CONCERT PREVIEW
Indigo Girls
8 p.m. Friday (A Fragile Tomorrow opens) and Saturday (Hannah Thomas opens). $49.50 (members), $51.50 (general public). Saturday show is sold out. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
The life of an Indigo Girl is never idle.
Just ask Emily Saliers and Amy Ray, who, in the past couple of years have gained spouses and/or babies, released new solo material (Ray), toured continuously and now are prepping songs for their 14th Indigo Girls studio album.
The still-untitled work (“We don’t think of a title until we get in the studio and start recording,” Saliers said) will be recorded through October with an eye on early 2015 for a release date.
A major tour will certainly follow, but it’s not as if the Indigo Girls don’t spent half the year traveling anyway. Some dates are with symphonies, some just the duo behind such melodically sumptuous and lyrically searing songs as “Closer to Fine,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Power of Two” and “Dear Mr. President.”
A full band will join them for their two shows this weekend at Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Calling from Toronto, where she’s been spending a lot of time since getting married to longtime partner Tristin Chipman last year, the always-genial Saliers talked about being a new mom and the plans she and Ray have for birthing a fresh Indigo Girls record this fall.
Q: You and Amy are both new-ish moms. Good planning with that!
A: It's crazy how our lives have aligned. Cleo is 19 months now; she's really awesome.
Q: How has being a mom changed the dynamic of the Indigo Girls?
A: It takes a lot more planning. Amy's partner works and my wife works and we have two countries to deal with. It's a lot harder to leave home because the (children) grow up so fast and you really miss them. It's a busy life, but it's a great life. We've always been a family-first band. I couldn't have done this (being a mom) years ago. I'm totally a late bloomer in the kid department, but I'm so glad that it's at this time in my life.
Q: You’ve been spending a lot of time in Toronto (Chipman is from Alberta, Canada). What does that mean for your status as an Atlantan?
A: Actually, when we come there for the (Botanical Garden shows), we'll be staying there sort of indefinitely. We were in Toronto because Tristin was working, but we were able to get her a green card. I love Toronto, though.
Q: You’ve been playing the Botanical Garden a lot in recent years.
A: It's a great venue. I don't know what it's like for the audience, but playing anywhere in Atlanta is great because it's the hometown. I do have a soft spot for Chastain, but the Botanical Garden feels like home. I'm so grateful for people still coming out.
Q: It’s been a few years since the last Indigo Girls album (2011’s “Beauty Queen Sister”). Any news to share?
A: Actually, we are recording this fall with Jordan Hamlin producing. We want to try something different this time. We'll be working in Atlanta and Nashville — Jordan is building a studio in Nashville. Bands like us don't make money off records, but it's important for us to make records, so we'll find a studio in Atlanta to do some of the work. Jordan has a wonderful way of describing songs in terms of metaphor and how to create that weird sound. She's really going to paint a picture with our music and that's different than going in and recording your tracks with the band.
Q: Amy put out her country solo album earlier this year (“Goodnight Tender”) and you’ve talked for a while about wanting to do one. Is that on the back burner now since you have an Indigo album in the works?
A: No, actually, it's on the front burner! Lyris Hung, she plays violin with us, is going to produce it with me. We're going to start late this fall. Once we finish the Indigo Girls recording, we'll start the solo project.
Q: How are things going at Watershed (the Buckhead restaurant Saliers co-owns)?
A: We're having a great time in that new location. The big bar and the private dining space, the way it was designed was so understated. The food … Joe (Truex) is a great chef. It's a dynamic dining experience and I swear, I love the food there. I saw my family once a couple of months ago and we made a plan to go there. It would be my go-to restaurant even if I weren't an owner!
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