Hear Dixie Chicks On the Cusp of Fame in Soaring 1998 Concert

For the first time in 13 years, the Dixie Chicks have a new album en route—or at least according to an Instagram post from earlier this summer by lead singer Natalie Maines. Behold:

No translation necessary: That was Maines, Martie Mcguire, Emily Robison and none other than producer/Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff announcing “Dixie Chicks. Album. Coming. Someday.” There’s still no word on when that “someday” will be, but Maines captioned the post with the hashtag ”#dxc2019,” so perhaps it’s sooner rather than later. We can only hope.

In the meantime, why don’t we “Fly” down Dixie Chicks memory lane? The dynamite country trio released their major label debut Wide Open Spaces in early 1998, and that following summer they completed what would essentially be the last of their club tours. One stunning date from that run is this NYC show taped on this day (July 29) that year, just after their single “I Can Love You Better” hit number one on the charts.

This show finds the Chicks gleeful and grateful on the cusp of a massive commercial breakthrough. They announce the now-classic “Wide Open Spaces” as “our favorite song and next single,” and their harmonies sound absolutely pristine in this tiny room backed by a huge band featuring guitar, banjo, mandolin and steel guitar.

Hear the 1998 NYC show below via the Paste vault, and stay tuned for more Dixie Chicks news.