This page is for stories by the Chicks' original fans, and how they were captivated by the music and artistry before Sony catapulted them into the national limelight. If you saw the Dixie Chicks before I Can Love You Better became a surprise hit, please send me your story! I won't reprint any personal information without permission, so let me know how you would like to be credited -- anonymously, or by name, city, and/or email or URL.

Send those stories to robertb@dixie-chicks.com, and relive the history of the Dixie Chicks!

Thanks to your tip I managed to get the three Chicks CDs from CD Bargains. They're now on the way and will probably be here early in January. I can hardly wait.

I'll send the photos as soon as I can. Hope you have a great Christmas.

Best wishes,
Graeme Flanagan

"Not much of a story," indeed! This is a great story, and what incredible luck... this concert would have been just months before Laura Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines. And the pictures are great -- check them out on my Picture Page!

-rb

Johnny D's, Boston, MA, several times before 1995
story added 1/8/1999

They used to play at least twice a year at Johnny D's, a great club in Somerville, MA, a couple of towns away from Boston. People would go nuts! Especially over "the brunette." Laura always wore killer outfits, very old-style, Dale Evans stuff. What a treat, plus, at there were only a handful of female musicians touring. Ranch Romance were also a big hit!

I really miss the old gals. They'd show up like a less hokey version of Riders in the Sky and play their hearts out. The skirts that Laura would wear were simply beautiful with western scenes and horses of felt sewn on to them.

Today's Chicks, although mega-stars, look like two virgins and a whore to me! Why didn't they just recruit Courtney Love? A real shame...

When I have more time, I'll fill you in on seeing them at a few festivals in Rhode Island and the like. We really love that stuff up here! If you like the old chicks you should check out the new Heather Myles CD, VERY honky tonk (Merle, Buck, Dwight, et al). She's coming here on 1/1, can't wait!!

Stand firm, lawyers are the scum of the earth!

I'm sorry, I'm still laughing too hard to comment!

-rb

The Birchemere, Alexandria, VA, before 1995
story added 6/16/1999

Robert:

Am I the only one who thinks the Chicks "SOLD OUT" in becomming commercial?

They used to be my ABSOLUTE FAVOTITE group...in the OLD DAYS....when their Texas Swing was REAL.

Now....they're just another New York act.

BOO!!!!!!

Well, while making gobs of money is as American as apple pie, so is holding up banks, Bonnie & Clyde were HUGE heroes in Oklahoma in the 30's......but it don't make it right.

I heard the Chicks for the first time at The Birchemere in Alexandria, VA...I THOUGHT Schooner Fare was on that night, and was about to leave before buying a ticket, but my wife said "What the Hell, we're here" So we stayed and enjoyed every minute, and wished the show were another two sets at least. I since bought all what they had out on CD and played the best cuts for anyone who'd listen (out here it was a trick!)

Our 5 year old grew up on the Chicks and is a HUGE fan and he has all the words to both CD's Little Ol' Cowgirl and Thank Heavens memorized.

I bought him Wide Open Spaces.

He listen to it once. He said, I swear to God.."That's not the Dixie Chicks!" It hasn't been played much since.

BTW. I am a HS instrumental music teacher...completely classically trained if you can believe it... and a lonely voice against all the crap out there that masquerades as "music." I ought to just piss against the wind. I'd at least get a shower out of it.

Well now the Chicks are megastars, but we lost something in the process. Commercialization, by definition means to appeal to the LOWEST common denominator. DC's have done just that...but hey! they're rich now....(but not off my buck anymore.)

But as we all know, opinions are like [ummm... "lower intestinal exits" -rb]....

Third Floor Cantina, Bryan, TX, summer 1995
story added 6/16/1999

Robert,

Since the Dixie Chicks hit it big, I have wondered what happened to Laura Lynch. Based on what I've read on your website, it must have been been the summer of 1995 that my wife and I saw the Chicks at a club in Bryan, Texas. Being from Texas we had heard of them, but we were blown away. We said, "Why aren't these girls already huge stars?" But when they DID make it, it was another girl up front. She's good, but I really thought Laura Lynch was terrific, and muy bonita. Did they do a Pete Best on her, or what happened? And do you know what she's doing now?

Laura is happily married to a rancher and is living the cowgirl life outside of Weatherford. Look for a page on her new life in the future!

