Tomorrow night, August 12, Sleater-Kinney plays their final show after announcing an "indefinite hiatus" last month. To me, this marks an end of an era. I'm traversing the territory of my 30's as are they.

No other band sounds like Sleater-Kinney. They carried riott grrl attitude on their backs from the mid-nineties all the way through 2006. They brought that perfect mix of rage, political lyrics, sexuality and amazing riffs that I'd be craving before I heard them.

I knew of S-K while in grad school in Atlanta but was digging on more Nine Inch Nails, Garbage and Depeche Mode at the time. I decided to give them a try in late 1999 and was immediately smitten with what I heard. A trip to Atlanta in May of 2000 was the first time I saw them live and I was completely blown away by the balls to the wall energy and noise three small women erupted with. I didn't know exactly what they were singing about but I didn't care. What blew through the speakers and ripped down to my toes had me hooked.

From 2000-2005 I must have seen them eight or nine times but it was wonderful and gripping every time. From the pogging crowd at 9:30 club to the hot sun of Coney Island, they never failed to cause me to jump up and down and wish I had a lick of musical talent.

The good thing is, theyre going out on their own terms. There was no compilation, guest vocal album. No trying to appeal to mass populous radio consumption. Theyre leaving in their prime.

Janet, Corin and Carrie, I'll miss you guys so much but you'll live on in my I-pod - always ready to show me your riffs.