Tom Lynch

The crowds gather. Tone-drunk from a Friday's worth of live music--Ryan Adams, Editors, Iron and Wine and many other introductory acts--they come to see the show of the day, Portland's Sleater-Kinney, who have announced that after this performance the band will go on a "hiatus," but that "hiatus" is "indefinite," and we all know what that means.

The seminal post-Bikini Kill riot grrl trio has gained legendary status in the U.S. over the past decade with acclaimed albums like last year's "The Woods" and its predecessor "One Beat"--not to mention the earlier, perhaps more influential records "Call the Doctor" and "Dig Me Out." The best rock band in America?

"Absolutely," says Sean. She traveled from Milwaukee to Grant Park just to see S-K, and then it's back on the road.

A large group of friends--mostly women, but one man--have custom-made T-shirts that wave goodbye. Brown in color with blue lettering, the shirts each announce "Later Sleater," with each of the friends' names on the back. Many photos are taken. They're celebrating--it's more of a thank-you than a say-it-ain't-so.

The trio takes the stage and wail and shake. Though mostly newer songs from "The Woods," the crowd embraces the set as if the songs are old friends, and when guitarist and vocalist Carrie Brownstein announces that she "remembers spending every summer in Chicago as a kid," they erupt.

The finale brings the band back to "Dig Me Out" with one of that album's many highlights, "Turn It On." The overwhelming audience claps along, hops, waves its collective fist in support. And then Sleater-Kinney is gone.

(2006-08-08)

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