We knew them for decades as Dixie Chicks. Under a new name but with its same founding triumvirate, The Chicks are playing their first extended series in Las Vegas.
The Chicks play Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood on May 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13. All shows start at 8 p.m., with tickets on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.
Founding members Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer toured for the first time in five years 2022, coming off the 2020 album, “Gaslighter.” This is their first performance in Las Vegas since playing T-Mobile Arena in July 2016.
The Chicks’ booking is slotted into a break in Miranda Lambert’s schedule at Zappos Theater. Their 2020 North America tour plans were pushed back because of the pandemic.
“Finally getting to play live in 2022 left us hungry to continue our tour. After so many years without new music, last year felt like a long time coming,” the Chicks said in a statement. “We hope our fans are ready for more in 2023 because we are not done! There is a lot more to come this year and we are excited to get it all started in Las Vegas at the Zappos Theater this Spring.”
The Chicks dropped “Dixie” from their name in June 2020 when they released the single, “March March,” from their latest album, “Gaslighter,” their first release in 14 years. The move was evidently to eliminate the connection to the Civil War-era South, though no formal announcement was made as to why.
The name change was enacted the same month superstar act Lady Antebellum switched to Lady A. The band also sought to distance itself from a term that many fans felt romanticised the slavery-era South.
The video for “March March” arrived ahead of the new album. The clip is filled with images of protests for women’s rights, Black Lives matter, gay rights and environmental issues.
In announcing the single, the band said, “We want to meet this moment.” The Chicks also sang the national anthem at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
The band has not shied from expressing its opinions, musically or publicly. In 2003, Maines ignited created international controversy by criticizing President George W. Bush on the eve of the Iraq war. Country radio stations swiftly began dropping the band’s music.
Regardless, the Chicks are the top-selling U.S. all-female band ever, since breaking with “Wide Open Spaces” in 1998. They have sold 33 million albums in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The Chicks have won 13 Grammys, including album of the year for “Taking the Long Way.”
As a live act, the Chicks have exceeded $100 million in ticket sales, a valuable quality in Las Vegas’ competitive live-entertainment market. The have reached beyond their country roots, collaborating on “Daddy Lessons” with Beyoncé at the 50th Anniversary of the Country Music Association Awards in 2016 (releasing the single the next day). They also appeared on Taylor Swift’s “Soon You’ll Get Better,” off her 2019 album, “Lover.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.