Dixie Chicks showcase versatility in return to Toledo

By Brian Dugger, Blade Staff

Maybe it was imagined, but watching Natalie Maines belt out "Not Ready to Make Nice" during the Dixie Chicks’ encore at Huntington Center Friday night, it seemed like you could see genuine emotion in her eyes. Maybe it was anger. Maybe it was regret.

For those in the audience, there was also a sense of loss. For more than a decade, the music world, and specifically the country industry, lost three of its most talented musicians and entertainers after Maines’ ill-timed 2003 comment about being embarrassed that George W. Bush was also from Texas. The remark, on the eve of the Iraq invasion, got her, Emily Robison (now Strayer), and Martie Maguire black-balled from country radio.

"Not Ready to Make Nice," written by all three band members about their anger at becoming outcasts, won three Grammy Awards in 2007, but the thumbing of their noses at the country industry was the final blow with radio programmers, who still have not returned their music to the radio with any regularity. Until this year, the Chicks had not toured in North America for more than a decade.

Maines made light of the controversy Friday night before playing a Patty Griffin cover of "Don’t Let Me Die in Florida."

"I remember Martie told me when I joined the band that you can say anything as long as you smile," Maines said. "Well, I think we proved that theory wrong 13 years ago. You can say almost anything as long as you smile."

But last night was all about reminding the Chicks’ fans what they have missed since Natalie, Martie, and Emily have been gone. They are, without a doubt, in the upper echelon of musicians as far as skill and versatility.

Maguire, who won a national fiddling championship as a teen, showed her talent on a beautiful solo during "Easy Silence." At various points of the night, Strayer played the electric, the banjo, the lap steel, and dobro. Maines carried the vocals, but also played acoustic and electric guitar, plus floor drum during a bluegrass instrumental.

Since their fallout in 2003, the Chicks have been straddling the country/bluegrass and pop worlds. Maines, during interviews, no longer refers to herself as a country musician. Instead, she says she leans toward the pop sides. Both sides were on display Friday night, starting with the opener, "The Long Way Around," off of their first post-country album, "Taking the Long Way."

The trouble was that Maines was overpowered at the outset by the heavy drums and bass. The same thing with the next song, "Lubbock or Leave It." But she truly found her comfort zone with "Easy Silence," a beautiful ballad about having a partner who will protect and comfort you from the day-to-day noise of the world.

But at its core, Toledo is a country music town, and the loudest roars were saved for favorites "Goodbye Earl," "Travelin’ Soldier," "Ready to Run," "Landslide," "Wide Open Spaces," and "Sin Wagon."

Throughout the night, Maines interacted well with the crowd, commenting on a bet she had with the band about how many times she could say, "Holy Toledo." She hit about a dozen by the time the Dixie Chicks wrapped up with "Better Way," which made it 22 songs in a two-hour set.

Maines reminded fans how long the Dixie Chicks have been around as she introduced their 2002 hit "Landslide," a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic.

"It was more than 15 years ago and [the group has] had one baby. We felt connected to the line, 'I’m getting older too.’ Now, nine babies in, that line is just irritating," Maines joked.

Starting with opener Augustana and lead singer Dan Layus, it was a night of great musicianship and memories and hope. Hope that the past wounds have been mended. But more than anything, hope that the Dixie Chicks will return to the area sooner rather than later.

As Maines was wrapping the show, she commented: "We sure hope it doesn’t take Toledo more than 10 years to invite us back again." I hope so too.

Return to Tour Dates/Reviews page