Robert, Thanks for the reply. So I take it she left the group on her own, or was it one of these "mutual agreements"? I thought she had an earthy quality that played well against the sisters. Great singer and performer. The show in Bryan was in the Third Floor Cantina, literally the third floor of an old downtown retail building. Classic dance hall setup. I'm not an avid fan so I don't remember any of the particular songs, just that they had an amazing presence. They had been kicking around Texas for quite awhile by then, and so I was beginning to think they weren't going to make it nationally, and, after seeing them, I couldn't understand why. So it was a pleasant surprise when they suddenly turned up on every radio station in the country, but also a surprise when Laura Lynch wasn't with 'em. Which of their early albums would you recommend?

While the internal machinations surrounding Laura's departure and Natalie's arrival may have been somewhat Machiaveillian, the end result was that everyone wound up happy with their situation. My favorite Dixie Chicks CD is Little Ol' Cowgirl, but you'd better get it while you can! Check out the Buy It section on the main page for more details.

- rb

It has also been my pleasure to get to know the music of Colin Boyd, which also started with that CD! Colin wrote two of its tracks; He's a very entertaining performer, as well as an extremely talented song writer. Check him out! (http://www.ColinBoyd.com)

The next time I heard DomSci perform was at Borders, the afternoon before their gig at Sons of Herman Hall. As there weren't TOO many fans there, I was able to say "Hi!", and get my copy of Three Women autographed by Robin, Sara & Patty. At the time, Sara was pretty far along in her pregnancy with Lily. She was a real trouper to be touring then!

That evening, I went to Sons for the show. It was grand! They played many of the songs from the two CD's, as well as others. Unfortunately, this was also the last time I would hear them perform together. It is my understanding that DomSci had one or two other gigs, but none that I was able to attend.

Since then, I've been able to hear Sara (http://www.SaraHickman.com) on several occasions. But, I've only heard Robin once.

Unfortunately, I don't recall too many details. The band was Round Robin. It was at the Shell's restaurant just inside Colleyville, on Highway 26. This was late Summer 1997, I think. As I recall, the music had a strong Bluegrass element. But, it was a delight to hear Robin's voice and music again!

Some members of Robin's family were also there, so I wasn't able to visit.

Shortly after that, while scouring the "local music" bin at a used CD store, I came across "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans." When I saw Robin's name, I bought it!

Needless to say, I was quite impressed. Not realizing Robin wasn't with them anymore, I set out to find a gig when they would be playing. Fortunately, a friend straightened me out.

- d

Winter 1996-7, Plano, Texas
story added 10/19/1998

Subject: new category for Dixie Chicks poll

OK. The first time my friend and I met the Dixie Chicks was in person, not knowing who they were. If you can believe that. Met them in in late 1996 or early 1997 at a pub/restaurant in Plano (TX) called Jack Astor's.

After several beers, my friend encouraged me to introduce myself to a group of three ladies seated at a booth across from the bar. The threesome was with a brown-haired twentysomething dude. Anyway, I got straight to the point.

"Would you three...hmmm... and the fella (begrudgingly) like to join my friend and I at our house for a soothing soak in our hot tub?"

The Dixie Chick with the long blonde hair asked me if I knew who they were, to which I replied, "Nope."

When she told me they were the Dixie Chicks, I had to admit that while I had heard of them I had not listened to their music yet. At this point in the evening, I didn't really care. I thought the three of them and... hmmm.... the fella were strong candidates for the hot tub back at the house.

She was kind and polite when she told me that the Chicks were headed to Blue Planet in Dallas for an after-hours romp on the dance floor. So, while they didn't visit the hot tub, I at least got a great story out of the deal.

And, by the way, I've come to enjoy their music very much.

Thanks for the note! I haven't really gotten enough demand, though, to have a poll for "When did you first try to pick up the Chicks at a bar?" Although the answers could be very interesting...

I don't know what Natalie's and Martie's husbands look like, but I'm guessing that the "brown-haired twentysomething dude" was Tommy Nash, the group's guitarist. Not really to my taste as a hot tub ornament, but I guess it was only fair to consider them a package deal.

By the way, did your friend (who encouraged you to go introduce yourself) know who they were?

-rb

Hi Robert,

In response to your questions.

