Indigo Girls acoustisize the Bend
By KATE WILLIAMS
Scene Music Critic
Promoting their new album, Become You, The Indigo Girls appeared Sunday night in downtown South Bend. The Morris Civic Auditorium was the second stop on their tour of the Midwest.
Indigo Girl Amy Ray finished a tour with The Butchies in mid-January, and joined Emily Saliers to promote their new release in an acoustic tour. Their set featured 20 songs, including some from their new album as well as many past hits.
Atlanta natives Ray and Saliers grew up together, attending the same elementary school. Both graduated from Emory University. They released their debut album, the independently produced Strange Fire in 1987. In 1989, they joined with Epic records and released their first studio album, The Indigo Girls.
Since then, they have released a number of recordings through the Epic label. The duo first enjoyed widespread fame with their platinum-selling album, Rites of Passage, in 1992.
Their most recent release, Become You, is their eighth album to date. The Indigo Girls blend feisty guitar parts with beautiful harmonies and evocative lyrics. Ray provides a low, rich sound, while Saliers brings a lighter, softer element to their performance.
The concert began with a mellow performance from the opening act, Kim Richey, an artist who will perform a total of six times on this Indigo Girls tour. Richey released Rise, her new album with Universal in October. Featuring an Aimee Mann-esque style, Richey performed a variety of songs, ranging from upbeat folk to sultry jazz. More information on Kim Richey can be found at www.kimrichey.com
The Indigo Girls took the stage around 9 p.m., beginning their set with "Become You," the title track from their new album. The Girls alternated between crowd favorites and new material, moving from familiar upbeat songs to more somber selections. They switched from guitars to mandolin and banjo for "Get Out the Map," a hit from their 1997 album, Shaming of the Sun. They continued with the first single, "Moment of Forgiveness" from their new album.
One of the brighter moments of the concert came with the performance of "Closer to Fine," from 1995's Curfews. Known for their laid-back and intimate stage presence, The Girls encouraged audience participation, turning the chorus over to the crowd. Throughout the concert, the Girls took requests from the audience.
Though Saliers declined a request for their song "Power of Two," telling the crowd that a cold she was fighting would prevent her from singing her part, Ray suggested that they try an "experiment" and let the crowd sing the song instead. The Girls turned the microphones around, and provided back-up for the audience. Their encore performance of "Galileo," one of their most popular songs, from Rites of Passage, brought nearly all the auditorium to its feet, singing along and dancing.
Well known for their activism in political issues ranging from gay and lesbian issues to environmental issues to gun control, the Girls often use their live performances to publicize their causes. This performance was no exception, as The Indigo Girls took opportunities to speak out against a war in Iraq and performed songs about acceptance. In the lobby after the show, flyers for peace rallies were passed out and anti-war bumper stickers were sold. On their web site, www.indigogirls.com, The Indigo Girls offer twenty reasons to not to invade Iraq and encourage participation in anti-war activities. "Not many musicians in the USA are politically or socially active, but it is just part of who we are. Our music and activist work are married," Saliers says in an interview with musicOMH.com.
Toward the end of the performance, the Girls announced that they would begin recording their final album with Epic Records in June, with a release date set potentially for September. Though they did not announce what their future plans will be, there is speculation that they may join Ani DiFranco's label, Righteous Babe Records, or perhaps record on Ray's label, Daemon Records.
Despite illness, moderate technical difficulties and the lovely winter weather that South Bend had to offer, the Indigo girls gave an impressive performance, blending rock and folk into a gratifying combination. As always, the Girls showed why they have enjoyed unusual success through eight albums, crossing genres and producing unique music during a career that has spanned 14 years.
Contact Kate Williams at kwilliams@nd.edu
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, February 4, 2003
