Boy, isn't that the truth? Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire haven't done a full U.S. tour in 10 years, and the 19,000 or so at Blossom Music Center Friday night for the Dixie Chicks MMXVI Tour let 'em know that's just too darn long.

It's probably a fair question to ask why now, with no new music out or on the horizon - at least as far as we know. The Chicks aren't doing any tour press, so no one could pose that question, or even ask what the future might hold.

But it's a safe bet that the future DOES hold is more shows. Maybe many more shows.

Part of the reason for that is because the Chicks truly seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the crowd was, running through 24 songs and more than two hours of stage time. Maybe they realize how much they miss being onstage together for an adoring fan base.

Admittedly, though, there is some rust after that much time away. Not so much musically -" Maguire is one of the best fiddlers in music, and Strayer's banjo and mandolin chops are incontrovertible.

It's more that the construction of the set list was a little odd. The show began by leaning heavily on the group's last studio album, the 2006 release "Taking the Long Way.'' Although the songs themselves -" "Lubbock or Leave It,'' "Easy Silence,'' "Favorite Year,'' and "I Like It'' are good tunes, they aren't the songs that "made'' the Dixie Chicks.

And then there was what I call "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away'' aspect. Finally, seven songs into the night, the Chicks delivered the fan-favorite "Long Time Gone,'' off the 2002 smash album "Home,'' and had the entire amphitheater, well, AMPED. They crowd was up and dancing and singing along.

But they followed with a cover of Lana Del Rey's morose "Video Games'' and much of the pavilion sat right back down. Got 'em back up with "Goodbye Earl,'' perhaps the quintessential Dixie Chicks song and then . . . go to a video break with the three Chicks drag racing to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades.''

What?

Still, those are quibbles. It was great once again to hear Maines deliver one of the most touching songs in the Chicks' repertoire, the poignant "Travelin' Soldier,'' which was penned by Strayer's ex-husband, Texas songwriting legend Charlie Robison.

Same with an oddly countrified and satisfying version of Beyonce's "Daddy Lessons'' (complete with Maines' "yee-haws!) and a nice cover of Bob Dylan's "Mississippi.''

But it was the big tunes "White Trash Wedding,'' "Landslide'' (in my opinion,　 superior to Stevie Nicks' version), "Cowboy Take Me Away,'' "Wide Open Spaces,'' "Sin Wagon'' and "Not Ready to Make Nice'' that made the night.

Wisely, all those were at the end of the set, which clearly was the Chicks' plan all along: Don't worry so much about the opening. Go for the big finish . . . and stick the landing.

The Chicks as well as openers Josh Herbert and Augustana (with help from the fantastically gifted siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers - the Secret Sisters) suffered from something that's been a problem early in this Blossom Music Center season: muddy sound.

Vocal harmony is a huge part of the Dixie Chicks sound, and Herbert and Augustana -" fronted by Dan Layus, whose tenor seems to be a mix of Maines and Billy Joel -" have superior chops. It would be nice to hear those nuances.

And not have to wait 10 years.