The Chicks perform 'Taking the Long Way' in full to mark 20th anniversary
The trio combined a full album set with personal stories and political commentary during a three-night run at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
By Madison Lewis ·
The Chicks concluded a short concert tour by playing the 2006 album 'Taking the Long Way' in its entirety at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The group performed the 14-track record in its original order during a three-night stand that spanned the 2026 midterm elections. This format allowed Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer to provide extensive commentary between songs, blending musical performance with personal narrative.
The tour marked the 20th anniversary of the record, which won five Grammy Awards in 2007. Those honors included a rare sweep of the top three categories: album of the year, record of the year, and song of the year. The group used the occasion to revisit the events that shaped the album, specifically the public backlash they faced in 2003 after Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush.
The shows took place from Sunday, November 1, through Wednesday, November 4. The initial Monday performance was canceled due to an unspecified illness within the band, prompting a makeup show on Wednesday. The audience for the Sunday show consisted of 3,400 attendees. The group scheduled the final date to coincide with election night, adding a layer of topical relevance to the performance.
Maines addressed the political climate directly during the first set. She told the audience that she would now give George Bush a big kiss, contrasting his era with the current administration. She noted that the White House had previously responded to her remarks with a statement describing her as having a 'peanut-sized brain.' White House spokesperson Davis Ingle made that specific comment on October 15.
The band also updated lyrics to reflect current economic conditions. During a performance of 'White Trash Wedding,' Maines added lines about high gas prices, electricity costs, and medical expenses. On Tuesday night, all three members held large fans printed with the phrase 'Fuck Trump' while addressing the crowd.
A major portion of the setlist consisted of deep cuts not performed in years or even decades. Four songs had not been played since the album's release in 2006: 'So Hard,' 'I Hope,' 'Bitter End,' and 'Voice Inside My Head.' Another track, 'Baby Hold On,' appears to have never been performed live prior to this tour. The group also revisited 'Not Ready to Make Nice,' the anthem that defined the album's narrative.
The performance included film clips from the documentary 'Shut Up and Sing' as well as unreleased footage from the studio. Maines recounted the writing session for 'Not Ready to Make Nice,' where co-writer Dan Wilson suggested the title after the group rejected the idea of an apology song. The band described the process as a mix of pre-scripted dialogue and spontaneous conversation, creating a docu-concert experience for the audience.
The show ended with the full band performing 'Goodbye Earl' and 'Sin Wagon.' The setlist maintained the original sequence of 'Taking the Long Way,' placing 'Not Ready to Make Nice' near the beginning rather than the end. The group's performance highlighted the enduring nature of the record's themes, which continue to resonate with listeners two decades later.
