There are concerts you watch—and then there are concerts you feel.
By Jennifer Corday & Valerie Milano
Orange County, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/14/25 – This recent double-bill featuring
the legendary Indigo Girls and the unstoppable Melissa Etheridge was undeniably the
latter. It was pure musical soul: connection, inspiration, harmony, and high-voltage rock
all wrapped into one unforgettable night at the OC Fair.
Local rocker Jennifer Corday captured it best:
“I learned to play guitar and sing to Indigo Girls and Melissa songs, so seeing them live
is always more than a show— it’s a nostalgic blast to the past! It’s like my brain is
getting a little dopamine pleasure hit, because I’m reconnecting with the time and the
music and the age of my coming out, which is all very meaningful.”
The iconic Indigo duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, kicked things off, bringing the same
raw honesty and melodic brilliance that made them folk-rock heroes decades ago. Their
performance felt like poetry in motion—each lyric and harmony line resonating with
grace and power, echoing through the crowd like a collective heartbeat.
Amy’s vocals were pitch-perfect, delivering every song with the emotional punch
longtime fans have come to expect. And while we all know Emily is navigating some
vocal control issues, her presence remained deeply moving. She’s a legend—no
asterisk required. Their chemistry onstage, paired with their timeless songwriting, made
the set both nostalgic and electric. “I performed “Closer To Fine” with Emily Saliers in
Key West once and it was one of my greatest memories. They will always be one of my
biggest inspirations,” Corday added.
Then came Melissa Etheridge. And wow—just, wow.
“I’ll admit, I wasn’t super impressed last time I saw her at this same venue,” said
Corday, “but this show was off the hook!” I appreciate her new work, but it will never
play my heartstrings like her classics from the 80s and 90s, and she delivered those all
with a vengeance.”
Backed by three men in black, Etheridge was the main focus, dressed in her signature
black faux leather pants and unique bohemian hippy style with a glowing green shirt and
festival cowgirl hat with feathers. She commanded the crowd with her trademark blend
of grit, soul, and fire. She effortlessly shifted between electric and acoustic guitars,
proving once again why she’s a force to be reckoned with on the 12-string.
The crowd erupted when she dropped to the stage to “make love” to her guitar— “I’d
seen it before years ago at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach,” Corday recalled, “This
sexy acrobatic move clearly still gets the wow factor and dropped all jaws in the house.”
But what truly stood out this time? Her lead guitar work.
Long celebrated for her vocals and rhythm chops, Etheridge revealed a whole new side of her musicianship—shredding with precision and soul. Armed with several electric axes including a beauty of a Les Paul, her thick, rich tone, and solos added depth and edge to an already explosive set. Tasty licks, fearless confidence—she’s not just keeping up; she’s evolving into a new era of guitar greatness.
Corday also noted the emotional resonance:
“Her shout-outs to Long Beach were super sweet and personal, having played many of
the same local bars and clubs she once did—the Que Sera and the Executive Suite.
Her journey is proof that staying true to your craft pays off.”
She continues, “Just like the feelings evoked when listening to The Indigo Girls, Melissa
shows conjure up that collective effervescence feeling in the same way. You can listen
to your old Melissa recordings at home, but seeing it live in concert with a zillion other
lesbians makes it a group nostalgia experience, which makes the emotion even more
powerful and more contagious. We may have all done it a thousand times, but it never
gets old singing Come To My Window with a thousands other women at the top of your
lungs.”
This night wasn’t just about the music—it was a celebration of enduring female artistry in rock and folk. From the lyrical genius of the Indigo Girls to the unshakable fire of Melissa Etheridge, it was an evening of passion, power, and presence. One for the books—and the soul.
