{image1}After weeks of drowning in sadness and empathy for the South's hurricane devastation, the Midwest finally celebrated Southern joy during the Indigo Girls' nearly sold-out performance on Wednesday night in Milwaukee's stunning Pabst Theater.
Although Indigo Girl Emily Saliers admitted to bowling a sucky game at Landmark Lanes the night before, the alt-folk duo -- which also includes Amy Ray -- had no problem bowling over the audience with a well-balanced mix of songs from their summer-release "Rarities" and comfort-foody favorites from their previous eight albums.
Instead of outfits, the Indigo Girls -- arguably the original "Righteous Babes" -- changed guitars (and mandolins) nearly every song. Dressed in their signature jeans and T-shirts and still donning the same mullet-esque haircuts they've worn for two decades, the Indigo Girls quietly remind that image takes the back seat when it comes to talent.
With no more than a rough draft of a set list, the Indigos took requests ("Watershed" for instance), sang "Happy Birthday" to a woman named Libby after her girlfriend hollered for it, and jammed their way through both surprising and not-so-surprising songs, including the new "Fill It Up Again," "It's Alright," "Three Hits," "Shame On You," "Land of Canaan," "The Power of Two" and the crowd-pleasing "Get Out the Map."
Wicked renditions of "Closer to Fine" (featuring the incredible pipes of Trina Meade from the Atlanta-based opening band three5Human) and "Galileo" brought fans to their feet, but it was the encore that launched the show to the proverbial stars. After inviting all of three5Human on stage, they brought down the house with the perfect choice: "Midnight Train To Georgia."
When the two bands fused for the final number, the story of Southern music came together, including chapters from The Allman Brothers' hardcore jam-band style, the electrifying power of gospel music, and the Generation X-defining sound of Athens rock.
Once again giving voice to the voiceless, Saliers thanked a short list of organizations at the end of the show and announced that all of the Indigo Girls' merchandise proceeds -- including sleeveless T-shirts reading "Girls Play Here" across the chest -- would go to Katrina relief efforts.
Nobody left this show hopeless.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
