Sleater-Kinney
The Metro, Chicago (May 12, 2000)
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Sleater-Kinney
The Metro, Chicago
May 12, 2000 |
That's just what Sleater-Kinney did for its fans at Friday's concert at The Metro in Chicago. Feeding off the frenzied fans, the trio threw out songs to the audience like fresh meat in a lion's den. The crowd relished each lyric and guitar riff and it took two encores to squelch its appetite.
The show began just as powerfully as it ended, opening with songs off their latest album, All Hands On The Bad One, which was released May 2. A carefully mastered set-list included a mix of mostly new tracks such as "The Ballad of a Ladyman" and "You're No Rock and Roll Fun," a tongue-in-cheek jab at conceited boy rock stars. The set included many songs from the band's previous record, The Hot Rock, which brought mixed reviews from fans. I personally enjoy it and welcomed hearing my favorites: "Start Together," and the powerful "The End Of You."
The intertwined vocals of guitarist Corin Tucker and bassist Carrie Brownstein showed perfect timing. The soulful Corin belted out songs with abandon, hitting amazing highs and lows, oohs and ahhs, and sexy pouts. Meanwhile, Carrie gleefully embodied the frontwoman image. She introduced most of the songs with good humor. At one point, she remarked on her visit to The Shedd Aquarium's dolphin "experience" that included a Yanni-esqe soundtrack. Carrie commanded the stage and led the band in an extended jam of "Little Babies" from the 1997 album Dig Me Out. Drummer Janet Weiss rocked beautifully as always, keeping a solid grip on the fast-paced beats.
These women are seasoned veterans. With five albums under their belt, they've done a lot of live shows. They knew what the crowd wanted, and they made us wait for it. It wasn't until the first encore that we got to hear songs such as "Stay Where You Are" off their classic second album, Call the Doctor. The first encore blasted the tireless crowd by playing "Dig Me Out," "Heart Factory," and "Turn it On."
We screamed and stomped and got them to come back out a second time. They opened their second encore encouraging a sing-a-long to the CCR cover "Fortunate Son." I think this electrifying rendition will go down in Metro history as the most unlikely choice that supercharged an already unstable crowd. Even members of openers The Bangs got up to dance with them onstage. They ended the one-and-a-half hour concert with the sexy, vengeance-filled "Little Mouth."
Sleater Kinney is the sister you've always wanted. The best friend you wished you had. Each member is witty and talented, vulnerable and fierce, sometimes shy, but always confident. They are our Joey Ramones and like they proclaim in the new tune "Male Model," it's time for a new rock and roll age and they're just what we're looking for.
KIM KINTZ |