In the digital era, touring is not just an optional sidetrack for musicians – it’s their bread and butter.
The birth of Napster, Limewire and BitTorrent hailed the death of the ‘hit-factory’ age: in which artists could simply rake in the proceeds from their records. But for the Indigo Girls, playing live is something they’ve always done. In fact they’ve scarcely left the stage since their first release in 1987. And when we spoke to Amy Ray – half of the prolific duo – it was clear that live gigs are much more important to the band than a mere source of income.
‘You know, it’s just who we are,’ explained Ray in her warm, deep-southern twang. ‘I think the audience and the connection is something that really informs our song writing. For me it’s inspiring: that energy that keeps you writing. I think if I spent all my time just recording in the studio and never getting out – you know really being in a community of people – the songs would suffer for it.’
‘I probably enjoy seeing [live music] more than playing it! I’m a big fan,’ Ray laughed, without a hint of exaggeration. ‘When I was young, Prince and the Purple Rain tour was, and still is my favourite big concert I’ve ever been to… it was amazing. I go hear a lot of bands that are small. I’ll go to the local coffee house in my town and see a bluegrass band. If it’s good it doesn’t matter how big the venue is or how small it is – it takes you somewhere.’
In April, the Indigo Girls will play Perth Concert Hall to support their latest release Staring Down the Brilliant Dream. When we mentioned Perth to Ray, she fondly recollected Freo Prison (‘that was so cool’) and Perth beaches.
As well as their touring and recording schedule, the Indigo Girls are outspoken activists – vehemently concerned with social, political and environmental issues.
‘I think if we could be bankers we’d still be activists,’ Ray asserted. ‘We’ve always been that way since high school, it’s just another part of who we are. It just so happens that it’s becomes easier if we take that and merge it in some way with our career. Not necessarily our song writing, but as a way to access resources, raise money and leverage support.’
Being out-and-proud lesbians, one issue close to the band’s heart is gay rights. While Ray admits there has been an improvement since their emergence in the 80s, she describes homophobia as still ‘rampant’ in the music industry.
‘It’s how you are treated in the clubs by the club-owner or the soundperson, or what the waitresses said about you behind your back or what the bartender says about your audience or how the record label market you. It’s what the critics say when they talk about your audience more than they talk about your music or your lifestyle more than your music… You could write volumes about the homophobia in the music industry. But I think also take the music out of it, take the career out of it and it’s your life – you’re a person who’s experienced homophobia. But It’s ok, to me the gift of being able to see things from the perspective of sometimes feeling like you’re on the outside is a big gift because it enables you to have compassion for a lot of people who are on the outside so I really wouldn’t trade it for anything.’
Yet Ray is optimistic about gay equality in the future: ‘I think that in the US we go through cycles where it feels like [attitudes towards homosexuality] are getting better and there’s more stepping out and more legislation and recognition and then the conservative side steps up their game a little bit more. It’s a constant polarising thing that happens. But you make tiny little steps and headway and one by one people change, their hearts change.’
Indigo Girls will play Perth Concert Hall on Thursday April 21st. Staring Down the Brilliant Dream is out now.
Andrew Searle
