Exactly 40 years ago, the Parson Red Heads informed the White Eagle audience on Wednesday night, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac. The partnership rocketed the band to stardom and built one of rock's most enduring catalogs: what better way to celebrate the auspicious (and, the band admitted, coincidental) anniversary than with a tribute?

As 2014 crept into 2015, the Parson Red Heads -- bolstered by fellow Portland musicians to an eight-piece for the evening -- played 1977's "Rumours" straight through, catching the enthusiasm of the classic album's supergroup harmonies and indelible guitar solos. If you closed your eyes after enough McMenamins beer, it might be the '70s still, with Lindsey and Stevie and Christine McVie at the peak of their heartbroken powers. Drummer Brette Way matched both Mick Fleetwood's power and signature tone -- and Mick never had to play "The Chain" while pregnant.

Perhaps the comfort of nostalgia wasn't the boldest way to enter a new year, but a bar wall removed from sub-freezing temperatures, it was a warm and welcome one. The Parson Red Heads topped a night of decades-old tributes: Kevin Lee Florence opened with a spare, gritty performance of Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska," and the Moody Dudes (including Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley, Telecast's Josh White and the Parson Red Heads' Evan Way, among others) delivered a winking rendition of the Eagles' "Greatest Hits 1971-1975" that even The Dude might've enjoyed after a long night, at least until the band got to "Tequila Sunrise." The group had fun with falsetto ("Witchy Woman") and teasing at too many lyrics ("Lyin' Eyes"), but the musicianship, particularly Earley's guitar work, was as serious as a nihilist.

-- David Greenwald

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Live review: The Parson Red Heads ring in the new year with 'Rumours'