By Rob Knies

The Olympian was a site to behold. NATO was preparing for an aerial strike on Serb targets in Kosovo. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were requesting hepatitis A vaccinations for children throughout the West. Ted Turner was apologizing for insulting the pope. Amid this maelstrom of news, the lead headline in the daily newspaper in the capital of Washington state read: "Sleater-Kinney comes home to Olympia." Nothing like a local angle, of course, but for once, the local rag got it right. Sleater-Kinney is big news in this town, long known for its independent music scene. Indeed, with the likes of Kurt Cobain having frequented clubs in these parts, it could be said that rock music is what put this town on the map, state legislators be damned. Surprisingly, though, when the band takes the stage in an all-ages club on a familiarly damp Sunday night, the townies seem rather subdued. Few know the new songs yet (the disc isn't due for release for two more days), but even during "Little Babies," a Dig Me Out track that is Sleater-Kinney at its most fetching, the locals hardly appear enraptured. The last song before the encore, "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone," a riotous staple of the S-K live act, engenders less than the expected tumult. Strange. Oh, there's the clutch of punkettes up front, clamoring for "Words and Guitar" throughout the show. But it's almost as if this powerhouse band, acclaimed far and wide, is the recipient of a show-me attitude here in the town of their genesis, just a few miles from the Sleater-Kinney road that gave the group its name. Is it a surprise, then, that the first two songs of the encore are "I'm Not Waiting" and "Not What You Want"? They end with "Words and Guitar," a Dig Me Out anthem that might well be their most realized number. Well, on disc, anyway. Tonight, as Carrie rips through the opening licks, Corin steps to the mike and ... can't remember the words. Carrie and Janet rumble through the first verse, then skid to a halt. Carrie laughs and says, "You'll remember once we get started." The band lurches back to life, and Corin yells, "Second verse!" But uh-uh, she still can't get it straight. They stumble through to the end, Corin delivering a scat mumble when her memory escapes her, and then they're done -- the song, this night at least, having been transformed into "... and Guitar." Corin turns to gather her equipment, and Janet is seen to mouth, "What happened?" Corin just shakes her head. It's three nights to Vancouver, and it appears that time will be put to good use.