lifeblood: listlogs: 2003v06n024-news

ig-news-digest wednesday, february 19 2003 volume 06 : number 024

today's subjects:
-----------------
  [ig-news] wilmington de                                  [ndgogrls@aol.com]
  [ig-news] fwd: valley news dispatch: indigo girls focus on making good music  [- deb - <indigo@mindspring]
  [ig-news] international indigo girls meetup day  ["anna creech" <creechal@]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

date: tue, 18 feb 2003 10:30:00 est
from: ndgogrls@aol.com
subject: [ig-news] wilmington de

[sherlyn's note: this message was originally sent to the indigo
girls mailing list at netspace.org.]

has been cancelled for tonight. i spoke with the box office and they said
that since the city is in a state of emergency the show has been cancelled.
they are trying to reschedule (again) with the girls people, and are in the
process of calling everyone with tickets to tell them the show is off. maybe
they werent' meant to play delaware?

carla ;o)

"sometimes i ask to sneak a closer look; skip to the final chapter of the
book. and maybe steer us clear of some of the pain that it took; to get us
where we are this far. oh but the question drownes in it's 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." - emily saliers

"we act empty and innocent but we are fueled by distortions of lives led in
discontent trading misfortunes...." -amy ray

- -----------------------------------------------------------------
this has been a message from the ig-news list.
please send feedback, questions etc to owner-ig-news@smoe.org.
submissions are welcome - please send these to ig-news@smoe.org.
to unsubscribe send the appropriate command to majordomo@smoe.org:
bounce subscribers: unsubscribe ig-news
digest subscribers: unsubscribe ig-news-digest

------------------------------

date: tue, 18 feb 2003 08:32:19 -0800 (pst)
from: - deb - <indigo@mindspring.com>
subject: [ig-news] fwd: valley news dispatch: indigo girls focus on making good music