We recorded a demo version of Wide Open Spaces in the spring of '97. We sent the song to Lloyd Maines who fell in love with it and immediatly sent it to Natalie (she was just leaving home at the time). As it worked out, she and the girls had e-mailed us about the possibility of doing the song for their debut Sony release. We happened to be playing a show in Lubbock and they were all in town for Natalie's bacholorette party and they passed by the club and recognized Susan's voice from the demo (they had no idea we were in town). They came in and stuck a napkin on my piano with the request "Wide Open Spaces" please... love, the Chicks. Things just fell into place and we feel very fortunate to have such a great group performing our song. Since then we have all become great friends and they have even stopped by and surprised us during a coffee house show and sat in.

And yes, Lubbock definately claims Natalie! Big family tradition.

Take care and keep in touch,
Scott/The Groobees

Memphis, TN, October 1997
story added 1/8/1999

The Chicks came to Memphis in October of 97 as part of the Marlboro Tour. My girlfriend and her husband have followed the "Old Chicks" since their beginnings on the street corner. Being all fellow Texans, they knew I would appreciate this Texas threesome.

The concert, and I wouldn't really call it a concert, was at this dance hall and "honky tonk". If we arrived before 7:00 it was only $1.00 to get in. We were there before 7:00 and some cowboy paid for our way in! I became an instant lover of the Chicks! Growing up on Texas Bluegrass and good ole Texas Country Music, I could fully appreciate Martie's fidddle and Emily's banjo playing. We even got them to play "Pink Toenails".

There were very few people at this dance hall. Even in October of 97 they were still simple and approachable and had not gotten into the "punk rock" look. In fact they were autographing their Little Ol Cowgirl CD, including Natalie, who was not even a part of their group at the time that LOC was released.

I took lots of pictures with them, danced on stage with them, bought 2 of their autographed LOC CD's and became an instant fan!

I guess it was that following Jan or Feb that WOS was realeased. They came to Memphis in June of 98. This time it was a sellout at The New Daisy Theatre. We had front row seats and again they autographed my other "old" DC CD's, including WOS, along with the drumstick that I caught.

Of course by this June concert, they had just gone double platinum, but they still were approachable. In fact Martie said to me, "You look familiar", and wanted to know who I was. I told her I was just a loyal fan who danced with her on stage. Again I got some great pictures with them.

I went to another concert in Clarksville, Tn this past September and it was an outdoor concert, and after it was over they never even came out to sign autographs. Disappointing, but in a way I understood.

Then on January 2nd '99, they will be in Robinsonville, Ms, only 45 minutes from Memphis and I have tickets for that. It will be interesting to see how they are and if they will give autographs.

I still think they are great and I am as everyone else on this list, a great fan, but I hate to see them disown their past. "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans" shows how awesome they are and it is my favorite CD.

Keep up the great info on the Chicks!

November 1997, Indianapolis, Indiana
story added 10/13/1998

I'm the afternoon jock/music director at an Indianapolis radio station. The Chicks came in for dinner last week. With a fiancé from Dallas, I had heard of them before their CD was delivered to my desk. I'm really excited about them! They did a conference room show at the station that afternoon, but I was on the air...so at dinner, we asked the manager's permission and they broke out the fiddle, dobro, and guitars and did a little impromptu show right there! None of the other patrons seemed to mind...it was late and there weren't many left, but the staff all came out of the kitchen an enjoyed the show too!

We talked them into playing Roly Poly... that was my all time favorite! Wide Open Spaces is my favorite Chicks song. We haven't recieved the CD yet, but I have a video with the current video and a little more on it. When we get the disc, I'd love to let you know about it!

When the single "I Can Love You Better" was released (before the album had even been finalized), the Dixie Chicks started touring radio stations across the country, á la Loretta Lynn. The bottom line was the music, of course, but the Chicks' refreshing, honest attitude may have been a big factor in their being taken seriously by the fans and by the music industry. Check out this followup from Vicki, after the Chicks hit big:

I wanted to let you know that I saw the Chicks again in August [1998] at a show, and they remembered the restaurant show and how I was hoping for an engagement ring from my boyfriend any day. Natalie asked me "Did you ever get that ring?" I got it a couple weeks after I first met them and I'm getting married this Saturday! The fact that they remembered meant a lot to me. I know they meet a lot of radio people and fans all across the country. In the music business, it's great to see good things happen to good people, and that's how I feel about Natalie, Martie, and Emily.

Thanks for a sweet followup to a wonderful story!

Note: you can listen to Vicki on the web in the afternoons... visit The Bear for details!

