Toronto, Canada – The Chicks have a well known, very storied history. Originally formed in 1989 under the moniker “The Dixie Chicks”, the band was a bluegrass group from Dallas, Texas. At the time of its inception, the band consisted of 4 members. Sisters Martie Maguire (then known as Martie Erwin) and Emily Strayer (then known as Emily Erwin) were among the original members. After one of the original members departed, in 1995 The Dixie Chicks added lead vocalist Natalie Maines in replace of their current singer at the time. Since then, the band has consisted of 3…. The 2 Erwin sisters, and Maine.
It was shortly after this revamped lineup, and an image change, that things really took off for the band. A new deal with monument records saw the release of their album Wide Open Spaces and over a short period of time. Heads were turning, and the Texas trio were the hottest rising stars, with the album eventually being certified diamond. They won wards, sold more copies than all country albums combined, and rode a highlight career for many years.
Unfortunately, the band fell under some scrutiny in the early 2000s after some negative comments about then President of the United States George W. Bush and the invasion of Iraq. The backlash saw country music radio stations all over the US blacklist the band. Amidst this turmoil, and even death threats, Maine apologized for her comments, only to rescind her apology later. Ultimately, it damaged music and tour sales. But the band fought back with continued hard work. They continued recording new music, and persevered. The band eventually got back on top, hitting the charts, and winning more awards.
In 2020, The Dixie Chicks officially changed their name to “The Chicks” due to negative criticism that the word “Dixie” referred to American slavery. The name was something the band deeply regretted, saying they were young and naïve when they came up with the name some 31 years earlier. And with this, the band has continued to thrive. Although the genre is not my ilk, I was completely enthralled to check out what the group was all about in a live setting.
SCOTIABANK ARENA – TORONTO
There is a lot of cool shit about this job. One of them is walking into a new venue you have never covered a show in before. In Toronto, there are 3 really big venues… Budweiser Stage (a summertime hot spot for live music events), The Roger’s Centre (where the Toronto Blue Jays play), and Scotiabank Arena (where the Toronto Maple Leafs play). I had not covered a show at the latter two, that is until September 18, 2023. And I had certainly never covered a country music event either. As I’m hanging out before the show, I see a ton of very young fans. Clearly, they were brought here by their parents, but they are all decked out in cowboy and cowgirl gear… hats, boots and the like. It’s not something you see a ton of at my standard hard rock and heavy metal concerts. The concert experience is one of my favourites. I think it’s so awesome to see young kids experiencing this form of entertainment. It’s definitely something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
MAREN MORRIS
Opening the show on this tour for The Chicks is American singer/songwriter Maren Morris. Morris is another Texas gal, and is quite a huge opening act, easily holding her own headlining tours, having won multiple awards for her music. Morris, with guitar in hand, and her 5-piece entourage, opened the show with the singer’s 2022 track “Circles Around This Town”. Immediately, the Toronto crowd was on their feet.
Morris loses her 6-string acoustic for the second track “80s Mercedes”, and while the music is not specifically high energy, the singer makes her way across to each side of the stage, ensuring that she is engaged with the whole arena. The fans here are enthralled with the opening act’s first two songs, and it’s at the conclusion of the second that Morris addresses the crowd, telling them that she is happy to be here in Toronto, but the event is bittersweet. It’s the last show on this tour “So let’s go out with a bang and have a good time!!”
With Maren Morris’s 10 song set, the band and the crowd certainly got their wish, at least thus far.
THE CHICKS
As the crowd excitedly awaits the main event of the evening, music videos, featuring all female bands and singers are played on the video monitors to each side of the massive stage. A backdrop featuring a flower laden gas mask hides the set. At 9:00, the house lights go down, the backdrop falls to the floor, and the band explodes on stage. Our eyes are bombarded with a barrage of lights and video and our ears are tastily treated to the band’s opening song “Gaslighter”. Straight into “Sin Wagon”, followed by “Texas Man”, The Chicks give us a highly energetic, upbeat start, and I have to say, it’s pretty cool!
It’s only after the band’s 4th track that lead singer Natalie Maines has a chat with the Toronto faithful. She talks about our cool Prime Minister, which comically results in a loud cry of “boos”, amidst a few cheers. Overall, the fans here are not fans of the man who is being referred to, to which Maines replies “I don’t know… I like him!!” It’s certainly a funny moment, albeit not specifically meant to be comedy.
HEAVY METAL FANS TAKE HEED!!!! The whole stadium, from the floors to the rafters, are on their feet. And this is the case from the drop of the backdrop. It’s a real pet-peeve of mine. Something that I have mentioned in numerous articles. I have come across a lot of shows where it’s warranted, but I have also been to thrash metal shows in smaller arenas where people are sitting. It makes no sense to me. And the country music fans at this Chicks concert definitely showed you up!! Well done Toronto country music fans. It’s no small feat to get this city as engaged as the crowd is here so far tonight.
And the cheering is not sheer drunkenness. The Chicks sound great. Maines’ vocals are wonderful, and her mates’ harmonies are beautifully orchestrated. With their banjos and violins, guitars, keys and drums, the accompanying music is full, and the lighting is visually exceptional. For a photographer, there is nothing like this. I’ll argue, there is nothing quite like this for the standard fan as well. It’s a show, and it’s bringing huge value for their hard-earned dollars.
Throughout the first eight songs, the crowd is up, dancing, and singing, and it continues for the performers’ 9th track “Travelin’ Soldier” a cover of the 1995 Bruce Robison track. Cell phone flashlights light up the 20,000 seat arena and a little slide guitar solo from Emily Strayer add a new element to the artist’s arsenal. “Wide Open Spaces” is greeted with thunderous applause, more singing and dancing, and if it was any clearer, this crowd was loving this atmosphere.
A four-song acoustic set sees the accompanying band and the three ladies line up across the front of the stage for covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”, Miley Cyrus’ “Rainbowland” and Patty Griffin’s “Don’t Let Me Die in Florida”, and it’s a great opportunity for the crowd to take a very well deserved break. A little earlier, we had the unintended comedy from Maines’ Justin Trudeau comments, but at this point, she introduces the band’s drummer as her son, whom she had when she was 0. I found myself chuckle as the drummer is her age. She eventually introduces him as Toronto native Jimmy Paxson and does share that her son is in fact in the band, and introduces Slade as one of the guitarists.
The politically charged “March March” takes us out of the acoustic set, the crowd gets back up on their feet, the tempo increase, and the band rocks through the final handful of tracks of their set. At the end of their high energy finish, the band comes front stage, and a big bow is applauded with a thunderous roar. In fact, it’s so loud in here, that the girl beside me is actually plugging her ears. I’m amazed at the spectacle. Something I have never experienced. Like the young kids who are here seeing their first ever concert, it’s something I will never forget.
Come on Toronto, take some lessons!!! This is how we should all be reacting at live music events!
SETLIST
Gaslighter
Sin Wagon
Texas Man
Julianna Calm Down
The Long Way Around
My Best Friend’s Weddings
Sleep at Night
Ready to Run
Travelin’ Soldier (Bruce Robison cover)
Wide Open Spaces
Tights on My Boat
Daddy Lessons / Long Time Gone
Acoustic
Cowboy Take Me Away
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Rainbowland (Miley Cyrus cover)
Don’t Let Me Die in Florida (Patty Griffin cover)
March March
For Her
Everybody Loves You
White Trash Wedding
Not Ready to Make Nice
Goodbye Earl
All Photos © Jay Broderick
The Chicks Online
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Show date: September 18, 2023
