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The Dixie Chicks hit 'Wide Open Spaces' in the Delta Center By
Wade Denniston
SALT LAKE CITY -- Who doesn't know what I'm talking about? Those are the opening verses from Wide Open Spaces, sung by country music's hottest female trio, the Dixie Chicks. Those few lines couldn't be any truer for the Chicks right now as they are currently out on their first-ever headline tour this summer, which is being sponsored by Country Music Television (CMT). "The Fly Tour" made a stop at the sold-out Delta Center Saturday night, and for the many fans in attendance, they got their money's worth. Following Patty Griffin (the opening act), the crowd was enticed to wait about half an hour for its beloved Chicks to come out. The wait was well worth it, though, as representatives from CountryMusic.com had several contests, including dancing, where fans could win a trip down to the front row of the show. After the fun and games were over, the lights dimmed and Fly Away, by Lenny Kravitz, was the only thing to be heard from the loud speakers, aside from the screaming people. One couldn't see the Dixie Chicks, either, as a huge curtain looking like a pair of pants was strung around the stage. But, once Kravitz's song finished, a big zipper on the "pants" came down, dropping the curtain in the process, giving fans their first glimpse of the Chicks' stage. Shortly thereafter, a spotlight beamed brightly Martie Siedel, who started the show by playing her fiddle to Ready to Run. Soon after that, another spotlight adorned banjo player Emily Robison, who joined Sidel (her sister) in the opening song. Finally, the Chicks were in full gear as a spotlight caught the recently married (Friday in Las Vegas) Natalie Maines beginning to sing the first words to Ready to Run. And the excitement was on. With an enormous amount of energy and emotion, the Dixie Chicks delighted and thrilled the Delta Center audience by singing all of their hits, as well as a song from Garth Brooks, and one from Sheryl Crow. About midway through the concert, the Chicks stopped the music and had a slide show, featuring pictures from their growing up days. The slide show was all in good fun as the three of them poked fun of each other. The climax of the show came when the Chicks came back for their encore, singing the very popular, Goodbye, Earl. Rather than performing the song on stage, the Chicks went out into the audience. Maines could be seen at the back of the floor section on top of a platform especially designed for her. Meanwhile, Siedel and Robison could be found in the upper bowl, playing a mean fiddle, and banjo, respectively. Finally, after Earl had ended, the Chicks capped off their performance by playing the song that got it all started for them, Wide Open Spaces, with the help from the fans as Maines encouraged them to sing along. For those out there that missed this year's performance (and last year's at the E-Center for that matter), make sure you pick up a ticket the next time the Chick's roll into town. It's a concert worth going to, and one you'll never forget.
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