
Stevie Nicks was the lead female singer in the band Fleetwood Mac from 1974 until their divide in 1982. She began her successful solo career in 1981 when she released the album Bella Donna, which included “Edge of Seventeen,” “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty, and “Outside the Rain.” Nicks became a female powerhouse during the ‘70s and ‘80s, proving that she didn’t need to be in a band to be a star. Her raspy, soulful vocals and heart-wrenching lyrics did that for her.
As for touring with Billy Joel, her setlist is a mix of her solo albums and the Fleetwood Mac classics. All of her primary solo songs from the band were the ones she performs on tour, like “Landslide,” “Rhiannon,” “Gold Dust Woman,” and “Gypsy.” Seeing Stevie Nicks live must be like traveling back in time. I can only imagine how mega fans of the singer feel as they watch her belt out Fleetwood Mac’s break-up anthems. Whether you witness the spectacle in-person or live vicariously through YouTube videos, one thing is sure: her voice aged beautifully. Obviously, she doesn’t sound like the twenty-seven-year-old voice on Rumors, but her voice aged in a mature, wise, soulful way.
As for Billy Joel, he rose to fame in the 70s with his famous song “Piano Man,” to which he is nicknamed. Since then, he has recorded thirteen studio albums and over twenty top 40 hits. His music has touched millions in so many ways, especially in the tri-state area of the US, being he grew up in New York. Joel’s album The Stranger was one of his most successful, winning him not one but two Grammys. The songs on the album include “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), “Just the Way You Are,” “She’s Always a Woman,” and the title track, “The Stranger.” Like Stevie Nicks, his voice has matured most nostalgically, leaving me to wonder, do these artists ever age? Billy Joel even has a residency at Madison Square Garden and still does shows there every year.
On the tour with Stevie Nicks, he performs all his classics, including “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” the iconic song music teachers used to make us dissect in school. Whoever could name the most events, people, or places Joel mentioned in the song got ultimate bragging rights. Billy Joel does most of his discography on tour, like “Only the Good Die Young,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “My Life,” “Big Shot,” and so many more. He is a living lyrical and musical legend. I am so envious of whoever gets to witness his incredible piano playing and his rock blues vocals. I can only assume that the tears must flow from the audience while he sings “Vienna.”
The way the concert is structured starts with Stevie Nicks, and she performs her set of music. Afterward, Billy Joel comes out and does the same. But the magical moments in between are what counts. The artists come together to perform one or two duets smooshed in the middle of either set. At Ohio Stadium on August 8, they did a tribute to the late Tom Petty, a good friend of Nicks. They sang “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” tugging at the hearts of Petty fans in the audience. I’m crossing my fingers for a “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” duet. Who knows! I’m sure they’ll plan a big surprise for their last show!
Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks have defined a whole generation of music, yet their legacy is here to stay. Parents play their songs for their children who then grow up and show their children, and the cycle continues. They are two of the few artists who achieved status and fame not to be forgotten or “one-hit-wonders.” This tour proves that Nicks and Joel’s music legacies will live on for the longest time, and the landslide will certainly not bring them down.
