It is somewhat surprising that after over a decade as one of the most admired and influential groups in indie rock, Sleater-Kinney is only now for the first time playing Las Vegas for Vegoose. But even more surprising is that guitarist/singer Corin Tucker has, as she puts it, only "driven through, never stopped" in Sin City. "Honestly I am not really interested in gambling or anything else ... I don't know ... Vegas kind of symbolizes, I don't know, things that don't really interest me like the big showy shows and, I don't know, just really doesn't appeal to me I guess."
That opinion may feel irritatingly out of date to local sensibilities yet it's an example of the straight-shooting honesty that makes Sleater-Kinney so special. Though Las Vegas entertainment may not be to Tucker's taste, that shouldn't be mistaken for a lack of approval:
"It's a place we've never been and if it's a place about people going and having hedonistic, crazy fun, then that's cool. We write about a lot of serious things and about a lot of political things, but we are also a rock band and we love to play our music to people. We're just going to play our show and play our music."
And there's nothing like the music of Sleater-Kinney, who with remarkable consistency churn out albums (Call the Doctor, Dig Me Out, The Hot Rock, One Beat) packed with songs that match the ferocious punk intensity of bands like Husker Du to the passionate and bracing anthems of the Who. So it seemed odd that for Sleater-Kinney's latest masterpiece (and every Sleater-Kinney album since Call the Doctor in 1996 is arguably essential to have if you feel the need to collect perfect rock albums), The Woods, the group chose to work with the arty producer Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips). Despite some Internet rumors that the sessions were tense, Tucker is pleased by the experience:
"It was great. It was really interesting to work with someone that we didn't know at all and who had a really outside perspective on our music. It helped us to collaborate with him and to work on things and helped us shape the songs and create a unique record. We had a sense that it was different than anything we've done before."
Besides, the band had most of the songs written before entering the studio to record The Woods. "We finished one of them when we were in the studio."
In fact, the real story behind The Woods may not be Fridmann's contribution at all but in the band's rediscovery of the joys in their collaboration with each other. Much of The Woods demonstrates that Sleater-Kinney can jam with the chemistry of Crazy Horse without losing any of their focus:
"I think this album is more collaborative than anything we've done. A lot of this record we wrote together, all three of us. It is definitely a struggle sometimes to do things we haven't done before and to agree on what we want to do. But I also think that enables us to really challenge each other to make something unique and make something really meaningful that we have that respect for each other."
Unsurprisingly, Sleater-Kinney has developed a cult following legendary for its dedication to the group. Tucker says, "On this tour we've had people follow us all over the country and into Canada. It is really humbling how connected people feel to our music."
Tucker knows that feeling from her own fan experience meeting Patti Smith. "It was cool. It was weird. I definitely felt that inability to talk that sometimes people experience. I had that. I couldn't tell her what a huge fan I was. I was tongue-tied."
Like Patti Smith, Tucker is now a mother (Smith left the music business for years to be a stay-at- home mom). Tucker notes that it is hard to juggle motherhood and rock stardom—"For me, having a kid has made it much more difficult to be in a rock band. But I have a really supportive husband who stepped up to helping with childcare. It is really important. And it's really good for me to still be able to play my music and write music."
In addition to performing, Tucker also looks forward to being able to enjoy some of the other music coming to Vegoose.
"I love The Arcade Fire. I am excited to see them. I saw them at Reading and it was fantastic.
"And, I am excited to see the Flaming Lips and Spoon." So, at least for a few days, Las Vegas will be featuring Corn Tucker's kind of entertainment.