Rams Head On Stage is batting one thousand. Just before the Christmas holidays, they produced a Michael Bolton show at Maryland Hall. It sold out. Shortly thereafter, Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam nearly sold out. And tonight, not a seat was to be had when Shirlette Ammons and the Indigo Girls took the stage at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.
Shirlette Ammons
Shirlette Ammons is a poet/musician whose second collection of poetry will be published by Carolina Wren Press. She is also vocalist for Durham, NC-based, Mosadi Music and author of Stumphole Aunthology of Backwoods Blood (Big Drum Press, Chapel Hill, NC). She recently completed a collaborative project called And Lover’s Like, with Chapel Hill-based rock band, The Dynamite Brothers.
Tonight, her poetry featured raps from her recent album Twilight For Gladys Bentley, a tribute of sorts to the blazing blues singer. Her set was hard delivered in a hard rap and to many in the audience, seemed to be at odds with the headlining Indigo Girls. And maybe that was on purpose–the Indigo Girls have never shied away from non-conformance.
Indigo Girls
After a brief intermission (and refills on wine and beer), Amy Ray and Emily Saliers took the stage to thunderous applause.
The duo’s constant touring, as well as staunch dedication to a number of social and environmental causes, has earned them a fervidly devoted following over the years. So many artists who launched their careers in the late 1980s have slipped from our collective memory. In contrast, the Indigo Girls stand tall, having earned the lasting respect and devotion of a multi-generational audience which continues to experience their creative evolution in the studio and on stage.
This tour, for the Grammy winning duo supports their 14th studio album, Beauty Queen Sister which delivers a beautifully crafted batch of songs that revel in spirited simplicity. Alternating richly textured storytelling with moody ruminations on modern-world worries.
Amy and Emily had the audience laughing between songs as they chided Annapolis for their wealth. Their hotel featured an “Easter Tea” for the children
At Indigo girls show. Just found out we are in the same hotel. Wondering if it was @AmyRay we heard doing vocal exercises earlier. HA!
— Lindstor (@Lindstor) April 20, 2014
which they thought was amusing; and recollected their childhood with Emily discussing her fondness for the black jellybeans and her tenacity for putting things in her mouth.
Shame on you is the best Indigo Girls song ever! Such fantastic lyrics. "Funny, I think we were on the same boat back in 1694."
— Cristie Ritz-King (@RitzKingRG) April 20, 2014
In all, the crowd was thrilled with the performance! Judge for yourself.
I was tenacious about things I could put into my mouth. – indigo girls.
Live @ naptown
— CoarseGrit (@Playsetfun) April 20, 2014
@Indigo_Girls Thank you for that! Played my all-time favorite "Love's Recovery"! Thank you!!
— anglswngs (@anglswngs) April 20, 2014
And continuing their streak–Rams Head On Stage will be bringing Martin Short to Maryland Hall next month for a sold out show and then Rams Head Promotions will be presenting the Silopanna Music Festival in August–stay tuned for lineup and ticket information!
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