> indigo girls focus on making good music
> by rex rutkoski
> valley news dispatch
> monday, february 17, 2003
>
> the mood is always indigo when emily saliers and amy ray make music
> together.
>
> what the indigo girls are all about is what they always have been about,
> suggests saliers in a phone call from her atlanta home.
>
> "it's pretty straight-forward, folk-type music and we are just about
> trying to write solid songs, trying to be real and not be influenced by
> things except for making good music and focusing on that. and we're
> about trying to participate in the world community of action," she
> explains.
>
> many others have noticed.
>
> "if there's ever proof that an act doesn't need radio or mtv support in
> order to thrive, it's the indigo girls," says billboard, the music
> industry trade publication, upon the release of their latest album,
> "become you," last spring. "the girls have consistently sold millions of
> records, as they've undeniably tried less and less to court industry
> sectors that will likely ignore their smarter than average brand of
> pop."
>
> twenty-two years down the road they remain a fresh, vital act while
> others have fallen by the wayside.
>
> "you may have to ask a fan why that is, but we both have a lot of faith
> in what the other one can do, there's a mutual respect for each other, "
> saliers says. "i don't think we are fettered with an image. we are just
> songwriters and good friends. it's very simple, and we just have these
> incredible fans who still stick with us over the years. i don't really
> know why, but i'm glad."
>
> saliers continues to believe that it is the differences that forge the
> strength of the indigos.
>
> "what amy brings is different from what i bring. her songs are different
> from mine, different vocal arrangements and sensibilities. and it all
> works together for whatever reason."
>
> it's still a lot of fun playing with each other, she says. "i have as
> good a time playing with amy as i ever have. we have a deep gratitude
> that we are still able to make music."
>
> they hope people can take some joy in participating in their music.
>
> "i hope our music can help people be thoughtful about what's going on
> around us. we have to be vigilant about all kinds of things, not just
> politics, but our relationships. i hope our music can offer some
> perspective and thoughtfulness and in the end some joy and healing,"
> saliers says.
>
> billboard suggests that when you have an act that never stops growing,
> it's no wonder that countless fans follow their every move, without the
> urging of radio or video programmers.
>
> that observation is a welcome compliment, saliers says.
>
> "we try to grow by playing different instruments. we've both learned new
> instruments. and we try to grow as songwriters. amy has reached a point
> in her songwriting where she is really happy with her writing. she is
> writing some killer songs. we try to grow and not keep doing exactly the
> same thing over and over."
>
> in one respect, she says she feels fortunate that the indigos don't have
> to rely on radio to keep their careers going.
>
>
> "although it would help, because we would have a bigger career and be
> able to reach more people," she adds. "we are able to make the records
> we want and do creatively what we want to do. we've never compromised in
> that way. i'm grateful for that. a lot of artists struggle with that.
> they spend a lot of money for things they don't need."
>
> it's kind of a bleak period in the record industry right now, she says.
> "with corporate control of radio, it's a real bummer, a real struggle
> for us in a way it hasn't been in the past. it's a struggle for a lot of
> people. we are luckier than some."
>
> corporate payola has reached epic proportions, she says.
>
> the indigos have one more studio record left under their epic contract,
> she says, after which she and amy plan to move on. "it will be a
> transition after that. i don't know what we will do, who we will sign
> with, what kind of label."
>
> they are proud of the "become you" albums. saliers considers it one of
> the duo's better cds. "the songwriting is more mature. it's a very
> simple, straightforward approach. there are no tricks. the fans like it.
> they say it harkens back to the simplicity of the early days."
>
> it's been received well critically but has not sold well she says. "it's
> a plain lack of promotion on the part of the record company. they
> focused on other bands and artists. we get some 'triple a' (radio
> format) support, but that's it."
>
> she says their record company does not support them any more. "we have a
> good relationship with some people in the company, but it's the end of
> an era with them. it's kind of sad."
>
> it's still very much a youth-oriented business, says saliers, who is 38.
> "or a company has aging hitmakers they can count on. it's very image and
> money driven. the fact so many stations are owned by a handful of
> companies is really bad for everyone. everybody is talking about it:
> managers and bands. it's a reality."
>
> is she optimistic there will be changes?
>
> "music will always be there. people need music in their lives. there
> will always be an underground movement that pushes against the negative
> forces like that. but it's a pretty bleak time. it will take at least a
> couple years for change. they are holding on tooth and nail. it takes
> legislation as well. we fought for low-powdered fm (stations), but it
> was defeated. smaller people should be able to run radio stations and
> provide diversity for people. people will get bored with what they
> have."
>
> the indigos keep it fresh for themselves by writing a new set list every
> night and not playing songs that they are bored with. writing their own
> music also prevents staleness she says. "epic let us make records the
> way we want to. that has been very gratifying. we couldn't have it any
> other way."
>
> ray released "stag," a solo album in 2001, while saliers had a break
> alone. "that made things fresh for the indigo girls," she says. "we have
> separate lives and individual pursuits."
>
> having "the best fans in the world" is a crucial component, saliers
> says. "the numbers are a little bit smaller than they used to be, but
> they are still faithful and they know the music and still come to the
> shows. i feel really grateful to the fans."
>
> some major artists can't translate a big hit into fan support, she
> reminds. "we focus on keeping it real and writing quality songs and the
> rest follows for us."
>
> she says who the audience is seems to have changed to an extent.
>
> "it's pretty mixed. we still have the college age following, which is
> great. we have fans who have been with us from the beginning. we see a
> lot more kids coming to the shows. there's still a very large gay
> following, which is great, and there is a high school age following who
> will just appreciate our voice of resistance or at least reflections.
> people want a little bit of content to our lyrics and some people just
> like to sing along to the songs. they are pretty accessible
> melodically."
>
>
> as the current cd was being released, saliers observed, "we are really
> pleased with it. it will be a joy to play these songs for people."
>
> and it really has been, she says. "we have the kind of fans who learn
> the songs right away. by the time we come to play for them they know the
> words and kids know the words. it's really cool. they are really there
> to hear the songs."
>
> she has a feel for what the public perception is of the indigo girls.
>
> "i know we are largely associated as a lesbian band. we are known as
> very political. we are not an image band in either way. fans, they
> associate our songs with times in their lives, their travels and
> transitions. so when they come to our concerts they have a history of us
> for the most part. the perception of us outside our fans is very
> different from how our fans perceive us. outsiders often don't give the
> music a chance."
>
> saliers believes that a new artist just entering the business might be
> able to learn something form the career of the indigo girls.
>
> "if you stick with what your true vision of your music is, and find your
> voice, you will have a career," she says. "there is a lot of joy and
> satisfaction in doing that."
>
>
> if you go
>
>
>
>
> what: the indigo girls, cordero.
>
> when: 7:30 p.m. monday.
>
> where: benedum center, pittsburgh.
>
> cost: $26.50 to $34.50
>
> details: 412-456-6666.

------------------------------

date: tue, 18 feb 2003 19:24:59 -0500
from: "anna creech" <creechal@spamcop.net>
subject: [ig-news] international indigo girls meetup day

[sherlyn's note: this message was originally sent to the indigo
girls mailing list at netspace.org. not exactly ig news, but...]

creechal@spamcop.net wants you to know about
international indigo girls meetup day.

see http://indigo.meetup.com/ for details!

- ----

the more, the merrier!

------------------------------

end of ig-news-digest v6 #24
****************************