** Dixie Chicks news, old and new
** From the All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Page
** http://www.dixie-chicks.com/

In this issue: Sara Hickman and Big Twang together in Kansas, Domestic
Science Club re-issue, and the only Dixie Chicks CD release of 2001. Also,
a review of Robin Macy's Dallas homecoming show.


** Sara Hickman and Big Twang **

According to a message that just came in on Sara Hickman's official
announcement list, folks in Wichita, Kansas will have the opportunity to
see two thirds of Domestic Science Club together on stage for the first
time in years!

>Wichita, Kansas--An Acoustic Christmas featuring Sara Hickman and Big
>Twang at the Orpheum Theatre, 1st and Broadway. Saturday, December 8,
>Time: 8:00pm, Tickets: $15.00 (7-8pm buffet w/cash bar. Your benefit
>ticket will include free food and drink, provided by Corporate Caterers.)
>A holiday concert to benefit the Orpheum and KMUW FM89.

Sara Hickman was in Dallas for a show on the same day that Big Twang made
their first Dallas appearance. I had a chance to ask Sara if she'd be able
to make it to Robin's show, but it just wasn't possible for her to be in
two places at once. With Big Twang committed to staying in the southern
Kansas area, the only way to get these two inspiring folk songstresses
together was for Sara to go to Kansas!

It should be a great show. Both Sara and Big Twang have made a huge
commitment and contribution to acoustic music, and bringing these forces
together will create an event to remember.

Sara Hickman
http://www.sarahickman.com/

Big Twang
http://www.bigtwang.com/

Orpheum Theatre, Wichita, Kansas
http://www.wichitaorpheum.com/


** Domestic Science Club to reissue first CD **

Also in Sara's newsletter are further details about some upcoming releases
on Sara's record label, Sleveless Records. Her trials and tribulations at
the hands of the big labels are legendary, so in typical Sara Hickman
fashion, she has simply gone out and taken things into her own hands! One
of her first projects will be of particular interest to fans of the Dixie
Chicks' pre-Natalie sound -- the first (self-titled) release by the
Domestic Science Club. The disc will be issued in its entirety -- all 10
tracks, including the beautiful "Windmill And The Wind".

In 1993, Robin Macy had just left the Dixie Chicks, supposedly under less
than cordial terms (though those rifts have long since been smoothed
over). She returned to teaching, and said she "thought it would take a
miracle" to get her back on stage. That miracle came in the form of Sara
Hickman and Patty Lege. The trio cut a limited edition of the "Domestic
Science Club" disc and gave it out to friends for Christmas... but the
demand was so great that Discovery Records put out a second edition of the
disc.

But that second edition did not include "Windmill And The Wind", a song
that Robin had been performing with the Dixie Chicks before her
departure. While the song was included on the DSC's second release, "Three
Women", the differences between the versions is striking. While the "Three
Women" version is rhythmic and very much influenced by Sara Hickman's folk
music style, the "Domestic Science Club" version evokes the spirit of the
original Dixie Chicks, right down to the instrumental accompaniment.

The new reissue on Sleveless will also include the group's playful
interpretation of "Winter Wonderland", in which Parson Brown's gender is
somewhat indeterminate! Both additional tracks will be a hit with both
Dixie Chicks fans and Sara's fans.

No word yet on distribution, but the discs are sure to be available from
SaraHickman.com.

Dixie Chicks Complete Discography: The Indie Releases
(Domestic Science Club)
http://www.dixie-chicks.com/qkdisc.html#dsc


** "I Believe In Love" on "Tribute" CD **

Despite their continuing legal battle with Sony, the Dixie Chicks will be
hitting the charts with a new single this year after all. Their touching
new song, "I Believe In Love", will be the first track of the second disc
of the 2-CD "Tribute To Heroes" release, due out on Tuesday, December 4.

The "Tribute To Heroes" telecast was an amazing act -- nearly every TV
channel ran the 2-hour show live and uncut, raising millions of dollars for
disaster relief. In that same cooperative spirit, the major record labels
are joining to publish and distribute the companion CD set, featuring some
of the hottest artists in the industry.

This is no small contribution by the big labels, who could likely have made
some serious bucks with new songs like "I Believe In Love". Radio stations
across the country are already playing the song from bootleg off-the-air
recordings, and the official release of the song should shoot the Chicks
back into the country Top 40.

The disc will likely be widely available in stores Tuesday, or you can
pre-order it from CDnow for FedEx delivery -- if you've just *got* to be
the first one on the block to have it. :)

CDNOW : America: Tribute To Heroes
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H15E3113


** Concert Review: Big Twang at Poor David's **

Yes, it's been two months since Robin's return to Dallas, but the "real
world" has an annoying way of interfering with my Dixie Chicks
obsession. Fortunately, Rob Davis (of www.dixiechicksfaq.com) attended the
show, and gave us this review.

