ALL HANDS ON THE BAD ONE

                  This last week has been filled with the buzz that Sleater-Kinney is reuniting!!!  Their last album came out in 2005 and now on January 20^th, 2015 they will release their new record No Cities to Love, ten years later.  In case you have missed out on this amazing band they are riot grrrl and indie rock band from Washington.  The members are Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar), Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), and Janet Weiss (drums).  If you are unfamiliar with their music you need to check them out or I would probably make you a mix CD if asked.  They are punk rock, but that know how to play their instruments and have some of the best feminist lyrics out there.  I have to admit when I use to play the guitar, this is the band I wanted to be if I could imitate anyone.   

                  All this chatter about the band makes me think of one of the top three concerts I have ever attended, which was on September 14^th, 2000.  It was my first year of at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and I remember my friend Jessica called me and said she had seen Sleater-Kinney in Madison last night and they were incredible.  At first I was upset that I had not been at the show, but she knew I had a prior engagement at school that night.  The good news was that her and Laura, another friend, and I were all going to head to Chicago this afternoon to see them play at the Metro.  A few hours later the three of us were heading to the windy city, without tickets, and just a prayer we could see the band.  When we got down there we found out the show was SOLD OUT, but we decided to stick around, maybe we could still find tickets. 

                  Shortly later we saw the three ladies themselves walking down the street heading to the Metro for sound check.  We decided to approach them.  Corin and Janet were already inside the venue, but Laura had gotten Carrie’s attention.  Laura explained how they had gone to Madison the previous night and we’re hoping to see them play again tonight, but there were no tickets left.  It’s a good thing Laura had done the talking, I can never seem to talk very well to my idols, except to say “I really like your music.”  Carrie told us that she had tickets put aside for her family, but they couldn’t make it.  She took our names and put us down on her guest list.  So not only were we getting into the show, we were getting in for FREE and on Carrie Brownstein’s VIP list.  The guitars and drums were loud and the way Corin and Carrie harmonize their vocals was brilliant.  We got to chat some more with Carrie and Corin after the show and see Jack White smoke some cigarettes by himself, it was the first time I had heard of the White Stripes, who opened the show.  We spoke even briefly to Mr. White, but all the attention was on the ladies.  It was an amazing night and full of adventure on that sudden trip to Chicago. 

Me, Corin, Jessica, Carrie, and Laura outside the Metro

               Flash forward to February 2004, where I am drinking at my favorite local bar, Landmark, and my friend introduces me to this guy, named Kyle.  I am wearing my Sleater-Kinney t-shirt that says “All Hands on the Bad One,” which I had gotten from that tour, and Kyle says, “So you like Sleater-Kinney?”  I replay, “of course” and he proceeds to roll up his shirtsleeve and show me his “Kill Rock Stars” tattoo, a record label that the band had released a few records off of.  So begins my and Kyle’s love affair.  About a year later he will transition into amazing woman, named Ashley whom I would marry some seven years later.  Ashley and I have a poster of the band in our office and we are both big fans.  Today at noon we purchased tickets to see Sleater-Kinney play Turner Hall this February 15^th, 2015.  It may be a day late for Valentines, but I am very excited to finally get to see this band for a second time in my life and for the first time with my wife!!!

Janet, Carrie, Paul, Corin, and Kyle/Ashley at the Metro a different show