-rb

Ann Arbor and Detroit, MI, 1997-1998
story added 6/16/1999

Hello, Robert. I wanted to say that I really liked your website. One of the regulars on the AOL Dixie Chicks message board mentioned it. Nice to see some of the history preserved. The prior "official" web site from before they hit it big with Sony is long since offline but yours has it hands down for content anyway. It's a shame about the audio clips though. I suspect if they had the same line up now, even with the different sound, the old albums would be in reissue. Guess it's tough to do that with a different lead singer, but maybe in a few years (or more than a few) someone with very good taste will reissue the back catalog.

Fortunately, for me, I have all three of the Indie albums. Heck, I even managed to find that KERA disc (no mean feat being almost 2,000 miles from Texas!) I was wondering though if you have run across anyone selling the two Danger in the Air tapes (hadn't heard about that group before visiting your sight) and the Home on the Radar Range 45 or cassingle (I've heard conflicting reports as to how readily available it is in the Dallas area and don't know what to belive -- but since I'm a ways away up here in Michigan it's not like I'd be popping into many Dallas record stores anyway). Sure would be nice to hear them. I never had a chance to hear the pre-Natalie lineup live, but I did catch a TV appearance or two with that lineup and I had all of the Indy albums long before WOS was even started. I was also fortunate enough to see them in some pretty small clubs around here before WOS was released. Natalie did a pretty good job with the old repertoire in those gigs. Anyway . . .

I wish I had better news... I only got access to the Danger in the Air releases and the 45rpm single through Jay Rury, who used to fix the Chicks' violins and Laura's stand-up bass. As far as I can tell, it is completely impossible to find either the single or the Danger in the Air release. BTW, the single was issued on both vinyl and cassette (see the Discography page).

Can you send me some stories of the times you saw the Chicks in the small clubs? Even though it's after Natalie joined, it's still before they hit the big time and very much applicable to my site's focus. Any memories you have would be great... and let me know if I can use your name and/or email address.

Well, I have seen them 4 times, all here in Michigan. I posted lengthy reviews on the AOL message board I started for the Chicks a few years ago now. I'll spare you the full version and give you a couple of high points. The full version may still be on AOL but I haven't looked through the old posts in quite awhile. And yes, you can use my name and/or e-mail address and post these on the site. If you want the full reviews I can try to find them.

The first 2 times were in 1997 at small clubs where I had a chance to meet them briefly afterwards (Diamonds & Spurs in Pontiac, August 1997, and Barnstormers in Whitmore Lake near Ann Arbor, Halloween party, Oct. 1997). The first time was a free concert and there were only about 70 - 80 people there (unbelievable to me). Everyone of them though left a DC fan. My first impression of Natalie was wow does she have one stong set of pipes and is she ever energetic! The show was a nice mix of old favs and some songs that would eventually show up on WOS. What I remember most though and always will is meeting the Chicks afterwards (oh, and Natalie's BAD jokes!). I'll never forget the look of utter astonishment and pride on Marite's face and then Emily's when they saw that there in Michigan, 2000 miles from Texas, someone they hadn't met before actually owned all three of their albums. It was also fun to finally meet Emily after trading messages on the e-mail (before they got so overwhelmed by e-mail post-WOS) and on the AOL message board (prior to WOS Emily was a regular visitor and sometimes poster, maybe she still drops by anonymously?).

The second show drew a much larger crowd, by then the first single from WOS had been out to radio a couple of weeks and I'd guesstimate there were about 1000 people there for the party, maybe a little less, all crammed under a big outdoor tent (a little brave for late October in Michigan). And paying customers that time no less :) The crowd was also much more enthusiastic, crowding the stage and obscuring any dance floor. Again, a nice mix of the new and old stuff but more to the new. The crowd yelled for encores and actually exhausted the bands repertoire (of course they had a new drummer and were not prepared for/expecting an encore). When I met them after the show, Martie recognized me immediately from the last show, which made me feel about ten feet tall I guess, and Emily scribbled a nice little note on one of their publicity photos and we just talked for a few minutes. Both times I was struck by how easygoing they all were. Nice people, class acts.

