Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
I don’t like seeing concerts in big arenas. They pack people in like sardines, and the sound is often sub-par. I went to see Pearl Jam at the massive Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto, Canada last year and vowed it was the last show I would see there.
Okay, so rules are made to be broken, right?
Two years ago, I went to see The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) with my sister-in-law at the Budweiser Stage, a medium-sized outdoor venue in Toronto, Canada. It was the first time we had been in a crowd since the pandemic had begun, and everyone was buzzing.
I had never seen The Chicks perform and was unfamiliar with their newer songs. So, armed with a mask and a superfan by my side, I was indoctrinated.
Fast-forward two years. My sister-in-law asked me if I wanted to see them perform again, this time at Scotia Bank Arena. Oh boy, let me think about this … Do I break my vow? Do I squash myself into this venue like a sardine and subject myself to substandard acoustics? Yes … yes, I guess I do, along with two of my kids, my partner, and my sister Jen.
Where do I begin … The Chicks, fronted by Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer, are multi-instrumentalists and storytellers who have been front and center in the country music scene since the late 90s. They initially hit it big with songs like Goodbye Earl, Wide Open Spaces, and Travellin’ Soldier, which are amongst the many staples that everyone sings along to at their concerts.
In the 2000s, The Chicks became known for their controversial songwriting. In 2003, they were very vocal about their disapproval of the Iraq war and President George W. Bush. This resulted in a considerable amount of public backlash and a very credible death threat.
Instead of cowering in a corner and fading into the background, they wrote the song Not Ready To Make Nice (2006) about not backing down from vocalizing their beliefs. It went on to become one of their biggest hits, crossing over into mainstream radio and winning them multiple awards.
When they perform it in front of their fans, it feels like an anthem to all people, not to let fear stop them from standing up for what they believe in.
In 2020, The Chicks came out with their first album in a long while called Gaslighter. This title track was the opening song of the night. It is an upbeat, funny song about a lying, cheating ex-husband. Let me tell you, The Chicks deliver with this one. The audience was roaring, and my son Max was laughing at how blatant the lyrics were. They aren’t shy about writing and singing about what they think, that’s for sure!
The Chicks played non-stop for two and a half hours, weaving old and new songs with videos and graphics projected behind them on the screen, never wasting the opportunity to strengthen their message for their fans.
This was exemplified for me when they performed their song March March, with the drums tapping out the beat, accompanied by videos of American protests throughout history. It was a breathtaking moment and stirred my soul.
I don’t think my original vow of big arena abstinence has been irrevocably broken because I really do not like the overall experience. That being said, if I am going to bend or break my self-imposed rules, I can think of no better excuse than The Chicks. They are fun, relatable, talented, thought-provoking, and addictive.
What are your favorite Chicks tunes?
READ MORE > Nomi's Pics, Rambler Cafe Blog.
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