Marking a milestone: Sleater-Kinney celebrates 30 years in music with 'Little Rope' tour

Feb. 28—It took some time for Carrie Brownstein to really sink her teeth into music.

After 30 years of being part of Sleater-Kinney, she's comfortable commanding the stage.

"It's a big milestone for us," Brownstein says. "Not only are we celebrating our 30th year in music, but we have a new album out."

Brownstein and Corin Tucker make up Sleater-Kinney, which released its latest album, "Little Rope," on Jan. 19. A tour of the same name will make a stop at the Historic El Rey Theater in Albuquerque on Saturday, March 2. Opening for the tour is Black Belt Eagle Scout.

"Little Rope" was written after a life-changing tragedy for Brownstein.

In fall 2022, Brownstein received a call from Tucker, who herself had just received a call from the American embassy in Italy.

Years earlier, Brownstein listed Tucker as her emergency contact on a passport form, and while she had since changed her phone number, Tucker had not.

The embassy staff was desperately trying to reach Brownstein.

The embassy told Brownstein that while vacationing in Italy, her mother and stepfather had been in a car accident. Both were killed.

In the months that followed, Brownstein took solace in an act that felt deeply familiar — playing guitar.

"I don't think I've played guitar that much since my teens or early 20s," she says. "Literally moving my fingers across the fretboard for hours on end to remind myself I was still capable of basic motor skills, of movement, of existing."

Brownstein says some of the album had been written prior to her parent's tragedy.

When the pair went in to finish the album, the process was similar to that of when the band started in the 1990s.

"Everything was done on a smaller scale," she says. "We focused on the music and lyrics. It was a process that really came together well."

With 30 years of music, Sleater-Kinney has made its impact within music.

Brownstein says putting together a setlist for this tour has been an interesting process.

"I think we're lucky that 'Little Rope' works seamlessly and it lends itself to the other albums," Brownstein says. "We've also been asking for suggestions from fans. We've been pleasantly surprised with those requests. We also have a certain set of songs that we fall back on. That's allowed us a reevaluation of songs that we've never performed live."

While there's a focus on "Little Rope," Brownstein says the set will have about 27 songs.

"The catalog of music allows us to create a story," she says. "It's interesting to think back to the early era in the band. I wasn't very demonstrative on stage. It took me awhile to see the stage and give myself license to be larger than life. To convey boldness, rage, joy and the extremes. Once I got pleasure from performing, it became something I wanted to sink my teeth into. I learned to not take anything for granted. The older I get and the longer I've done it, I'm able to be myself there. I'm willing to be in the moment."