For my first Indigo Girls show(s), I traveled a bit. I actually went all the way to New Orleans. They were taking part in the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 2, 1996 and would be playing another show at the University of New Orleans two days later with Joan Baez and Joan Osborne. A lot of people from The List were planning a trip and I thought I could make it on my own, but in the end I pitched the idea of a trip to New Orleans to my Dad and we made a trip out of it with my brother. I'd never been to New Orleans before. I had read about it a lot, mostly through the tons of Anne Rice books I used to read.
The trip up from Miami was long and as usual driving through Florida is a tremendous bore. If you go the quickest way, you're cutting through the middle of the state and the scenery is pretty dull. I love riding along the coast of Florida, through the small beach towns, especially on the east coast, with the Atlantic right outside of your window. One of my fantasy places to live (and I have many) would be somewhere like Flagler Beach, right on the water. And then I remember what hurricane season means for those adorable little towns and think, "maybe not." During the ride up I remember clearly sitting in the back seat and playing the Ani DiFranco disc I'd picked up in Atlanta on my Discman.
Once we got to New Orleans, we visited Bourbon Street, one of the old cemeteries (and I seem to remember wanting to find a very specific one - probably because of some Rice novel) and yes, we even followed the crowd to Anne Rice's house.
In retrospect, how creepy is that? Just imagine having these groups of people (mostly in all black) lingering outside of your home? She was actually in the phone book! Although one thing I really wanted, but didn't get to do was have a beignet. I need to get back for that at the very least.
The Jazz Fest was crowded and full of music. I feel like if it had been two years later, when I had started to listen to some jazz, I would have appreciated it more. But I was there for one reason only. Okay, two: Indigo Girls! The people from The List had a plan - we'd all wear shirts with cows on them to recognize a fellow IG list person. This was inspired by an exchange of dialogue during a live recording of "Galileo" on the 1200 Curfews album. Part of the song talks about the idea of reincarnation and before they play it, they talk about Galileo and imagine him reincarnated as a cow in a field somewhere, looking up at the stars. Just before the song begins, one of the Girls says "moo" - and that sparked a whole debate on the list. No one could say for sure if it was Amy or Emily who said "moo!" I got a plain white v-neck tee, knowing that it would be hot out, and some cow stencils from Michael's and quoted the line about the cow looking up at the stars. I think it was a bit early for me to really have known anyone from the list very well, so I had a vague idea of some of the people who'd be there. I was a newbie. While my dad & Dave wandered through the festival, I found the stage the Girls were playing on and went as far as I could to the front. I think the Chamber Brothers were playing. I just remember that I stood in the same spot for a very, very long time and got very, very sunburned. But IG fans being who they are, I did get found and eventually a group of people from the list were all around and it was time for the show. The first song they played was "Reunion." I seem to remember that they also played a few songs for the first time in public at these two shows: "Shame on you," "Get out the map," and "Don't give that girl a gun," which I think might have been played before. These songs would all end up being on their Shaming of the Sun album.
Two days later, Dad & Dave dropped me off at the University of New Orleans to see the second show. Joan Osborne played first and the place seemed to empty considerably after her set. Then Joan Baez. I can't talk about it, I'm not a fan. Again, seats emptied. Finally, the Girls took the stage. By this time, a lot of us had moved further up into the empty seats and it was a great time. For the encore, they were joined by Baez and another singer from Atlanta who I had heard of through The List, Michelle Malone. They mentioned that Michelle had a new album coming out called Beneath the Devil Moon and then they played a few songs, culminating in a cover of the Rolling Stones song "Wild horses." Anyone who's heard Michelle sing that song will understand how completely in awe I was of her voice. It was my favorite song of the whole weekend and when I heard Beneath the Devil Moon, it became one of my favorite albums of that year. One of the list people had taped both shows and then put them on CDs and sent copies to those of us who were there. I treasure those CDs always because they capture one of the most memorable weekends of my life.
next time: how do i undo the damage i have done?
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