Dixie Chicks Fiddle Around On The Gulf Coast

By Patricia Lea Crager, Hattiesburg American

In a concert appearance that sold out the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in six hours, the Dixie Chicks managed to blend traditional country and bluegrass music with rock 'n roll style.

The threesome, which includes lead singer Natalie Maines, along with sisters Martie Siedel and Emily Robinson, mixed song selections from their two multi-platinum albums "Fly" and "Wide Open Spaces" with pop and bluegrass.

The Fly concert tour only solidifies the feet that the Chicks are now country music's most flamboyant and energenic entertainers.

In concert, the trio is able to showcase not only Maines' powerful lead vocals, but both Seidel’s and Robinson's outstanding ability for both harmony vocals and playing traditional country instruments.

What received the most attention during the concert, was the Chick's single "Goodbye Earl," a song that was not openly accepted by all country music radio. Even though some radio may not be liberal enough to play the song, it was both the crowd favorite and the highlight of the show.

With statements during the show encouraging fans to lose their "mall bangs," the band proved itself a leader in the young country crossover movement, while still paying homage to such country legends as Ricky Skaggs, who hot only opened the concert, but joined the Chicks on stage.

Return To Fly Tour page