Even if Olympia, Washington’s Sleater-Kinney had remained on hiatus after their 2006 break, their legacy would have already been secured. But they came storming back in 2014 with their eight long player No Cities To Love, seemingly without missing a beat. Even the recent departure of long time drummed Janet Weiss hasn’t diminished the remaining duo of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein from creating pertinent, vital new music.

Although Weiss’ Bonham-like wallop was certainly missed (replaced on this tour by Angie Boylan) during the first of their two night run at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, the band’s (fleshed out into a five-piece touring outfit) reputation as a firebrand live act remains perfectly intact. Although the evening delivered both old and new material, the emphasis certainly focused on their 2019 release, the St. Vincent produced, The Center Won’t Hold. And while their former Riot Grrrl attitude still simmers under the surface and in their political and personal activism, Night One of their two day residency in the Uptown displayed, quite voluminously, that their creative opportunities moving forward certainly seem limitless.

Words and photos by Curt Baran

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