Indigo Girls playing tonight at Fargo Theatre

By John Lamb

April 16, 2010 at 11:00 PM

"I am trying to tell you something about my life," Emily Saliers sang in the opening line to the Indigo Girls' signature tune, "Closer to Fine."

The song, from the duo's 1989 eponymous album, introduced Saliers and her partner in singing, songwriting and guitar playing, Amy Ray, to an emerging crossover audience of folk and rock rockers.

The Indigo Girls return to town tonight for the first time in 12 years to play the Fargo Theatre.

More than 20 years after bursting onto the music scene, the group has maintained a strong fan base, even if other support has faltered.

The duo has faced canceled shows and criticism because both Saliers and Ray are lesbians - though not a couple - and outspoken as advocates of the environment and American Indian rights; they are also anti-death penalty.

After 18 years with Epic Records, Saliers and Ray split from the label in 2005 and joined Hollywood Records. Saliers says she wanted one last push from a bigger label to expose the duo to different demographics and with Hollywood owned by Disney, she was told the group's songs could end up in movies.

Instead, Hollywood abruptly dropped the duo while touring for their only Hollywood album, "Despite our Differences."

"Hollywood Records has a lot of teen pop stars. They don't need veteran singer/songwriters," Saliers says now. "It was time to move on. No hard feelings. We were both happy."

The Girls released the follow-up, "Poseidon," on their own label, IG Recordings.

"We don't want to sign a deal anymore. We're done," Saliers says of the chances of signing with another label. "We've got all the relationships we need to continue on. There's just nothing a label can do for us anymore."

"MTV discriminates, radio discriminates, the media discriminates, but we're not playing their game, so it really doesn't affect us that much," Ray said in a 2004 interview.

While they won't be cozying up to a record label, the act will be setting up camp in recording studios.

Early next year the Indigo Girls will produce their 12th album, and next month they go to Nashville to record their first holiday album. The plan, Saliers says, is to sit down with some Music City pickers for a collection of classic and contemporary numbers, giving them a rootsy, Appalachian twist.

But won't it be hard getting into the holiday spirit in May?

"Noooo. Not at all," Saliers says. "As soon as you hear that stuff, it brings you right there. It's a little odd to have the sun pounding down on you."

As an Atlanta resident, she's used to feeling the sun - and the heat. When she's back home, she's usually in her kitchen or involved in the restaurant she co-owns, Watershed.

"I'm a major foodie," she says with a laugh, adding that when she's on tour, she likes to look up restaurants and try different places when the schedule permits.

So where does she have her eye on tonight?

"I haven't looked at Fargo restaurants yet," she says, explaining the schedule is not permitting. "But Fargo must have some gems, I imagine."

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