Sleater-Kinney's Road Ends in Chicago

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 28, 2006 3:40PM

While not the most interesting piece of rock news this week, Sleater-Kinney announced yesterday that they’ll be splitting up after 11 years, making their Lollapalooza show their last.

(For those of you in denial over the breakup and who might be tempted to cite the use of the phrase “indefinite hiatus” as a beacon of hope, let it go. “Indefinite hiatus” is rock breakup speak for “it’s not you, it’s me.” A handy cliché designed to soften the blow and obscure the hard truth.)

Sleater-Kinney released seven albums over the course of ten years and unlike many of their grunge-borne compatriots, managed to stay both together and relevant in that time.

The hissing sound you heard yesterday was Lollapalooza organizers peeing themselves with glee over playing host to the trio’s last show. We feel kinda bad for Violent Femmes who will be sharing a slot with them and playing to a much more intimate audience as a result. Now if only we could get Blues Traveler to follow S-K’s lead.

Though it’s a high price to pay for one’s addiction, those looking for a fix of the trio’s sound in the future can pick up the upcoming Bright Eyes album, featuring S-K drummer Janet Weiss.

In other Sleater-Kinney news, three liquor stores along the fabled road in Olympia, Washington, were cited for illegal sales of alcohol to minors earlier this month.