By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Amy Ray
Indigo girl to perform May 5
Screen Shot 2012-05-02 at 8.57.21 AM
Amy Ray will play at Live Wire May 5. - photo by Image provided

AMY RAY

At 9 p.m. Saturday, May 5

Live Wire Music Hall, 307 W. River St.

Tickets $12 advance, $15 day of show

Hard to believe that the Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, have been singing together for over 30 years. The literary, political and marvelously melodic duo is still very much a going concern - see 2011's Beauty Queen Sister - and one way Amy and Emily keep it fresh is by going their separate ways as often as possible. Therefore, the Indigo Girls do not suffocate the 'girls.

In 1990, Ray - who lives in Decatur, just outside Atlanta - started Daemon Records, an independent label dedicated to Southern folk and rock music, two of Ray's many passions. The not-for-profit label is operated by the very artists who record for it. David Rovics, Girlyman, Savannah favorite Danielle Howle, Athens Boys Choir and Magnapop are among those who record, or have recorded for, Daemon. Ray is very much a hands-on label manager.

Here's some advice for you up-and-comers: "The most important thing to any good indie is signing touring bands," Ray once said. "You should be prepared to tour and sell yourself on this point. Also, you should be willing to help in the promotion of your own record.

"Don't expect an indie to have money. Expect them to have a good, caring ‘not hipper than thou' staff who will really be behind you. And expect them to have a good distribution set-up. Even very small distributors can be great as long as they and you are focused on your touring."

Ray is herself a Daemon Records artist, and she's just released her fourth solo album, the multi-dimensional Lung of Love.

Her backup band for the Lung of Love tour, and of course this Live Wire show, is the Butchies.

A review in Glide called the album "a standout effort, and one that really continues to demonstrate why Amy Ray remains an influence for so many up-and-coming folk/rock singer/songwriters. It's not her most cohesive, her most forceful or her most heartbreaking, but it's a mature and dynamic outing ... She may not be reinventing the wheel, but the wheel she's working with is pretty damn impressive."

CHECK IT OUT

If you hadn’t noticed, Saturday, May 5 is Cinco de Mayo, so expect the tequila to be flowing. Commander Sentirse a Gusto (aka “Feel Good," aka DJ KZL) spins at Hang Fire’s party; Texas outlaw honky-tonker Peewee Moore is at the Jinx; Liquid Ginger is at Wild Wing; Brokyn Tyme lays down the tunes for the big bash at Taco Abajo ... oh, and Seed Eco-Lounge is throwing a “Moustache Party.” Rogue Water is giving moustaches out at the door ... Cusses are in town this week (a less frequent thing as the band gets more popular around the Southeast). The terrific trio is playing No Control, their very own homespace venue, Friday (that’s May 4) with Triathlon and Aurora ... Kentucky comedian Tim Kidd is onstage Saturday (May 5) at the Wormhole (showtimes were not made available); the fabulous Winter Sounds return to the Wormhole Tuesday (May 8) ... Florida environmental folksinging couple Ken Skeens and Leigh Goldsmith headline the Savannah Folk Music Society First Friday concert (May 4), with area teen singer/songwriter Jamison Murphy opening (it’s at First Presbyterian Church) ... Boston singer/songwriter Alex Cook – a muralist, public artist and spiritual recording artist – gives a concert at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (May 5) at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 211 E. Victory Drive .

Sign up for our e-newsletters