>To: DixieChicks@yahoogroups.com
>From: Rob Davis
>Date: 30 Sep 2001 13:00:51 -0700
>Subject: [DixieChicks] Robin Lynn Macy in Dallas last night

I truly hope that some of you were able to make it out to Poor David's Pub
in Dallas last night for Big Twang's show. It was great! Robin missed the
brass ring when she followed her heart and left the Chicks to remain true
to her bluegrass roots. I wouldn't call that her loss; I call it our
loss. She is an extremely talented singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist
who has one of the most pure, unique, and beautiful voices I have ever
heard. The fact that a lack of commercial fame keeps a greater audience
from ever experiencing this beauty is sad.

The turnout for the show was excellent. Robin has many friends in the
Dallas area from her years here as a musician, radio personality, and
school teacher before moving to Kansas in 1997. Big Twang's awesome banjo
player, 1989 National Champion Jeff Scroggins is also a former long-time
Dallasite with many friends and former musical collaborators who turned out
to see him. Big Twang played two one-hour sets of music, mostly from their
new CD, "Pastures Of Plenty". Most of it is written and arranged by the
groups members. Chicks fans would have especially enjoyed Robin singing,
"Just A Bit Like Me" from the Chicks second CD, Little Ol' Cowgirl. But
don't get the idea that bluegrass is all boring, long haired hillbilly
music that you wouldn't enjoy. They also did popular songs by some other
great songwriters and musicians including Jackson Browne and Fleetwood Mac.

Don't forget that Robin is not the only connection that Big Twang has to
the Dixie Chicks. Guitarist and writer Troy Gilchrist was the lead member
of Martie and Emily's very first band, Blue Night Express. Troy, still
looking like the teenage kid I met along with Martie and Emily fifteen
years ago, does most of the masterful arrangements featured in Big Twang's
music. Unfortunately he is not doing any vocals these days (forgot to ask
him why), but his picking on the resonator guitar (picture a dobro held
upright and played like a regular guitar) is a real standout in Big Twang's
show.

The real treat of the evening for me was that my friend Sharon Gilchrist,
whom I had not seen in almost two years, also came to this show. She
joined Big Twang onstage with her mandolin to dazzle us during the last two
songs of the evening. Martie, if you're still interested in improving your
mando skills give me a call. I can recommend a great teacher for you!

As some of you know, I had never met Robin before last night. Her years
with the Chicks were during a period when I was unfortunately out of touch
with the local music scene. So obviously I was excited about this
opportunity to finally meet the woman whom is most responsible for the
Dixie Chicks ever coming to be. I have in the past heard some people say
that Robin might be a bitter person from her experience with the Chicks. I
have to admit that I almost expected this and it would not have surprised
me. In fact, she is an extremely sweet, friendly, outgoing, and grateful
person who is proud of her past and even embraces it. She has simply moved
on with her life and career and is a little embarrassed by the
attention. The Buddy magazine article quotes her as saying she just wishes
people wouldn't make such a big deal out of it. Knowing that, I was
hesitant to even ask her to sign my copies of the early Chicks CD's and
.45's. But her friendliness put me at ease and she gladly autographed them
all for me, even spending time looking over the old pictures and
reminiscing a bit. She even knew how much these CD's are selling for on eBay.

Although David Card (owner of "Poor David's) made much of Robin's Dixie
Chicks connection in his introduction, Robin never mentioned it during the
show. When she introduced "Just A Bit Like Me", she said it was a song she
wrote back when she was with "an all girl group" in Dallas. She said this
with a embarrassed grin on her face while everyone in the house laughed,
knowing she meant the Chicks. Right after that, mandolin/guitar
player/vocalist Ken White told a funny story about Robin moving to
Kansas. She bought and moved into a historic old arboretum which is well
known in the area. Her fame preceded her, however the facts got distorted
by the locals. Consequently, the word going around the neighborhood is
that the arboretum was bought by "one of them Spice Girls". The rest of
the band now kids her about that by calling her "Spice Chick". Robin's
response was "at least that's better than Old Spice".

Okay, bottom line here is that Big Twang is great entertainment that any
real Chicks fan would enjoy. Go to Robert's site
(http://www.dixie-chicks.com/) and brush up on your Chicks history. Then
go to http://www.BigTwang.com/ and find out when they are appearing near
you. Order their CD too. You will not be disappointed.

Rob Davis
The Dixie Chicks Frequently Asked Questions Page
http://www.DixieChicksFAQ.com/

--
Robert Brooks / robertb@...
http://www.dixie-chicks.com/ -- the complete unauthorized history
Nashville's days are numbered: listen to http://www.khyi.com/

"I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness,
but you are already doing that..." - 2 Cor 11:1