Show delivers in a big way

By David Lindquist, Indianapolis Star

It's so encouraging when what's popular is also great.

It happened in 1999, when Lauryn Hill won two armfuls of Grammy Awards.

It happened a couple of weeks ago, when a Radiohead album debuted at No. 1.

And it unquestionably happened Sunday night, when the Dixie Chicks played to a sold-out audience of 15,177 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel and Emily Robison are a gift, a faith-restoring sign that modern music might not be a lost cause.

The appeal of Nashville's best thing going begins with dynamic vocalist Maines.

She connected with twang and truth during pared-down arrangements of Let Him Fly and Heartbreak Town.

Maines' voice is as big as Conseco Fieldhouse, a room that's humbled talent such as Tim McGraw and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

A fitting thread to the past was heard on There's Your Trouble, where Maines' hiccup delivery reached back to the heyday of Sun Studios and maybe even an episode or two of the "Louisiana Hay-ride."

Gripping ballad Cold Day in July soared through simplicity. Alhough its cascading chord progression may seem elementary, the song makes a strong case by suggesting Rubber Soul-era Beatles.

The expectant Maines wore bronze locks to match a bronze dress. A "Baby on Board" sticker accented one of her electric guitars, and Seidel commented that Maines' offspring will either "be deaf or have good rhythm."

As always, sisters Seidel (fiddle) and Robison (banjo, dobro, guitarist) displayed impressive instrumental skills.

They especially rocked during the bluesy Give It Up or Let Me Go, complete with a hair-raising solo from Robison (who played gleefully in the breeze from in-stage vents).

The evening's other memorable effect came during an encore rendition of mega-hit Goodbye Earl which placed Maines at the back of the arena floor. More impressively, big way Seidel and Robison played from the balconies.

The audience was dominated by youthful "Hoosier chicks," grooving to intermission excerpts from TLC and Lenny Kravitz in sequined T’s, fluorescent cowboy hats and all colors of leather pants.

It's a testament to the Dixie Chicks' confidence and general correctness that they invite a musician the stature of Ricky Skaggs to serve as opening act.

Skaggs. along with his seven-member Kentucky Thunder band, gave a clinic in bluegrass mythology -- from Bill Monroe's Uncle Pen to the chilling vocal harmony of Walls of Time.

Best were the no-brakes instrumentals, which of course stopped on a dime.

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