Second Cup Cafe: Indigo Girls
It's been over 20 years since Grammy Award winners Emily Saliers and Amy Ray teamed to form the Indigo Girls. Now, ten major studio albums later, they've returned to their roots with the release of their new indie album, "Poseidon and the Bitter Bug."
The Indigo Girls stopped by The Early Show Saturday Edition's "Second Cup Cafe" to perform their classic, "Closer to Fine" and "What Are You Like," the first single off of their new album, "Poseidon and the Bitter Bug." It was released by their new label, IG Recordings, and distributed through Vanguard Records.
Ray and Saliers have had quite a 22-year run in the music biz.
The talented duo kicked off their career, indie-style, with the release of their debut album, "Strange Fire," in 1987. With 10 major-label studio albums under their belt, and a return to indie music, the Indigo Girls have proven they're are a hit regardless of the kind of label they sign with.
"I am overwhelmingly excited to be independent, because it really is where the heart of music sits for me," says Ray on the Indigo Girls official Web site.
With no regrets, Ray admits that being on an independent label "never fed my soul the way an independent career can."
In "Poseidon and the Bitter Bug," a second CD features acoustic versions of all the songs on the album, including a bonus track, "Salty South." Their first single, "What Are You Like," has spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Triple A chart and currently sits at No. 24.
The Indigo Girls have pleased millions with a balance of rock and laid back, folksy and traditional tunes, and they're philanthropists, as well.
In 1991, Ray and Saliers co-founded the non-profit organization Honor the Earth, to raise awareness and financial support for indigenous environmental justice. They've also supported groups fighting for women's rights, civil rights for same-sex couples, and the abolition of the death penalty, as well as voter registration.
The Indigo Girls have embarked on a summer tour with a cause. They teamed up with the "Rock for a Remedy" organization, which collects non-perishable food items for needy families.
On Tuesday, fans can enjoy their music on the green at a Central Park SummerStage benefit concert, which will raise money for SummerStage's free programs.