Each show Fleetwood Mac tribute artist Penni Perrin performs is a trip down memory lane for her audience.
“If you want to go on a journey, rather than just watch a concert, then this is the show,” she said.
“Most people that come to our shows have seen them before and can tell you stories from the ’80s.”
As the ‘Stevie Nicks’ of tribute act Tusk, Perrin tells the emotional stories behind each song.
Through two of the band’s most famous songs, Dreams and Go Your Own Way, she recounts the romantic break up of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
“I’ve read all the autobiographies,” she said.
“I talk a lot about the background of each song and how they’re sort of intertwined.”
Perrin has her own connection with one of Fleetwood Mac’s songs – Sara – which she says draws out her emotional side.
“It’s the one I remember from my own childhood the most,” she said.
“That one’s probably the hardest hitting for me.
“My parents were going through a break up when it was being played and all that emotion comes out when I sing.”
But despite her childhood memories of the band Perrin only “came to Stevie Nicks later in life”.
“My relationship with her has only been for the last six years,” the 42-year-old said.
Early in her career she turned down a role for Fleetwood Mac cover act.
“I didn’t see Fleetwood Mac then as the band they would become,” she said.
In 2010 the Melbourne-based singer joined Fleetwood Mac tribute band Rhiannon, before “branching off” with her own act, Tusk, 18 months ago.
“We travel a lot with this show,” she said.
“We toured Darwin last year and that was incredible. They have a big appreciation for music when it does come through.”
Perrin only saw the band itself live for the first time in 2015.
“I’d love to meet them and tell them I cover their songs,” she said.
Tusk features the talents of Jodie Thornton on vocals and keyboard as Christine McVie, Steve Burns as Lindsay Buckingham on guitar and Joe Muratore as Mick Fleetwood on drums.
The band plays at Geelong RSL on 18 March.
