Sleater-Kinney at the Roundhouse

Sleater-Kinney

U.S. Girls

Black Belt Eagle Scout 

Roundhouse, 10 November 2023

A few months ago I decided to listen to Sleater-Kinney's back catalogue chronologically and, maybe as I hadn't listened to them in quite a while, was blown away at how good it was. I had fallen out of love with them a little when they changed direction on The Center Won't Hold and the beloved Janet Weiss left the band, but hearing just how fantastic those albums sounded convinced me I needed to go give them another chance and a last-minute ticket was purchased, and it turned out to be a very good decision indeed.

The band actually played an absolutely tiny show a couple of days before to announce their upcoming album, Little Rope, and I actually had a ticket in my online basket but unfortunately I couldn't swing it to go and I had to let it go. It still pains me as I never got to see them back in the day when they were playing small venues like that and it would have certainly gone a long way to make up for it, but such is life. At least I did see them with Janet Weiss back in 2015, also at the Roundhouse, and it was one of my favourite gigs that year, so I was intrigued to see if they could live up to that amazing show this time round.

When Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein walked out on stage they looked every bit as cool as I remembered, Corin wearing a cute flowery dress and Carrie a stylish shirt and wide-leg trousers. Back in the 90s, I would have killed to be as cute and cool as Sleater-Kinney: they were the ultimate indie girl queens, punk rock and girly but tomboyish too. I couldn't aspire to the raw, dirty, crazy sexuality of someone like Courtney Love, but Sleater-Kinney seemed just as talented but more down to earth, like you could actually be friends with them. Of course, Carrie Brownstein turned out to be a first-rate comedian too and author to boot, so most of that was probably in my head, but I definitely still wish I could be as cool as both of them even now, and tonight they certainly have a massive stage presence that fills the stage, even though they are backed by other musicians too, my eyes were firmly on them and their incredible chemistry throughout.

Not surprisingly they started with one of their new songs, Hell, which felt exciting to be among the first to hear this new track live. Corin played percussion on the title track from The Center Won't Hold, which sounded much more impressive live than on record (it's certainly my least favourite Sleater-Kinney record, maybe because it sounds so much like St. Vincent, who produced it, than Sleater-Kinney). Since I skipped the tour for that album, it was actually nice to hear a couple of tracks from it, the other being Hurry On Home, later on in the night.

Things really started heating up though when they started playing the fantastic Price Tag, from their comeback album No Cities To Love. It's still such an exciting album to listen to and, it's no surprise to me at least, that it's well covered tonight, with the band also playing Bury Our Friends, No Cities To Love and A New Wave. It was curious though that the last album, Path Of Wellness, wasn't as well documented, with just two tracks (Worry With You and Shadow Town) played tonight, although I'm certainly not complaining as both sounded great.

The last time I saw Sleater-Kinney they played six songs from The Woods, which looking back at my post from back then I said was my least favourite album of theirs, which is absolutely crazy because The Woods is certainly one of their best records, I have no idea what I was on when I wrote that but I apologise. Thankfully Sleater-Kinney did not get that psychic message from me all those years ago because they again featured plenty of The Woods in their set tonight, giving us four songs this time, the highlights being Carrie's powerhouse vocals on Entertain and the gorgeous sing-along that came with Modern Girl.

Carrie is certainly a wonder to watch, she jumps, she dances, she solos, she grooves. She is an absolute

rock star, and just an incredible guitarist to boot. And then there's Corin, with her epic vocals and sheer passion. I opted to stand on her side this time and I am glad I did, because it is amazing to be close to her energy and hear that unique voice of hers in the flesh. But on top of that, it's just the insanely wonderful chemistry these old friends still have with Carrie continuously bouncing up to Corin with a huge grin on her face. So much of the set is features the pair, walking over to each other to exchange happy glances and smiles. And of course, to hear them sing together, their voices melding together in such a unique way, is another thing of wonder and incredible to witness.

There are some emotional moments too during the night, the first when the band give tribute to Mimi Parker of Low, who died last year, and play Low's beautiful version of Sleater-Kinney's song Dance Song 97, which Low had recorded for the Dig Me Out tribute record that came out last year. I love this song anyway, but to hear the slowed-down atmospheric reworking of the song, was just lovely. "This is the way the song was supposed to be played and written, and we thank Low for doing that," Carrie told the crowd.

Sleater-Kinney have always been a socially conscious band and tonight was no exception with Carrie speaking out against the war in Israel and encouraging people to attend the march for peace that was happening in London the next day. Later, she also made a little speech about how important it was for her and Corin to give their all every night in their performances, having both lost people they love in recent years. "I wanna give you everything because I don’t know how long I’m going to be here," she told us, "and I don't know how long you’re going to be here." It certainly gave greater depth when they played the new single Say It Like You Mean It because tonight, all the band, definitely played like they meant it and I am certainly very grateful for that. 

They ended the set on a crowd favourite Dig Me Out and, rather nicely, played no encore. Absolutely punk rock and perfect to the finish. I'm so glad Sleater-Kinney are still around and making heart-felt vital music all these years on.

As this was part of the Pitchfork London Festival there were two support acts tonight. The first, Black Belt Eagle Scout, I had never heard of but impressed me with their thoughtful, dreamy but guitar driven indie rock (I also liked that both girls in the band were playing the St. Vincent guitar). The band is essentially Katherine Paul, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who grew up in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and told us how the importance of her heritage and her connection to nature inspired her latest album The Land, The Water, The Sky. They were mesmerising to watch, particularly Paul herself, but the last song particularly rocked, with Crazy Horse style interplay between Paul and her fellow guitarist, which as you know what a huge Neil Young fan I am, pleased me greatly. It left me determined to check out more of their stuff but I forgot to check out the merch table at the end, as Paul said she made her beautiful beaded earrings and had some to sell. What a fool I am to miss out!

The second support act I had heard of, U.S. Girls, but had never actually heard. I knew they had some acclaim though so was certainly intrigued. I thought they must fit in with Sleater-Kinney stylistically at least and was expecting something guitar-driven at least. U.S. Girls are sadly not a guitar band though, more a soul/funk throwback to the 80s and is the sole musical project of Meghan Remy, who reminded me a little of Roisin Murphy. I probably sensed this wasn't for me when she came on stage wearing a satin shirt (as a dress) reminiscent of something Steven Seagal would wear, with thigh high leather boots and wiggled and shimmered across the stage in a middle-aged mum at a wedding kind of way. I think the worst point for me was when she told us she had just had twins and written a song about her breast pump, naturally called Pump, that had the chorus "how does the milk make it to your mouth, how does the milk make it to your mouth". Needless to say it was not for me and I admit I did struggle through her set. The audience seemed to really like them though, so I was obviously in the minority.

Other than that, all in all it was a great night and I can't wait to see Black Belt Eagle Scout and, of course, Sleater-Kinney again!