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The duo first became friends in elementary school and their friendship grew after both attending the same high school and after bonding over a love of music, they began performing together on the local Atlanta circuit. They then went on to attend the same university in Georgia where they were first known to be billed as Indigo Girls at their weekly shows at The Dugout, a bar in Emory Village.
They produced and released their own debut album in 1987 and this won them attention of labels, securing a record deal the following year. Their second album was self titled and upon release with Epic Records, it charted at #22 on the US Billboard charts. Every album since that release has charted within the top 50 of the Billboard chart, with the 1994 'Swamp Ophelia' remaining their peak at #9. In 2007 the band cut ties with major labels and went back to self-releasing their albums.
Amy Ray has also had a solo career outside of Indigo Girls and promotes independent musicians through her own non-profit organisation. Sailers is a published author and also an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry. Both women identify as lesbian and are ambassadors for LGBT rights along with environmental and political causes close to them.
20+ years and more concerts than I can count.... Indigo Girls always put on a memorable show. Depending on the tour or venue, they will play in various configurations. Sometime just the two of them playing acoustic, sometimes with a full band backing them (less likely these days), and even with the accompaniment of the local symphony orchestra. What does not seem to change is the great vocal harmonies that Amy and Emily are known for.
I was fortunate enough to catch them once with the local symphony and it was an event to remember. It was not a particularly polished performance. They missed the starts of songs and needed to restart a couple of times. To be honest though, it gave the show character. In retrospect, each time I have seen them has been a unique event. They do not simply rehash the same set of songs, but really try to bring a mix of old and new throughout each show.