Indigo Girls: Paramount Theater: April 13, 2019

I have a large, soft spot in my musical development for the music of the Indigo Girls.  Namely, their 1989 eponymous album and their 1990 Nomads Indians Saints (and to a lesser extent, Swamp Ophelia from 1994, and an even lesser extent, Rites of Passage from 1992).  They took some of the Athens, Georgia indie rock sound that I loved in R.E.M. and added harmonies, achingly good lyrics about love and confusion, and a touch of religion to make something purely their own.  I loved it.  I used these songs on many a mix tape back in the day when trying to woo the ladies.  Camp was also a place with heavy Indigo Girls listening time.

One lyric that has stuck in my head ever since the show is a beautiful slice of reality that I hadn't given much thought until hearing it live the other night.  In "Power of Two," from Swamp Ophelia, there is a series in a bridge that says "all the shiny little trinkets of temptation, something new instead of something old.  All you gotta do is scratch beneath the surface and it's fool's gold."  In a song that is all about the strength of taking on life with a love at your side, I love that idea, of temptations just being "shiny little trinkets" and fool's gold.  Great lyric, and the way it spills out in the cadence of the song is also cool.

Anyway, the show was mostly great.  They played a handful of the classics, although of course I could have done with more of them.  They played a couple new tracks that haven't come out yet, and honestly, they were pretty solid (even though I wasn't too enamored with their most recent studio release).  I had some good goosebump raising moments of joy, singing along to songs that I love with a room full of like-minded fans.  "Southland in the Springtime," "Galileo," "Land of Canaan," and of course "Closer to Fine" were all excellent stuff.  Personally, I would have paid extra just to hear the entire eponymous album from start to finish, but as it was they played a good mix.

Three issues that kept the show from being perfect. 

• First, freaking "Chickenman," man.  I hate that song.  Always have.  Such a dumb song, and yet they spent up one of their song slots on that dumb ass song.  I also dislike "Get Out the Map," the happy-time, holler-y chorus has always been a little gimmicky to me, and that definitely held true live.  
• Second, sadly, Emily's voice is significantly diminished from back in the day.  She has a definite warble to her voice that didn't used to be there.  And while her voice has always had a vulnerability and softness to it (that compliments Amy so well), it is noticeably brittle now.  
• Finally, some of the fans were freaking rude.  Now, I know this is an old person rant position to take, but I think that you expect a certain kind of show when you go to a theater like the Paramount (versus a standing party like Stubb's or the Backyard or whatever).  First, some lady was audibly and repeatedly guffawing during the opening act.  And then the obviously inebriated pack of ladies in front of us kept standing and dancing, oblivious to the 20 people behind them who then couldn't see.  Which is actually kind of fine to me - have some fun, except the one on the end turned around to the ladies sitting behind her and told the sitters that they could either "get up and move, or deal with it."  I also overheard a guy in the lobby asking the ushers if they could move people out of the aisle who were sitting down next to them and talking throughout the show.  And a bunch of folks charged down to dance in front of the stage, totally standing in front of all the people who had paid to sit in the front few rows (definitely not me, just thought is was weird).  I'm all for jamming out and having a good time at a show, it was just an aggressive response to a show that was otherwise seated and chill - like, at one point, the lady who had talked to those behind her was the only person in the whole auditorium standing, still just obliviously dancing and singing along while blocking 4 people.  

One other weird observation - the Paramount was advertising their drink special for the night, and it was called "Girl Power."  So what would that drink be?  A bourbon and soda, to show the patriarchy that ladies also can drink brown liquor?  Like an Irish Coffee or an Old Fashioned or Manhattan or something?  Nope.  Instead, the Girl Power was a cloyingly sweet vodka sour that my wife took one sip of and then returned to the bar for a glass of wine.  C'mon, man.

In addition to the two normal members of the band, I'd have to just note how cool it was to hear them do all of these songs with nothing more than their two voices and instruments.  No drums, no bass.  Well, they did have the help of this bad ass violinist who was wonderfully complimentary and could jam out when given the opportunity.  Oh, and Lloyd Maines on steel guitar (which was cool).  No drums, no bass, and yet they still sounded rich and full.  Very good show - would recommend for sure.