By: David Schultz

In an informal poll of relatively knowledgeable music fans, almost all of them knew of Sleater-Kinney. Of those who were familiar with the trio of raucous rockers from the Pacific Northwest, most knew that they were about to go on an "indefinite hiatus" and felt that the music scene would be worse for wear in their absence. However, when asked if they could name a Sleater-Kinney song, most got a sheepish look on their face and obviously stumped, admitted defeat. In the case of these relatively unheralded alterna-chicks . . . it's a shame.

The "critical darlings" are made up of guitarists Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker and drummer Janet Weiss, fall into the category of musicians known to be hip but somehow never widely listened to. This past Wednesday night, Sleater-Kinney's true fans came en masse to the steamy confines of New York City's Webster Hall; greatly outnumbering the fair-weather fans to pay the feisty females a final farewell.

Anyone hoping to avoid the overbearing heat wave that has recently descended upon New York found no respite in the stifling concert hall. Wringing sweat out of their hair, the riot grrrl influenced band matched the heat with a fire of their own. Brownstein and Tucker traded guitar licks throughout the evening, satisfyingly drawing out "Let's Call It Love" with an extended instrumental and "dammit" if Janet Weiss didn't just keep the whole thing moving powerfully forward at breakneck speed. In a not-so-subtle reminder that the band would soon be silenced, Sleater-Kinney played before numerous cameras, professional and amateur. Over their two hour set, they ran through a good number of songs from their most recent album The Woods and, after closing with a ferocious "Dig Me Out" returned for a pair of encores that touched on favorites like "Call The Doctor," "Get Up" and their final offering "One More Hour."

Originally scheduled to be Sleater-Kinney's last true concert (they will play Lollapalooza in Chicago this weekend), the New York City show won't even be the last East Coast appearance, which took place last night at a make-up show at Washington D.C.'s famed 9:30 Club. Sleater-Kinney's last shows will bring them full circle: taking place August 11 and August 12 at the Crystal Ballroom in their hometown of Portland, OR. While the band hasn't discussed the impetus for their hiatus, there may be some irony in the fact that the recent outpouring of goodwill may have generated the sort of attention that would have staved off the need for the break in the first place. One can only hope that the trio stresses the hiatus and not the indefinite.

Labels: Sleater-Kinney