Third time was at the WYCD fan appreciation Christmas Party/Concert in Dec. 1997 at the Detroit Opera House. Great accoustics but unfortunately the Chicks only were given time for about 5 or 6 songs, mostly from WOS. The headliner was Billy Ray Cyrus. Well, the Chicks were the only group I was interested in seeing . . . plus it was a weeknight with a long day to follow, so I split after the Chicks finished their set. At the time, that was probably the most ornate venue the Chicks had played, and the crowd just loved them. Well, they came back to Detroit as the #2 act on the bill for one night of the Downtown Hoedown in June 1998. By this time, WOS was well on its way and there were 1000s of people watching and listening to the Chicks. The one part of that show I remember most though because it was so right, so on target, was when this grandfatherly genetleman standing next to me said of Natalie after she sang a Bonnie Raitt tune, "She bad, she is BAD! That girl can sing the blues!" Yep, she sure was wailing that night to pull at your heartstrings and make you feel every word. Amazing for a large outdoor venue even with today's sound systems.

Gerry

p.s. -- I don't know if you have noticed, but the Chicks have stopped accepting e-mail now at their aol address. I assume they just got completely overwhelmed by the volume of e-mails. The price of stardom I guess.

Did you see the VH-1 premier of Before They Were Stars? They had a couple of old DC performance clips and some current interview footage. Emily seemed to mean it when she basically said something like they didn't want the old pics/clips to see the light of day. It's a shame IMHO but I sort of understand. That was a different band to them and a different sound and that's not the direction they're going. (As a musician myself at one time, I was also a little embarrassed about some of the music I used to play for a gig to earn some cash, and to just keep playing music -- so if that's their concern I can understand that too, been there myself!). Personally, I still like to listen to the old stuff as well as the new.

Happy trails,

Gerry Griffith

I didn't see the VH-1 special myself, but I did receive a video capture clip of the Chicks in their cowgirl duds. Look for it soon on the Pictures page!

-rb

Merlefest, Wilksboro, NC, April 1997
story added 6/16/1999

My first encounter with the Dixie Chicks was absolutely unbelievable!

I attended (as I usually do) the "Merlefest", held in Wilksboro, NC. in April of 1997. Well, my uncle told me and two friends, "you have got to go see the Dixie Chicks, they're good and man are they good looking!" So, my buddies Joe and Brent and I went up to the theater at the top of the hill (about 450 steps from the valley), and when we walked in there was nobody there. We kinda wondered what was going on, but we made ourselves up to the front row (dead center, of course) and sat with anticipation. Well we were at the right place, the Chicks came out and everything my uncle had told us was true, these ladies were incredible musicians and obviously incredibly good looking.

As they were playing I looked around the theater and, honestly there couldn't have been more than 15 people in there, including us! So, we sat there, enjoying an opportunity of a lifetime. It was like the Dixie Chicks were playing for Joe, Brent, and me, no one else (at least that's what we all thought). It was fabulous, I'm sure the girls saw small gleams of light reflecting off the drool on our faces. We all sat there speachless. The music was fabulous, they were fabulous, the whole thing was amazing. We could not believe that noone else came up to see them. I felt bad for them, not having a turn-out like I'm sure they wanted, but I'll tell you it was something I'll never forget. They played as if the theater was jammed packed, they didn't let the turn-out hender their performance.

I could go on and on about how special the three of us felt after leaving the show, and of course, we were all singing "Pink Toenails". Now, every time I see them on T.V. getting awards for thier music, I think to myself, "I know they remember me, how could they forget us, the only three guys in the theater with them." I don't know if they do remember us or not, like to think they do,but regardless, I remember them and the good time I shared with my buddies and The Dixie Chicks!!

Take care and if you ever get a chance, attend the Merlefest, who knows who you will see!!

M. A.

Desperados, southern Florida, August 1997
story added 6/16/1999

My story is from August 1997. I had never heard of the Dixie Chicks, and I Can Love You Better had not been released yet in my market (SE Virginia). My husband and I were in South Florida apartment hunting, and we had heard there was a great country dance bar called Desperados. So we went. There was a band there, actually the opening act, called the Dixie Chicks. We didn't even stay for the 'lead' act of the evening. Ian and I were completely enthralled from the Chicks' first note, and we wondered why they weren't famous. Now we know -- they were soon to be! We never got their autographs, even though we absolutely loved their music from the start. Boy are we stupid. Hopefully, we'll get the chance again.

Laura
Key Largo, FL

In case you were wondering... Laura (aka PetFixr@aol.com) is a veterinarian. :)

-rb

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