As Sleater-Kinney, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein were among the leading lights of the Olympia, Wash. riot grrl movement that mixed feminism with punk rock in the '90s. Yet over the years the duo has evolved beyond that sound and scene. They drove that point home Thursday (March 28) night at the Wiltern in Los Angeles with a 90-minute, arena-ready career-spanning set that showed the band has matured with their integrity intact, moving forward while still celebrating their past.
This hasn't been an overnight transformation, but a gradual move. It began even before the group's 2006 hiatus, 2014 reunion and 2019 departure of veteran drummer Janet Weiss, as the band began work on Path of Wellness, its 10th album, with producer St. Vincent.
Announcing her departure with the statement: "The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on," Weiss' exit was mourned by longtime fans. Yet in retrospect, it may have been a blessing, as Brownstein and Tucker have been freed to further expand the band's sound as a duo with support musicians rather than be locked into the constraints of a trio.
At the Wiltern, the pair - backed by a drummer Angie Boylan, multi-instrumentalist Teeny Lieberson and keyboardist/backing vocalist Toko Yasuda - embraced that evolution with a very pro-looking stage set featuring a trio of large faux windows, a pair of hanging chandeliers and an impressive light show.
With the backup musicians on a riser behind them, the front of the stage was clear for singers/guitarists Brownstein and Tucker to move freely. Brownstein has embraced the role as a neo-guitar hero, striking poses and even offering an occasional Townshend-esque windmill in between picking insistently catchy riffs and power chords. Tucker is the more accomplished vocalist of the pair, with wails that soar over the band's instrumental attack.
As displayed Thursday night, Brownstein and Tucker are at their best working together, although both have journeyed away from Sleater-Kinney in various other projects.
Thursday night's set began in dramatic fashion, with a wash of red light as the band played the simmering intro of "Hell," from its latest album Little Rope, before exploding into the chorus with a classic quiet-loud-quiet approach. "Bury Our Friends," from 2015's No Cities to Love, highlighted the vocal interplay between Brownstein and Tucker, while "The Center Won't Hold," the title track from the 2019 album, had the band taking a more industrial approach, with Tucker even adding some electronic percussion.
Halfway through the set, Brownstein encouraged "all the rowdies" to move forward to dance, apparently unaware of the venue's ticketing policy. Later, the band announced that fans now had permission from the venue's security to move forward, noting the fans in the front had "too much personal space."
Later in the set, the moody "Dress Yourself," also from the new album, came off like a lost '80s classic, with a layer of synth fleshing out the classic Sleater-Kinney sound.
With their rabid fans now in front, Brownstein offered some life-affirming words, suggesting that the pair is still enjoying the ride three decades into their journey. Tucker made that clear during "Untidy Creature," handing her guitar to a roadie and venturing into the crowd to serenade fans up close and personal.
During the encore, the band ripped through its 1997 anthem "Dig Me Out," with Brownstein tearing through the song while laying on her back. They closed the night maintaining the energy, appropriately enough with "Entertain."
The band has been long-time critics' favorites, but in a world in which Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo are topping the charts and selling out arenas and stadiums, it's about damn time that Sleater-Kinney get their flowers from the public at large.
Boston-spawned quartet Palehound opened the show with a promising set, with singer/guitarist El Kempner enthusiastically sharing how thrilled the band is to tour with its heroes.
Sleater-Kinney continues its tour tonight March 29) at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles. See the band's remaining tour dates below:
03/29/2024 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
03/30/2024 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
03/31/2024 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
04/02/2024 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
04/03/2024 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
04/04/2024 - Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue
04/05/2024 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *SOLD OUT*
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