Long live the Chicks

I'm embarrassed that John Juliano is from Pittsburgh ("Shut up and sing," Feedback: 02/15/07. He is the one who is low on factual information regarding the knowledge of this "illegal war." Yes, John, facts are we were lied to and deceived into an illegal and immoral war: No WMDs, no connection of Saddam Hussein with al-Qaida and not one hijacker of the 9/11 tragedy from Iraq!

The Dixie Chicks are the all-time best woman's vocal band. They are talented, professional and beautiful in mind, body and spirit and also are champions for peace and "free speech." So "shut up and read" the Constitution, because we are supposed to be living in a democracy where no one is restricted on how or where to express their opinions.

Long live the Dixie Chicks!

Mary Ruth Aull
Penn Hills

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Country radio has a double standard

I am disappointed that so many radio DJs and country music fans fail to differentiate talent from personal values and political views. Why is it that:

Troy Gentry can face federal charges for poaching a tame bear?

Tracey Lawrence can abuse his wife?

Keith Urban can be an alcoholic?

Tim McGraw can publicly criticize President Bush about his failed Hurricane Katrina cleanup efforts?

There are never any negative comments being made on the radio about these artists. Is this the kind of behavior that an artist must have to be worthy of airtime?

Radio and certain country fans are still in an uproar about the Dixie Chicks' President Bush comment. How are these behaviors by other artists different from what the Chicks said? Why can't they have personal views and values just like other artists? Do DJs have the right to dismiss the Chicks' talent and promote that of poachers, wife beaters, alcoholics and other presidential critics? If country radio is going to pass judgment, let's play fair.

Jill Pugh
Plum

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Just shut up

Kudos to John Juliano's letter last week on the Dixie Chicks' Grammy wins. He nailed it!

He was so right when he said, "They are low on factual knowledge." They are a mediocre country singing group who pandered to their British anti-Bush audience in the theater at the time, got caught up in it with the country music industry and lost many fans from it.

They were not even mentioned at November's CMAs. And, of course, just as Juliano said in his letter last week, got the votes from a very pro-liberal group like the Academy of Recorded Music for the Grammy wins.

My only disagreement with last week's letter is, it should have been titled "just SHUT-UP!"

James Rossi
Penn Hills

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Moron: Natalie or George?

After reading the letter from John Juliano, I would assume he is a George W. Bush fan. After all, Mr. Juliano described Natalie Maines of the Grammy-winning Dixie Chicks as "an ignorant, unrefined moron." Apparently, he disagrees with Maines' public show of disgust of the Bush administration.

Gotta love those hardcore, devout, shrinking few supporters left of the most despised and incompetent administration in the history of the White House. They are purposeful in their tragic faith.

Personally, I find his description of Maines a perfect fit, just not for her. I could swear he is describing the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.

Howard Cade
Stump Creek,
Jefferson County

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Rod show: For those too old to rock

I was all set, ready to see a rock concert. I had my best jeans, a couple of Pinot Grigios under my belt and some similarly joyful friends along with me to rock 'n' roll the night away. Granted, I was not a Rod Stewart fan, and I didn't have any doobies with me, but hey, I lived through the '70s, and you'd have to live under a rock not to know Rod Stewart.

Boy, was I in for a rude awakening! No, no, it wasn't Rod who startled me -- he was fabulous! It was great hearing songs I knew the words to; it was the audience. Before I begin my diatribe, let me say, I am 50 years old, I work out religiously, walk my dogs daily and play tennis twice a week. What I saw as audience members made me almost cry.

Behind me was a 50ish couple that looked normal until the cell-phone usage started. How can anyone talk on the cell while Rod is singing "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Next to my husband was an obese couple eating nachos and popcorn. This isn't Barnum and Bailey, folks. Who eats nachos at a rock concert? Don't you have a flask with whiskey or something? Four "Q-Tips" or white-haired "Pittsburgh Permed" ladies with sweatshirts reading "I love my Yorkies," were sipping beers.

Soon, a former member of Tony Soprano's posse, whose name rhymes with Wussy, sat down with his equally enhanced rumped wife and sat or rather squeezed into the ugly orange seats. (By the way, GET A NEW ARENA!) Finally, and gratefully, two lovely 20somethings with double-fisted beers sat in front of me and whistled and sang the whole time. Every time they (and I) wanted to stand and dance, one of the Piggly-Wigglys got huffy and vicious. What a motley crew!

Scott Mervis' review (Concert Review: Rod Stewart still making the ladies scream, Feb. 19 wondered why the crowd wasn't going wild over Rod's songs. When you have to put down the nachos, hang up the cell, squeeze out of the seat and plug in the oxygen tank, the song's already over, dude!

Additionally, Mr. Mervis compared Rod to Mick Jaggar and was somewhat disappointed in his voice. He obviously didn't see The Rolling Stones at last year's Super Bowl. Mick looked and sounded like a gyrating prune and Keith Richards looked like a skeleton with hair. I'm looking more at Rod Stewart as the better physical specimen.

I'm going back to the gym, run a few miles, wearing my iPod with "Young Turks" playing at a high volume and keep standing on top of the roller coaster looking down. I'm going to stay that way as long as I can. Slap me if you see me wearing a sweatshirt with golden retriever puppies on it, eating nachos. Of course, I might have to beat you with my cane.

Dana Fox
Monroeville

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The 'wow' in Rod

Excuse me, Scott, but I'm on the defensive and ready to do battle! You and I must not have attended the same Rod Stewart concert! He was NOT lacking in ANY "wow" department. The man's voice was better than ever, smooth and velvety in my opinion. But I am very biased since I have been a diehard, loyal fan for 35 years and counting, and have attended more than 60 of Rod's shows in three countries.

He has managed to allow us 40-, 50-, 60-somethings to remember a lifetime of music for any occasion, such as your first love, your first kiss, your first heartbreak, your first drunken party and many other emotions of the human condition. Thank you, Rod!

I could tear apart other features of the review, but don't really want to lower myself. I prefer to remember and savor every moment of Rod's performance the way I experienced it.

Wendy Ziegler
Pine

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Heart throb

Were we at the same concert? Rod Stewart, at age 62, can still make our hearts skip a bit with merely his presence.

Patty Guarino
Canonsburg

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Strait shooter

I would just like to comment on the terrible review given by freelance reporter John Young on the George Strait concert (Concert Review: George Strait delivers a high-powered country hit parade, Feb. 19).

I feel Mr. Young clearly is not familiar with George Strait or he would not have heavily criticized him for singing too many songs about Texas and songs about cowboys/cowgirls. That is what George Strait's traditional country sound is all about and that is exactly what his fans expect when they purchase tickets to see him in concert.

Someone might want to think twice about having this guy cover another traditional country concert unless you prefer a review that is as inaccurate as you can get. I can speak for five of the people that went to that concert when I say we got what we paid for, what we expected and what we hope to continue seeing at any George Strait concert.

Robin Bailey
Fairmount, W. Va.