by Jon Bream, Star Tribune

Musically, it was a historic stretch the past few days at Target Center. Kiss played its farewell concert on Thursday. On Friday, Bob Dylan appeared as an opening act for the first time in his home state. And on Saturday the Dixie Chicks headlined their first concert in Minneapolis.

The Dixie Chicks in the same breath with Dylan and Kiss?

You betcha. The Chicks were more entertaining and more fun than Kiss. And just as nourishing (though less poetic) than Dylan, and they were more musically challenging and rewarding than his band.

In fact, you can put Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and the Judds on tour together in a country version of Lilith Fair, and it won't measure up to the inspiration, musicality and sheer joy generated by the Chicks. Seldom do you see a group that connects with its audience -- in spirit, song, message, personality and sociologically -- the way the DixieChicks did on Saturday.

On the surface, the Texas trio, the biggest country group since Alabama, seems to reside where country and rock intersect. Yes, Emily Robison, Martie Seidel and Natalie Maines may flaunt their self-styled rock 'n' roll glamour -- leather (and vinyl) outfits, multi-hued hair and flashy bracelets.

But most of their music was country to the core, honky-tonk or bluegrass at heart -- but a little dressed up with occasional pop sensibility or rock 'n' roll attitude.

Lead singer Maines, 25, carried on like an aggressive Cyndi Lauper, a dancing dervish full of spunk, sass and swagger. Sisters Seidel, 30, and Robison, 27, sang fine harmonies and did some fancy picking, on fiddle and dobro (and guitar or electric banjo), respectively.

When the trio hit the stage singing the liberating "Ready to Run," the screams and squeals from the sellout crowd of 16,000 were as loud and high-pitched as those at 'N Sync's recent concert. (Yep, the Chicks' audience is dominated by women, mostly teens and twenty-somethings.) But this is not teeny-bop music. "Hello Mr. Heartache" was classic country, and "You Were Mine" explored the dark side of divorce.

The arrangements seemed as tight as Dwight Yoakam's jeans, requiring the musicians to hold back. That changed when the Chicks did a raucous reading of Bonnie Raitt's "Give It Up or Let Me Go," featuring Robison cutting loose on dobro.

Then all three Chicks cut loose. On giant screens, they showed old family and group photos, accompanied by smart-aleck commentary as well as Maines' impression of Madonna singing. You felt like you were in the girls' room with them.

Then they took the audience into their living room for a sit-on-the-couch bluegrass set. Adventurers that they are, the Chicks also threw in a version of Sheryl Crow's " Strong Enough," the message of which fits with their music. Next, opening act, mandolinist Ricky Skaggs, joined in for a bluegrass instrumental jam. The Chicks did manage to sneak in a taste of Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken," the rock song from which they took their moniker.

The Chicks proved they can rock, turning "Sin Wagon" into a rip-roaring bluegrass hoedown, ending with Maines' sneering vocals. For the encore of the rollicking tale of wife abuse "Goodbye Earl," the Chicks spread their wings, with Seidel and Robison performing on opposite sides of the upper level and Maines at the back of the main floor. They returned to the stage for the 1998 breakthrough hit "Wide Open Spaces," which talked about chasing dreams despite the mistakes you might make along the way. Sounds like the Chicks' life.

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