Prior to The Chicks going on stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, a clip of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” played. Arguably, no other song could be more apt as an opening for The Chicks. The trio is no stranger to controversy, but they wear the badge proudly. Decades into their tenure, the group has weathered “cancellation” and a myriad of headlines, death threats, and other slights. The crowd eagerly awaiting their appearance in Nashville has weathered it with them.
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The group was originally slated to play the venue earlier this year but ultimately had to cancel last minute. “I’m so glad you guys could finally make it,” frontwoman Natalie Maines joked with the crowd. “I heard one of you had COVID, so I said, ‘We gotta reschedule!’
“I’m the one that had COVID…” she ceded.
Despite the initial upset in the cancelation, it made Nashville their final stop on the U.S. leg of their tour. The crowd’s fervor for the group proved the trio will always have a place in Music City.
The setlist was a good mix between their latest record, Gaslighter, and their older fan-favorite tracks. They opened the show with the anthemic title track of the 2020 album. It was a riotous opening for what was set to be a highly-anticipated show.
They followed it up with a few more Gaslighter cuts, including “Sin Wagon” and “Texas Man.” They brought in some classic tracks halfway through the show with “Ready to Run” and the always-emotional “Travelin’ Soldier.” As always, each of the members shined in their respective duties. Martie Maguire scorched the stage with her fiddle while Emily Strayer wowed with her banjo. Maines’ vocals were as strong as ever.
[RELATED: Keith Urban, The Chicks’ Martie Maguire Nominated for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]
“Wide Open Spaces” was, of course, a high point. The crowd nearly drowned out the group’s vocals, reveling in wistful nostalgia. Another high point was their cover of “Rainbowland.” The song originally appeared on Miley Cyrus’ 2017 album, Younger Now, as a duet with Dolly Parton.
The trio spoke on social issues via their track “March March.” The powerful display moved the audience to their feet and urged them to sing along to the chorus: March, march to my own drum / Hey, hey, I’m an army of one.
Things were slowed down in the middle of the show for a pure display of artistry. In that section were performances of “Landslide,” featuring Maines’ son on guitar, and “Cowboy Take Me Away.”
They closed out the show with “Not Ready to Make Nice” and “Goodbye Earl”–two integral stop-offs in The Chicks’ career. The former track hit as hard as ever, particularly during the second verse when Maines sings, How in the world / Can the words that I said / Send somebody so over the edge / That they’d write me a letter / Saying that I better / Shut up and sing / Or my life will be over?
They brought out comedian Fortune Feimster to help sing “Goodbye Earl,” all the while teasing the show-stopping track throughout the night via close-up shots of bumper stickers that read “Earl is in the Trunk.” When they finally played the song, it certainly didn’t disappoint. The stands were shaking as the fans jumped and sang along to the cathartic song.
The Chicks’ current tour proves how timeless their hits truly are and how adept and unique they continue to be in the country space.
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