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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 /
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AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE
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Tattoo or
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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
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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
