Chicks prove their star power

By Chris Varias, Cincinnati Enquirer

As country music sags at the record store and the ticket booth, the Dixie Chicks continue to buck the trend. In an hour-and-45-minute performance at the Firstar Center Thursday night, the threesome put forth their brand of pop-leaning country that has made them the biggest new country stars of the last few years.

Women and girls came in packs to sing along to the Chicks' sisterly tales, and the handful of males in attendance were wowed by their musicianship and the occasional rocking song.

And while the show suffered from a couple of unnecessary Maine Oprah-worthy outbreaks along the way, the majority of the proceedings successfully mixed honky-tonk spirit with Lifetime channel sensibilities.

The Chicks - Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Seidel and Emily Robison - displayed a makeup unique not only to country but to music in general. Ms. Maines, who possesses neither what would be considered a classic voice or classic looks, probably never would have been successful as a solo artist. Yet, it would be impossible to imagine them without her, the spunky lead singer was the star of the show.

The sisters - Martie on fiddle and Emily on assorted stringed instruments and accordion - provided harmony vocals and as musicians held their own with a fine six-man backing band, as well as show-opener Ricky Skaggs, who returned to jam with the headliners.

The show, which included two encores, ran the gamut from traditional-sounding country shuffles to slick poptountry hybrid to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow covers.

The shuffles, "Hello Mr. Heartache" and 'Tonight the Heartache's on Me," were the throwaways of the night, cliches serving as proof of their country roots.

Ms. Raitt's "Cive It Up or Let Me Go" and Ms. Crow's "Strong Enough" - girlie relationship tunes - had more context.

Their own girlie tunes were best In "Goodbye Earl," Young Country pop-craft met Old Testament justice. "Wide Open Spaces" was a declaration of independence. "Cowboy Take Me Away" was just the opposite. All were highlights and crowd favorites.

A five-minute slide show of childhood photos on the big screens in the middle of the set drew laughs but took away from the flow.

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