Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2016

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Dixie Chicks tone down rhetoric, turn up good feelings in Toronto concert

By Jane Stevenson, Postmedia Network Toronto Sun

TORONTO - The Dixie Chicks aren’t ready to make nice -- exactly.

But neither is the Texas trio, extensively touring North America for the first time in a decade, making overtly political statements during an election year down south.

At least not in their stage banter as the talented threesome arrived in striking black and white ensembles at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on Tuesday night for the first of two back to back shows.

"Toronto -- we are so happy to be here tonight," said lead singer-guitarist Natalie Maines, 41.

"You guys look fantastic. I love what you’re wearing!"

Instead the Chicks -- rounded out by fiddler Martie Erwin Maguire, 46, and her banjo and slide guitar playing sister Emily Erwin Robison, 43 -- are letting their enduring country music, well curated choice of covers (Patty Griffin, Prince, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Ben Harper), and slick looking video and graphic projections do all the talking.

For the most part.

Donald Trump did appear with devil horns before the image quickly crumpled and disappeared during a "bad guy" montage (that also included Chris Brown, O.J. Simpson and Robert Durst ) at the end of Goodbye Earl and again with a clown nose and rainbow wig (as did all other presidential hopefuls including Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders) did during Ready to Run.

Maines also addressed "there’s too much negative energy out in the world right now," as the group wrapped up their two hour and five minute show with Harper’s Better Way while a rainbow heart, which has become the symbol of support for the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub shootings, was displayed on their enormous video screen.

"Everyone should be able to live like they want to live," said Maines.

The trio seem as popular as ever with fans -- some in cowboy hats and boots -- whooped it up in the seats and on the lawns, clapping, dancing and singing along.

Standouts included such beautiful ballads as Easy Silence, Top Of the World, their Fleetwood Mac cover Landslide, and Cowboy Take Me Away, and more energetic fare like Long Time Gone, Goodbye Earl, White Trash Wedding, Ready To Run, their Dylan cover Mississippi, Silent House, Wide Open Spaces, Sin Wagon and Not Ready To Make Nice.

There was also a lovely acoustic segment that included Travelin’ Soldier and Beyonce’s Daddy Lessons and a bluegrass instrumental, with Maines on drums with snippets of Bey’s All The Single Ladies and The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army.

It really didn’t seem to matter that the Chicks -- who had their very first costume change on a tour according to Maines -- haven’t collectively released a studio album since 2006’s Taking The Long Way. (Maines released one solo album, 2013’s Mother, and the sisters formed the Court Yard Hounds duo and released two albums in 2010 and 2013.)

For their part, the group seemed to love playing both their material, backed by a five piece band including Toronto drummer Jimmy Paxson, and covers like Patty Griffin’s Truth #2.

But it was their cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, while his giant purple symbol was displayed on their video screen, that really struck a chord with the audience after Maines called him "a huge musical influence."

In fact, the entire show was preceded by his recording of Let’s Go Crazy before the band even came on stage.

SET LIST

The Long Way Around

Lubbock or Leave It

Truth #2

Easy Silence

Favorite Year

Some Days You Gotta Dance

Long Time Gone

Nothing Compares 2 U

Top of the World

Goodbye Earl

Travelin’ Soldier

Daddy Lessons

White Trash Wedding

Bluegrass instrumental

Ready to Run

Mississippi

Landslide

Silent House

Cowboy Take Me Away

Wide Open Spaces

Sin Wagon

ENCORE

Not Ready to Make Nice

Better Way

Return to Tour Dates/Reviews page

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