Natalie Maines, lead singer of country trio the Dixie Chicks, sings and strums for the sold-out crowd at the 'Dome last night. The trio will play their second show at the 'Dome tonight. (Stuart Dryden, Sun)

CALGARY -

America's loss is definitely Canada's gain when it comes to the Dixie Chicks.

Low ticket sales and cancelled U.S. tour dates haven't followed the Chicks as they fly north on their Accidents and Accusations tour.

During a 2003 concert in London, lead singer Natalie Maines declared: "We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

From death threats to CD-burning parties, to the cancelled concerts, the Chicks have paid dearly for that off-the-cuff re-mark.

Yes, country music and liberal politics make for strange bedfellows, so it's not surprising the less-than-conservative Dixie Chicks -- Texans Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and Maines -- are steering towards an edgier rock sound and away from the twangy genre that made them famous.

And their fans -- in Canada at least -- are loving it.

The sold-out crowd's enthusiastic reaction when they walked onstage as Hail to the Chief played was no surprise.

The Chicks delivered a powerful show filled with instrumental genius and impressive vocals.

Highlights included the title track off their latest album Taking the Long Way, Lullaby, White Trash Wedding and a haunting cover of Stevie Nicks' Landslide.

The loudest cheers came when the band kicked into Not Ready to Make Nice, in which Maines sings: "I made my bed and I sleep like a baby."

But she outdid herself during the encore, shouting "I think somebody in Calgary will win the award for best sign of the tour."

She then held up a bright pink sign reading "Nobody likes a nasty Bush" and encouraged the crowd to bring out their cameras.

Maines held the sign behind her so it was the last thing the crowd saw on the big screen as they walked off the stage.

They may rub some people the wrong way, but after seeing their amazing live show, it's hard to believe their politics could have turned off so many U.S. fans.

Lucky for the Dixie Chicks, Canadians aren't nearly so narrow-minded: Last night's show sold out and tonight's is filling up fast.