by 
For nearly their entire 25-year existence, the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls have fostered division among their fan base while consistency preaching unity and complimenting each other with nearly perfect harmonies.
Fans and critics alike are often sharply divided, with some praising the hard-edged creativity of Amy Ray’s punk-tinged angst, while others prefer Emily Saliers’ quiet and longing romanticism. Then there is the timeframe conundrum: many hold true to the group’s sparse acoustic output from 1987-1995, while others prefer the MOR-friendly, full-band/pop leanings from the mid-90s onward.
During a live performance at The Pageant in St. Louis on July 21, Emily and Amy did their best to please everyone. Covering material from the late-80s through last year’s Beauty Queen Sister, the full band they brought with them (The Shadowboxers) used considerable restraint by complimenting the softer numbers without overpowering them.
Not that this was elevator music by any means. The stage erupted with rockers Go and Trouble, and fan favorites Closer to Fine and Galileo brought the entire room to its feet.
Check out a short clip of their performance of Closer to Fine here!
And, as always, the harmonies, catchy hooks and bluesy riffs were as glorious and intimate as always. The quirky, somewhat bohemian coffee-shop performers have truly become accomplished musicians with the ability to touch their fans and the talent to back it up.
Interestingly, while Ray’s contributions to the group’s CDs are more experimental and a hit with critics, Saliers is the one whose star really burned live, cutting loose with impressive guitar solos and spot-on vocal wailings when needed.
The only thing missing from an evening with the Indigo Girls was the opportunity to really meet Amy and Emily. With the exception of a short technical glitch, there was very little interaction with fans between songs, and that is a shame, as the girls can be very witty and endearing when they banter with themselves and their audiences.
