I almost lost hope. But then, 2 songs into Sleater-Kinneys second encore they began the riff for "Joey Ramone." Though I stood in the over 21 area I jumped and squealed the same as I had when I was watching a performance of that same song when I was 16. The ticket anxiety, the waiting, this made it all worth it.
Overall Sleater-Kinney’s (second-to) last show was a faithful rendition of the musical talent of a band, a fitting final show. However, it was not their best show. The crowd was appropriately excited. The ladies gave their thanks as well as their energy and especially skilled guitar and drum playing. But it was also a sad day. And that feeling was in the air. You could tell that the older fans were distracted by the memories of smaller clubs and that raw energy that comes with a band still struggling to make it.
Personally, I had hoped they would play my personal favorite, and sadly appropriate, Good Things. When they did not, I consoled myself with the fact that I have indeed heard it live and that I would go home and listen to their full 7 albums on repeat for the next week or so. And, aside from their first album, which really was rough enough that it might not be that much fun to play from anymore, the band did play tracks from all their albums, even if the Chainsaw released "Call the Doctor" received only 2 highlights. Neither new nor old fans could complain with the performance last night and I’m sure tonight’s performance will be both as lively and as sad.
So let’s toast Sleater-Kinney, enjoy their last show with the knowledge that they will certainly have a reunion tour, and that all three members will surely pursue other creative avenues for audiences to enjoy. And lastly, I plead for pictures, just another spot of memory I hope I can post and share. […]
And though they have evolved over the course of 7 wildly diverse albums they have still maintained a top stop in my list of the best bands ever. And now I’m pretty glad I put away my “I saw them when…” hipster pride and actually attended their last Portland show this December because…
Granted Corin Tucker has kids now, and Janet Weiss keeps busy with her other popular band Quasi but neither of this is new and they seemed to be doing well. They were getting some real media attention (I even saw a video of theirs playing in American Eagle Outfitters, not that that is ncessarily a measure of sucess…) and their music is as fantasticly evolving as ever. Their latest album, The Woods (
Hometown hotties 
While I cannot comment on whether 
Carrie Brownstein’s lead guitar skills have become unmistakable, and The Woods doesnt seem to be afraid to throw on the reverb and let her rip. The album even includes an 11 minute anthem, Lets call it love, that keeps the jam spirit alive, combining it with a punk rock style that produces and strange but interesting child. I wander and get lost in The Woods in a way that I never have in SKs usual urgency. If each album carries a distinct message, this release seems to say, Let go And yet, then Night Light kicks in with Corins haunting voice lilting over the guitar and you lose some of not all who wander are lost peace to the calm of unnerve. And, while the sadness of Jumpers is readily apparent, it is also oddly comforting as the two voices blend over staccato electronic sounds. The albums intro, The Fox is equally weird, if more apparently so as the guitar strings bend into off-key musings. 
All in all The Woods is a surprisingly psychedelic trip through the thickly forested Northwest music scene. Im inclined to let my curiosity lure me into the shade but, while enticing, entering these mind-altering woods are is also a bit risky. Not everyone will have a good trip. 