No More Rock 'n' Roll Fun

Today marks the last Sleater-Kinney show...probably ever. They'll be playing in their hometown (well, by way of Olympia, WA) of Portland, OR tonight to some sad sad fans. Their announcement of "indefinite hiatus" came as a huge disappointment for many music fans, but I don't think it was a complete surprise as it's been hinted at a bit in the past few years.

I was lucky enough to get to see three of their shows this past Fall. I was only a minor fan before seeing them live, liking a few tracks, owning an album or two, but never thinking twice about them. Seeing them live changed things and gave me a lot more respect for them. First off, Corin Tucker's vocals are amazing. They are amazing in that she always sounds like she's straining something to get these crazy shreiking noises out of this petite little woman, but when you see her singing them 4 feet from you you realize this really isn't that much effort for her, she just really has a gift, an amazing, if not somewhat odd, voice. Janet Weiss backs those vocals up on drums and harmonica pricelessly with hair a flying...her hair alone deserves a fan club. Carrie Brownstein gets major props from me as I thought she stole the show with her amazing guitar playing. Her guitar is almost like an extention of her and she seems to go into a trance while she plays and shakes and shudders around the stage with each riff. You start to wonder if she's playing the guitar or if it's player her.

They started off as just another vestige of the riot grrl movement, but when the rest disappeared or got day jobs these ladies kept at it, earned the respect of myriads of fans across the spectrums as well as praise from the critics, earning "rock and roll band of the year" in 2001 by Time magazine. There simply aren't enough esteemed and talented rock bands, especially those composed of all strong, intelligent and lovely women like this band. They will be sorely missed.
R.I.P, Sleater-Kinney.

• Oh!
• You're No Rock 'n' Roll Fun
• All Hands On the Bad One
• Get Up