by Kevin Bourke, Manchester Online

With all the pontificating about their politics, it's perhaps been a little too easy to lose sight of just why it is that Dixie Chicks currently rank as one of the top three live attractions in the world, just behind The Rolling Stones and Elton John.

Unafraid to indulge in slick showmanship, the Chicks are consummate entertainers and musicians making a joyful sound that never loses sight of their roots in honky-tonk country, bluegrass and superior song writing.

Even in the immediate aftermath of lead vocalist Natalie Maines' "controversial" observation on the eve of the invasion of Iraq that, as Texans, the girls were "ashamed that the President Of The United States is from Texas", they sold out stadium after stadium in the States on the strength of their sassy, classy and stylish music.

Last night's sell-out crowd loved them, too.

Prudently avoiding saying anything much that might be construed as a political comment on the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, they did, however, come on stage to the strains of Elvis Costello posing the musical question "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?", while Emily Robison featured a CND symbol on her designer duds.

Mostly, they let the music do the talking and pretty persuasive it was, too.

Ranging from the cheerily murderous despatch of a wife-beater in Goodbye Earl to the lovely lilting harmonies of Godspeed, they were short on controversy but long on terrific songs and great entertainment.

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