December 17, 1999

Girls, you've won me back Indigo Girls' new sound raises the roof

Amy Ray, front, and Emily Saliers.

by Andrea L. Wood

Columbus I feel I should admit something up front before you read any further. I hadn't been to an Indigo Girls concert in about four years. Don't get me wrong, I was a die-hard fan at one time, but damn, they're prolific. I lost track of the albums after Swamp Ophelia in 1994. To be quite honest, Swamp Ophelia didn't knock my socks off. I guess that's when I chucked my official fan club card and started using the concert T-shirts for jammies.

When the paper asked me to review their December 11 concert, I thought, what the heck. I'd be happy as long as they played "Closer to Fine." I talked my roommate into tagging along, and headed for Veterans' Memorial Auditorium.

One thing that always impresses me about Amy Ray and Emily Saliers is their highly visible--and audible-social conscience. Outside the doors of the concert hall there were tables set up for local community organizations.

We took our seats in the balcony as the opening per former, Rose Polenzani warmed up the crowd. I re called that all the times I'd seen the Indigo Girls, I was always impressed with their opening acts. Polenzani was no exception. She had a simple, innocent presence that somehow resonated in the bustling auditorium. A capable guitar player and captivating voice, she drew me in. I liked her style so much, I bought her latest album, Anybody, as I headed home that night.

But as Ray and Saliers took the stage over, the energy changed. Since I hadn't yet

heard their latest album Come On Now Social, and had strayed from their flock for several years, I was in for a shock. They picked up electric guitars, turned on the light show, and darned if they didn't rock out! Accompanied by a new band, they started the show out with “Go”— a crash course for me in their incredible full-body sound.

What had once been two women and two guitars had blossomed into an impressive body of musicians including a cellist and an accordion player. I was also reminded of the incredibly diverse talents of Ray and Saliers, their onstage repertoire included electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, and banjo. The band wasn't around for every song-they came and went as needed. The Girls didn't disappoint-I got my "Closer to Fine" fix. They also played "Least Complicated," "Power of Two," and "Prince of Darkness," from among those songs I could sing along

to.

But when they played new music from Come On Now Social, I had to move something-tap a foot during "Gone Again,” dancing in place to "Peace Tonight." Of course Ray's signature deep and ominous songs,

like "Faye Tucker," sent the long-gone shivers back down my spine. Saliers's sweetness comes through once again with "Soon to be Nothing." And I wasn't alone.

The energy stirred up by those girls was something else I'd forgotten. Once again, I felt that incredible feeling of being in a group of people who all just happened to know every word to every song.

I was a fan reborn. I ended up buying my own copy of Come On Now Social.

The album marks a decade of major-label releases from the Indigo Girls. It is also a break from their usual recording routine. With a new band and an impressive list of album contributors, including Joan Osborne and Sheryl Crow as well as Ozilline Walker (Amy Ray's grandmother), this album is definitely different. Co-produced by their drummer John Reynolds, there is particular attention to rhythm, with influences ranging from Marvin Gaye to Middle Eastern trance and Celtic music.

But the signature sound that has always included strong vocals, haunting harmony, and excellent guitar-playing, is not lost in this new chapter of the Indigo Girls discography. It's a little bit of bluegrass, a little bit of country, a little bit of swing, with a rock-and-roll heart and an indie edge.

Girls, you've won me back.

Andrea L. Wood is Chronicle contributing writer living in Columbus.

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