About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2011)
ouring in support of their 12th studio album. Beauty Queen Sister, and sounding every bit as vital as they did on their 1987 debut, the Indigo Girls show no signs of "calling it a day" any time soon, Emily Saliers, one-half of the beloved Georgia duo, is eager to discuss everything from the R.E.M. break-up to last year's Lilith Fair revival to the 2012 presiden tial election. Calling from Atlanta, surrounded by her dogs, Saliers is upbeat and completely at ease, chatting about the new album that was recently released on the Girls' own IG Recordings label. "It's been liberating. We're not wasting money; we don't have to ask permission; we can do whatever we wanna do. I feel like we're flourishing creatively, and we're more productive because of that. It's a little more stressful in terms of budgets, but that's OK, because you can make a record in two-and-a- half weeks. All your focus is on putting every thing into every minute in the studio. You're exhausted when it's over, but it's a great way to make a record. All that is a result of being independent." Of course, the Indigo Girls are nearly as well known for their political activism as their music, and Saliers is eager to discuss the band's many causes as well as the 2010 return of Lilith Fair, a festival that once hum bly billed itself as "a celebration of women in music," but ultimately grew into a landmark event in the modern feminist movement. "I thought it was very successful," she says. "It didn't have the same bang that the first one did, but the spirit of Lilith was the same: that camaraderie of people sharing the stage and giving money to community groups that needed it. Sarah McLachlan does an excellent job with that. It was a different experience because we were 10 years older. The first time we played Lilith it was sort of mindblowing. I'll never forget it. Never ever ever. Chrissie Hynde came up and sang part of 'Closer to Fine' and I thought I would just die and go to heaven." As for the band's current passions, Saliers says, "We work primarily with an indigenous- run group called Honor the Earth that focuses on issues of energy justice. It's about bringing alternative energy projects to communities to try to help shift the U.S. energy paradigm. We are still involved with lots of other causes— queer community activism and anti-death penalty. We just had a horrific execution here in Georgia, Troy Davis, and I'm just devastated by that outcome. Honestly, I feel disheartened [with politics in general]. There's so much backstabbing and partisanship. I'm still a big Obama supporter, for different reasons, but obviously the alternative is just unthinkable to me. It's a big mess. We've just passed ter rible immigration laws in Georgia. There's a lot of racism and hatefulness going on, and the media's not helping, and I don't think Americans are taking time to educate them selves about the issues without just react ing. We're so bombarded that no one's really reading through these issues to get to what's really going on behind all the hype. I'm gonna vote for Obama, but I've been disappointed by his policies as well. It's a hard time to be an American. I love this country, but it's not easy." Wrapping up on a lighter note, Saliers offered many kind words to R.E.M., with whom the Indigo Girls have shared a warm, profes sional relationship dating back to Stipe's stir ring guest vocals on 1989's "Kid Fears." "You can't even put words to it really," she says. "They were unique and exciting and different, and they had such a long career and they produced incredible music and true artistry. Job well done. The influence they've had on American music and their place in his tory is indelible now. I wish them well in their future projects. Each one of those guys is a tremendous artist in his own right. It's truly the end of an era." And so, as we wave goodbye to R.E.M., let us welcome back their home-state sisters with open arms, because they are certainly look ing forward to seeing us. Saliers was not shy about that as she signed off, giddily sharing: "Just can't wait to get back to Athens. Totally psyched!" David Fitzgerald ( ^ WHO: Indigo 6iris, Roxie Watson WHERE: The Classic Center WHEN: Thursday, Oct M p.m. HOW MUCH: $25—$45 V / r &ody AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE 1 0% OFF Tattoo or Body Piercing WWW.AMERICANCLASSICTATTOO.NET 1 035a Baxter St. % 706-543-7628 £ BAR Upcoming Events: Sat.-10/8- Bar opens at 9am UGA vs TENNESSEE KICKOFF AT 7 PM $3 BLOODY MARY BAR SERVING BBQ Sandwiches Nathan’s Hot Dogs Polish & Italian Sausages Smitl^eW =ll:J>llll:ll= Miss Vickie's Chips 'WINE TASTING - Thurs. Oct 6th $15 to taste 6 wines: j 3 reds and 3 whites 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Saturday 10/29: Halloween Party Drink specials. Costume contest. We have a dog-friendly, JQA outdoor, covered patio with large screen TVs! +0 254 W. Clayton Street Athens, GA 30601 • 91-2-604-8560 OCTOBER 5,2011 • FLAGPOLE.COM 15
