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The Indigo Girls’ “Look Long” tour heads to the Garde on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit gardearts.org/events/indigo-girls/.
Jeremy Coward
In the third grade, Indigo Girls founding member Emily Saliers saw an ad for guitar lessons at the YMCA. She had grown up in a musical household, had sung in the church choir with her family, and both her parents played the piano — but those lessons would change everything.
When she picked up the guitar, “everything crystalized,” she said. “I was a sensitive kid, I needed to express myself.”
Fast forward to today, Saliers can play “anything with strings.” The New Haven native will return to Connecticut this weekend as the Indigo Girls play the Garde Theatre in New London.
On their recently released 16th album, the Grammy-winning duo tell their origin story. They have reunited with their strongest backing band to date to create “Look Long” — a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds Amy Ray and Saliers chronicling their personal upbringings with more specificity and focus than they have on any previous album.
“We’re fallible creatures shaped by the physics of life,” Saliers said. “We’re shaped by our past; what makes us who we are? And why?”
Loyal following
Why do the Indigo Girls continue to have such a lasting impact on their fans? Based on stories that people tell Saliers, the band’s songs came along at the right time.
“They took them on their own personal journeys — whether it was coming out, or matters of faith or spirituality, or life struggles, they found our music at that time,” she said. “Our lyrics deal with social issues, politics, hope, and more — fans dig into the content of the music. But also a lot of the music is fun and easy to sing along to. You can have a big singalong fest with a lot of joy.”
Favorite song
Much like choosing a favorite child, Saliers said trying to choose a favorite song is challenging.
“I love Amy’s song ‘Shame on You’ so much,” she said.
There are ballads she prefers, but she also enjoys the title track from their new album, “Look Long.” Saliers noted that one of the band’s most beloved and famous songs, “Closer to Fine,” is the one they have played most often.
“People wonder if I get tired of it — I don’t. We are really alive and joyful when we play that, and at that moment it can be my favorite. During the course of the night various songs can be my favorite,” she said.
Spirituality
There’s no secret that spirituality weaves through the Indigo Girls’ lyrics.
“I think both Amy and I connect to something bigger than ourselves — faith is at the center of my entire life,” Saliers said. “If you find hope in my lyrics, that is all tied to spirituality, a benevolence, an energetic force. We want good things to happen to humanity, the earth, and its creatures — spiritual thoughts can’t be separated from our music.”
She continued, “Amy in particular draws spiritual inspiration from the earth and nature, and the perfection of the cosmos. We definitely are believers.”
Musical influences
As a folk singer/songwriter, some of Salier’s musical influences are not surprising, but many stem from a variety of genres.
“As a song writer, Joni Mitchell is the ultimate. The first album I ever bought was The Jackson Five. I bought every Stevie Wonder album, I listen to R&B, Jackson Browne, all different kinds of music,” Saliers said.
Fundamentally, the power of music is the influence.
“My wife and I recently went to Jane Fonda’s birthday party fundraiser, and Gladys Knight performed out of nowhere. I just started bawling my eyes out. I love her music so much. It just moves me. It was completely unexpected and overwhelming,” she said.
The show
While Saliers appreciates the showmanship of many of today’s concert performances, audiences are not going to find it at an Indigo Girls show.
“Amy and I are the same bar band we always were,” Saliers said. “It’s joyful, lots of singing, not like a ‘show show.’”
The opener, Bitch, is also a wonderful talent, she added.
“Our set is just a hootenanny vibe, laid-back, joyful and emotional,” she said.
Saliers said she is happy to see younger women attending their shows, noting that the Indigo Girls seem to have reached a younger audience.
“It’s very encouraging. We as women and young girls, we need to empower ourselves and promote the healing of all people. You feel a lot at the show,” she said.
The Indigo Girls’ “Look Long” tour heads to the Garde on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit gardearts.org/events/indigo-girls/.