Dixie Chicks, Columbus, OH, Value City Arena, July 23, 2006
With controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks like mosquitoes to sweaty skin on a humid morn, the band had two roads to take. One road would be to retreat, find ways to tone down their statement made against President George W. Bush and the Iraq war to try and get in good with commercial radio. The second road, much like the poem's less traveled road, would be to stand firm, defend their convictions and words and press on with a carpe diem attitude. The Chicks stuck to their morals, took the bumpy, non-paved, pock-filled road and came out of the gates with a single, "Not Ready To Make Nice," which told the world, and more importantly commercial radio, that like their statement or not, these Chicks are standing firm. Heck, the band even went on Howard Stern radio and not only received apologies from the King of All Media for statements he made against the band, but also broke the "country" mold and let their guard down to talk about everything from underwear choices (or sans underwear for one) to oral sex.

With everything surrounding the Chicks, including a lot of media hoping for failure, the band played Value City Arena to a near sell-out crowd that not only consisted on the long-time fans in cowboy hats and boots, but progressive 20-somethings in baggy jeans and retro tee shirts could also be seen floating around as well.

Much like their public attitude of no apologies, the Chicks perform that way on stage, both emotionally and even in the set list itself. Not ones to conform, the Chicks are more along the lines of Jam bands, making a set list that changes each night and breaks the mold of playing a big hit early, in the middle, and then late. Starting the show off with Lubbock Or Leave It, the vocalist/guitarist Natalie Maines stood firm behind her center-stage microphone and started the 23-song extravaganza with an angelic voice mixed with typical alt-country sound. With Truth #2 following, Maines and the band then started into Goodbye Earl, and from that point on, it was rare to find anyone not standing and dancing in their boots (cowboy or Sketchers).

As the show progresses, Maines, Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire seemed as comfortable with themselves as ever. Although those 2003 comments made in France have given the band more notoriety then ever expected, all the women seem very comfortable and relaxed despite the influx of comments and bans surrounding them. Perhaps because the band was able to release many of those emotions through song, including the afore mentioned Lubbock or Leave it which is about small-town mentalities, or the finale of the night, I Hope written by Keb Mo, dealing with Hurricane Katrina, the Chicks have seemed to have turned a strong corner not despite of what happened in '03, but perhaps because of that incident. As the band became friendlier with non-country listeners, the Chicks took advantage and teamed up with legendary rock and hip-hop producer Rick Rubin to make its fourth studio record, Taking The Long Way. Along with Rubin, the Chicks worked with alternative radio friend Pete Yorn and others to write a record more based on straightforward rock and added their country charm.

On stage, the Chick cut through each song with expertise, and the near 2-hour set was filled with both radio favorites along with the die-hard fan favorites. Maines' voice was filled with emotion on each song, and Robinson and Maguire were perfect matches adding zest to Maines' vocals.

During the early portion of the show, Maines asked the crowd to remind her that the Chicks should remind her to kick off their next tour in Columbus, due to the resounding excitement of the audience. So, Ms. Maines, consider this reminder number one.