Indigo Girls

The Indigo Girls are Emily Saliers and Amy Ray. They are singers, songwriters, musicians, and political activists. They are extremely intelligent women who have worked hard for causes such as gay rights, the rights of Native Americans, and the environment.

They have a very large fan base who have been following them since the 80s even though they have never gotten much air play on popular radio stations or on television. Their music and lyrics are the reason they have been my favorite band since I was 17 years old.

The first time I heard the Indigo Girls was in my college dorm room in September 1994. That was 9 years after they had formed the IG duo. I was a first year architecture student at Roger Williams University and my roommate happened to have a few of their CDs. As soon as I heard that first song I was hooked. I remember it was Galileo off of their Rites Of Passage album. Love. That. Song.

22 years later whenever I hear the first few drum beats of Galileo it still makes me feel calm instantly. So many of their songs do that to me. I swear it's the best medicine in the world. Their lyrics are inspiring and their music is amazing. They have everything from calm to crazy and everything in between. No matter what mood I'm in I can put in an Indigo Girls CD and I'm just happy.

Now, hearing them on a CD is pretty wonderful, but oh my goodness you have to hear them in concert. The first concert I got to see them play was in 1997. I waited 3 years for that chance! I found out they were going to play at another college that wasn't too far of a drive so I convinced one of my best friends and his girlfriend that we had to make the trip. I can close my eyes and still remember being there. I was in awe the whole time. At that point I'd only heard 3 of their albums and didn't know all of the lyrics. I saw another girl near us singing and dancing every song. I thought that was wonderful. I wanted to be just like that...and now I am. :)

Since that first concert in 1997 I've seen them 31 times in 6 States and 2 Provinces. The farthest I've driven to see them in person was from Boston, Massachusetts all the way to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The closest venue I've gotten to see them is about 30 minute drive. The only year that I missed was 2001 as that was the summer that my daughter was born. She never took a bottle and needed me home with her so I skipped the tour that year. Update: I missed 2014 too. They didn't have a show close enough that wasn't a split bill.

I've seen so many great shows. The most exciting concert for me was a private set at a radio station. I don't recall the exact number of people but there must have been only 20 or so. We were in a small room, sitting on the floor inches away from Emily and Amy. (People usually refer to them as Amy and Emily, but Emily is my favorite.) After they played a few songs we got to go up and talk to them, get autographs and pictures. I won't get into the details of my life but that week happened to be the worst of my life, still to this day, but being able to have that experience was such a great gift. I got to forget my worries for a while and just sit and enjoy the moment. I know it sounds corny but it truly was magical.

Another great IG memory was back in 1997. I was home for the summer and my mother got the two of us front row center seats the morning of the concert. It was a really large venue but I was so close my hands were on the stage. I remember Emily looking over and giving me thumbs up as I was singing my heart out and dancing away.

Let me know if you were you there too. :)
Shows with a * at the end are nights I got autographs.

1. Wheaton College, Norton MA, April 16, 1997
2. Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga NY, June 7, 1997
3. Lilith Fair, Stade du Maurier, Montreal Canada, August 17, 1997

   
   

4. Lilith Fair, Jones Beach Theater, New York, July 15, 1998
5. Newport Folk Festival, Fort Adams State Park, Newport RI, August 9, 1998

   
   

6. Newport Folk Festival, Fort Adams State Park, Newport RI, August 8, 1999
7. Lilith Fair, Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto Canada, August 21, 1999
8. Tsongas Arena, Lowell MA, October 6, 1999

   
   

9. Fleet Boston Pavilion, Boston MA, June 10, 2000

   
   

10. Fleet Boston Pavilion, Boston MA, June 1, 2002
11. Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence RI, September 20, 2002

    
    

12. Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton NH, August 10 2003 *

    
    

13. Mix Lounge, Boston MA, February 25, 2004 *
14. Fleet Boston Pavilion, Boston MA, June 11, 2004

    
    

15. Hampton Beach Casino Ball Room, Hampton NH, June 10, 2005 *

    
    

16. Hampton Beach Casino Ball Room, Hampton NH, July 23, 2006 *

    
    

17. Discovery Park, Freeport ME, August 18, 2007

    
    

18. Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord NH, July 13, 2008

    
    

