Friday November 10, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 45 |
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Monday, Oct 13, 2008
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Where It's At |
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| Where It's At: Dixie Chicks take the hard line for free speech at Tacoma Dome; Hot Chip gets sweaty at Neumo's | ||
| by Lorelei Quenzer and Jessica Browning -
SGN A&E Writers Dixie Chicks: The Accidents and Accusations Tour Saturday, November 11 - 8pm Tacoma Dome - $39.50-65 / www.ticketmaster.com Multiple Grammy-Award winners the Dixie Chicks are the best-selling all-girl group in history. That means ever, not just in their genre of contemporary country music. You might remember the slew of hits that made it into the Billboard Hot 100, including the hilarious "Goodbye Earl," their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," and the patriotic "Travelin' Soldier." But in 2003 country music and the Chicks had a falling out. You may remember it: on the opening night of their "Top of the World" tour in London, lead singer Natalie Maines acknowledged the impending war against Iraq and declared her shame that President Bush was from her home state of Texas. That off-the-cuff remark, which Maines likes to refer to as "the incident," infuriated fans from the Bible belt to military installations; country radio stations banned the Chicks from their airwaves and right-wingers staged mass burnings of their albums. Maines even received a death threat. The backlash forced the Dixie Chicks to cultivate a fanbase outside their typical market, including Gay and Lesbian listeners. It also meant they had the freedom to write their own songs without any expectations that the end product would make a bundle of money. The result is Taking the Long Way, an album that's still "country" - there are the same tight harmonies and bluegrass overtones that made the Chicks' careers - but with an alt-rock edginess. The band certainly appreciates their growing Gay and liberal audience, as evidenced by an Advocate interview (June 20, 2006), where trio member Emily Robison noted that Out fans might have a special appreciation for the Chicks' stance on freedom of speech, saying "You almost have to be defiant in the Gay and Lesbian community just to stand your ground." There are still tickets available for tomorrow night's concert, which should be quite a spectacle; the Dixie Chicks are known for their showmanship in a live setting. Check back next week for a review, as well as a review of the film, Shut Up and Sing, which documents the three years since the infamous "incident." - L. Quenzer Pre-concert CD recommendation: Taking the Long Way, featuring "Not Ready to Make Nice," "Lubbock or Leave It," and "Silent House." Hot Chip w/ Born Ruffians, Shy Child, DJ Colin Tuesday, November 14 - 8pm Neumo's - $12 / www.ticketswest.com Electro-pop scenesters, and Gay boys and girls who follow the latest in British music, will finally have a chance to get up close and personal with London's Hot Chip on Tuesday night at Neumo's. Expect a packed house - the band's sophomore album The Warning has been slowly gaining momentum in the US (peaking on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums at #13), and in Britain was a nominee for the coveted 2006 Mercury Prize (losing out to Arctic Monkeys in the end). Recently Hot Chip was handpicked to tour with the likes of Goldfrapp, Stereolab, Mylo, and LCD Soundsystem. The most tantalizing prospect about seeing Hot Chip live will be what to expect next from the five- piece. Their propulsive and rhythmic songs swing between jagged beats, electro-soul, and quirky melancholy in a way that's bound to be an interesting feat to pull together live. The songs are boisterous, almost annoyingly so at times; take for example, the long-repeated chorus of "Over and Over" that doubles back again and again until you can't quite stand to hear any more but yet, you must admit you love it. And certainly, you won't forget it. Vocalists and masterminds Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard are well complemented by one another. Taylor's higher leads contrast with Joe's lower, rougher registers while the two sing in unison, giving the songs an unusual texture while warming up the synths and drum beats. Bandmates and noise controllers Al Doyle, Owen Clarke, and Felix Martin are known to keep the crowds jumping and sweating. With such a brash combination of styles and a seemingly odd group of musicians, it's sure to be a night to remember. Get to Neumo's early to catch electro-rock buzz band Shy Child and special guests Born Ruffians. - J. Browning Pre-concert CD recommendations: "Over and Over" and "Boy From School" from Hot Chip's The Warning. Also, check out the anthem "Summer" from Shy Child's One With The Sun. |
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