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Scary Halloween PhotoShe bangs! This, ladies and gentlemen, is the actual junior high school photo of Natalie Maines. Yes, she actually gave me her consent to share this picture with the world, shocking nearly everyone around her. There are Halloween party stories and photos coming soon. But no trick or treat is better than this portrait. Ding! The Home StretchWith only one show left, Natalie and Emily are tied, with Martie still able to force a three-way tie. (For those trying to figure out the scoring, the Chicks decided that the only thing that should matter is who finishes first the most often.) After the third night, Emily was looking like the favorite to win. She even got cocky and drew a portrait of a middle finger to rub it in. (Kids, don't try this at home.) But Martie made sure to spell MEN on Wednesday. And yesterday, Natalie's competitive spirit took over and she made damn sure that she would ring that bell first. It all comes down to tonight. Who would you rather ...?Natalie and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) are cooling off backstage using the latest in low-tech gadgets: the iFan. Somehow, the fanning turned into a modeling session, which morphed into a demand for a side-by-side comparison of my photos to determine who would serve as a better product model. By the way, Ms. Maines suggested the title of this blog entry. I'm too classy for innuendo. I'm not too classy, however, to work out a deal with the makers of the iFan to sell these photos. (Call me!) For another iFan photo with Natalie and the Dixie Chicks' makeup artist Dean Bryant, click here. Leave your opinions below! Chicks Fans Rock and Chicks Fans RuleThere's a new article on the main page about our friend, Nancy Atkins, and the gold milestone she'll be achieving while attending this Saturday's Eagles/Dixie Chicks show. Here's the link: http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5621630>1=10472 Leave your comments below! DING!On the last tour, the first Chick to be ready to take the stage would say "Ding!" None of the Chicks wanted to be known for being last, so the Ding!-ing became an increasingly competitive affair. During these Nokia shows, the Ding! contest has become an official affair. Cory, the Tour Assistant, bought an actual bell and a little dry erase board to keep score. Martie, Natalie, and Emily must finish makeup, hair, get dressed, and then put on their sound packs before they're allowed to hit the bell. On the first night, Emily was first to ding. Martie was second and wrote "Loser" in the third place box. On the second night, Natalie had her revenge and the scores are essentially even. Any predictions for the ultimate winner? Photos from Opening NightOh, don't worry, there's much more coming once I get those approvals. Two Hours Until Show TimeLet's hope the paint dries in time. DCX Collaborator Dan Wilson Releases "Free Life"Not Closing Time At a dinner on the eve of this year's Grammy Awards, I had the privilege of sitting next to musician and songwriter Dan Wilson, the co-writer of "Not Ready to Make Nice." The Chicks worked with Dan to write six songs on Taking The Long Way, including the track that I consider to be an anthemic masterpiece, "The Long Way Around." For those who have seen Shut Up and Sing, Dan is the bespectacled one with the great line about writing a song about unity. From head to toe, Dan turned out to be an incredibly honest, nice guy -- and not just for a famous musician who got stuck sitting next to a nobody instead of, say, John Mayer. Among other things, he was forthcoming about being nervous about the next day's awards. (While he didn't look fidgety then, I could tell that he was full of fidgets when he gave the thank-you speech after winning the prestigious Grammy Award for Song of the Year.) At the dinner, Dan and I had a conversation, among other things, about what it means for a musician to be popular. I wondered how he -- a lead singer in alternative band Semisonic -- felt about working with a band that had achieved so much mainstream success. His reply was incredibly thoughtful. Unfortunately, I didn't write down what he said. And then I forgot what he said. And then I kicked myself for forgetting. And then I put a Band-Aid on the various generative glands that I kicked. So you can imagine my joy when I saw the following on my cup of venti soy no-whip extra-crack white mocha last week: I've never bought the "lowest common denominator" image of popular art. Too many artists worry that popularity is the same as being "middle of the road." I'm much more into the idea that the middle is the highest point. On a map, the center of a mountain is its peak. You need to climb very high to get there. How about that? Is it possible that God has been trying to communicate with me through Starbucks cups, but I've been too strung out on caffeine to notice other messages? Needless to say, I will be listening carefully to Dan Wilson's new solo CD, Free Life, that was released yesterday. During today's rehearsals, the Dixie Chicks asked if I would tell people about Dan's album, which they are very excited about. Heck, after hearing a few tracks, I couldn't wait to do so. In fact, I'm hoping Dan makes it to the center of a mountain. Among other treats, you can hear Dan's excellent version of "Easy Silence." Plus, the record was executive produced by uber-guru Rick Rubin, so how can it be nothing but loaded with awesomeness? You can hear some Dan Wilson tunes and learn more on his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/danwilsonmusic And if you ever get the privilege of having dinner next to Dan Wilson, bring a pen and paper! Back in the SaddlePulled Strings Ladies and Gentlemen, the Chicks landed in the City of Angels. They are currently rehearsing for their first live performance since landing their Grammy Award trifecta. I'll be behind the scenes for the next two weeks, providing exclusive coverage, sparing no details on acne removal, inane bets, or Natalie's latest arsenal of jokes. Oh, and yes, I am back. (Unfortunately, I am nearly deaf since my ears, for some strange reason, have been burning.) If you're going to the Eagles/DCX Nokia shows, I hope to see you there. I can't promise, however, that I'll look like a million bucks. Rock and roll! |
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