Live at the Uptown Lounge [Video/DVD] - Indigo Girls

This video captures the Indigo Girls' star in the ascendant, fresh on the heels of their 1989 major-label debut album. Road-hardened after opening shows for headliners like R.E.M. and touring the country as headliners in small venues, the girls' performance skills were well seasoned and fresh. Having been spawned by the Athens, GA, music scene, they returned to home turf to record this live set at the Uptown Lounge, a tiny club packed with loyal followers. At this stage in their careers, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers kept their act tightly focused on core energies: just two girls, two guitars, and emotionally earnest vocals. It can be argued that this was the Indigo Girls at their most intimate, most direct, and perhaps their most powerful. Although, visually there's nothing stunning here in the way of lighting, direction, or stage antics, the performance spotlights their raw talent and vigorous approach to two-part harmony. The lead vocals are stunningly forceful. Amy Ray displays one of the more powerful altos across the folk-rock spectrum -- rapturous, tormented, and blistering on tunes such as "Blood and Fire" and "Kid Fears" -- proving mightily why their act leapt so quickly into the limelight. Emily Saliers' vocals are more honeyed and tempered compared to Ray's, evoking a quieter but no less emotional punch on tunes like "Love's Recovery" and "Prince of Darkness." The video itself is interspersed with short interview segments of the girls commenting on life on the road and the phenomenon of their sudden spring into fame. Michael Stipe makes a guest appearance singing background vocals on "Kid Fears." Covers of "Get Together" and "All Along the Watchtower" round out the set of soul-baring folk-rock. ~ Jim Esch, All Music Guide