The Indigo Girls have some symphony dates on their fall schedule, but don't expect to see Amy Ray or Emily Saliers in glittering evening gowns. "Amy's dressing up; she usually wears her tie and little vest," says Saliers, right. "I usually wear all black. Nothing shiny for me." (Jeremy Cowart)BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The power of two is growing exponentially.
On a handful of dates this fall, the
will have the power of 50, 60, or possibly even 100 musicians at their disposal.
The folk-rock duo -- Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Decatur, Ga. -- can call on cellos, oboes, violins and tympani. They’ll have a larger, lusher sound, and more expansive arrangements for songs such as “Galileo,” “Yoke,” “Ghost” and “Love of Our Lives.”
“It’s a real leap of faith,” says Saliers, 49, as she reflects on the Indigos’ first symphony tour. “It’s a challenge for us. It’s a meeting of the worlds. I love it. It’s a blast.”
Saliers and Ray, 48, have been performing together since high school, and their track record as the Indigo Girls stretches back to 1985. Highly experienced, finely skilled and dearly beloved by fans, the Indigos have little to prove at this point in their career.
Longtime listeners, it’s certain, would follow them anywhere. Right now, all signs point to the world of orchestral pops.
“It’s a new chapter for me and Amy to have orchestras with us on stage,” Saliers says. “I have to say it’s an awesome feeling.”
When the Indigos perform in Birmingham tonight with the
, they’ll present new versions of at least 15 songs during the two-set concert. Arrangements were crafted by Stephen Barber (Saliers’ choice) and Sean O’Loughlin (Ray’s pick), with the goal of fully integrating the orchestra into the Indigo Girls’ aesthetic.
“I think, as I’ve gotten to know their music, there are a lot of very appealing elements,” says
, the ASO’s principal pops conductor. “The thing that struck me right away was the amount of color in their music, the instrumental variety and a lot of different feels.”
Confessore and the orchestra will spend a couple of hours rehearsing with the Indigo Girls today, smoothing the way to an 8 p.m. curtain. That’s a short time to prepare, Saliers admits, but symphony pros in each city have proved they can handle the pressure.
DETAILS
Who:
Indigo Girls, with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra..
When:
8 p.m. Sept. 21.
Where:
, 1817 Third Ave North, Birmingham, Alabama.
Tickets:
$32-$72.
Info:
205-975-2787 or
.
“It’s really interesting working with orchestras,” she says. “It’s very regimented and time-slotted. They have unions to consider, and the vibe is different, in terms of how you’re rehearsing. Amy and I rehearse pretty hard, and a lot. With a symphony, it’s a whole new thing. Every night in different, a different orchestra, a different mood.”
The Indigo Girls apparently relish this learning experience; Saliers says they’re looking forward to more symphony shows next year. In the meantime, the set list is shaping up nicely, she says -- not as a mini-retrospective, but as a chance to showcase deeper album tracks and songs from 2011’s “Beauty Queen Sister.”
“We’re pretty open-minded,” Saliers says. “And judging from the fan reaction, they’re all excited. We’re challenging them, and the energy’s real intense.”
Of course, Ray, the hard-driving rocker, and Saliers, the melodic folkie, have become adept at uniting their talents and perspectives to create a signature sound. Their music shimmers with rich, clear harmonies. The instrumentals rely on acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo. The lyrics tell heartfelt stories.
According to Saliers, it’s possible to translate everything in the Indigos‘ 20-record catalog -- 14 studio albums, three live albums and three greatest-hits compilations -- into the symphonic realm.
She points to Ray’s “Compromise” as an example, saying the punk-rock track from 1999’s “Come On Now Social” has lost none of its edge with an orchestral treatment.
But with new music charts in hand, changes can be significant. Saliers says the symphony version of “Closer to Fine,” an Indigo Girls classic, brings to mind wagon wheels and gingham skirts, all gussied up for Broadway.
“Now it sounds like a song from ‘Oklahoma!’ or ‘Annie Get Your Gun’,” she says. “It’s completely different.”
If that sounds like heresy, you’re probably an Indigo Girls purist. And not to worry; the duo will continue to perform its usual band dates, without a hint of viola, flute or bassoon.
“We’re getting a little older, but we’re doing great,” Saliers says. “I think these are growing experiences.”