19. The Orpheum, Boston MA, April 16, 2009
20. South Shore Music Circus, Cohasset MA, June 14, 2009

    
    

21. Boarding House Park, Lowell MA, July 30, 2010
22. Lilith Fair, Comcast Theatre, Hartford CT, August 1, 2010
23. The Music Hall, Portsmouth NH, October 29, 2010 *

    
    

24. Lowell High School Auditorium, Lowell MA, June 23, 2011
25. Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA, October 15, 2011
26. Keefe Auditorium, Nashua NH, October 22, 2011

    
    

27. Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord NH, October 28, 2012

    
    

28. Lowell High School Auditorium, Lowell MA, June 26, 2013

    
    

29. Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence RI, February 13, 2015
30. Orpheum Theatre, Boston MA, November 7, 2015
    
    
31. Boarding House Park, Lowell MA, June 23, 2016
    
    
32. Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford NH, June 16, 2017

Nov 11, 1999 - Nov 13, 1999
Mt. Baker Theatre (Bellingham, WA)

curated content from Flickr

I saw this little email / myspace / bulletin board (take your pick) survey and filled it out. You can play along and pick the band or artist of your choice. This was mine:

Choose ONE band/artist and answer ONLY IN SONG TITLES by that band

Artist/Band: Indigo Girls

Are you male or female? The Girl With The Weight Of The World In Her Hands

Describe yourself: Hey Kind Friend

How do people see you? Joking

How do you feel about yourself? Tried To Be True

Describe what you want to be: Closer To Fine

Describe where you want to be: Get Out The Map

Describe how you live: Digging For Your Dream

Describe how you love: Free In You

Words of wisdom: Everything In Its Own Time

# 3 on All That We Let In

written by Emily Saliers

A hard knock
A cold clock
Ticking off my time
A long look
But no luck
Couldn't seem to find
Or unwind
Into peace of mind
While I was trying

A quick glance
A big chance
My heart beat like a drum
I saw you
And I knew
Chances just don't come
Round again
Not like this
First a laugh
Then a kiss

And I'm free in you
I've got no worries on my mind
I know what to do
That's to treat you right
And love you kind
Thank you ever on my mind
Love is just like breathing
When it's true
And I'm free in you

The lost time
And self pride
Are my big mistakes
A clear voice
A bad choice
Sounding like an ache
In my day
Not too bad
But too real
To go away

But now I'm free in you
I've got no worries on my mind
I know what to do
That's to treat you right
And love you kind
Thank you ever on my mind
Love is just like breathing
When it's true
And I'm free in you

And I don't know
How you show
Such gentle disregard
For the ugly in me
That I see
That for so long
I took so hard
(I took so hard)
And I truly believe
(I truly believe)
That you see the best in me
(That you see the best in me)
I'm enough
For your love
And that thought
Sets me free

Free in you
Got no worries on my mind
I know what to do
That's to treat you right
And love you kind
Thank you ever on my mind
Love is just like breathing
When it's true
And I'm free in you
Yes I'm free in you

...thought I'd share them.

# 7 on Swamp Ophelia

written by Emily Saliers

The thin horizon of a plan is almost clear
My friends and I have had a tough time
Bruising our brains hard up against change
All the old dogs and the magician
Now I see we're in the boat in two by twos
Only the heart that we have for a tool we could use
And the very close quarters are hard to get used to
Love weighs the hull down with its weight
But the wood is tired and the wood is old
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go

No way construction of this tricky plan
Was built by other than a greater hand
With a love that passes all out understanding
Watching closely over the journey
Yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide
Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside
Although we get to have some answers when we reach the other side
The prize is always worth the rocky ride
But the wood is tired and the wood is old
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go

Sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look
Skip to the final chapter of the book
And then maybe steer us clear from some of the pain it took
To get us where we are this far yeah
But the question drowns in its futility
And even I have got to laugh at me
No one gets to miss the storm of what will be
Just holding on for the ride
The wood is tired and the wood is old
We'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go

In 1994 Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection was produced and performed in Atlanta, Austin and Seattle. This version featured Amy Ray as Jesus, Emily Saliers as Mary Magdalene, and fellow guitarist Michael Lorant as Judas.