Sleater Kinney. Quite cool to be playing upstairs between their sets. This time it was a tougher crowd. The younger, the tougher. But despite not being able to tell how you're going over in such a big room, we were psyched to be there.

Got to watch the bands on the main stage too.

Of course Sleater Kinney was superb. But it needs to be said that Shannon Wright, the opening band, was amazing! With their Cousin It haircuts, it was a little hard to tell if Shannon and the drummer were male or female, but indeed, they were both chicks. They had this dark, moody, emotional upchuck like Cat Power, going on, but a bit more frenzied and tortured. Shannon played electric piano and sometimes guitar. Equally comfortable with both as she pounded or strumed her way through a brooding, powerful and beautiful set.

I only wish she had her cd's available that night. Guess another trip to Amoeba is in order. Damn.

( Photos by Jeff Colley )