APRIL 15 th to
Etheridge’ s longtime fans can expect a night of familiar songs spanning three decades, like“ I’ m the Only One,”“ Bring Me Some Water,” and“ Come to My Window.”“ The hit songs are too fun not to do,” Melissa says.“ My whole career has been trying to create the best set list [ for fans ]. They stand up and sing all the words, and it means something, that’ s golden. I’ ve worked my whole life for this.”
Also among the songs bringing music-loving Hoosiers to their feet will be her latest, off of 2019’ s The Medicine Show. Melissa describes the album as part social commentary and part personal reflection, but fans will recognize it as all Etheridge: an honest, heartfelt, and sometimes painful snapshot in the life of the master American songwriter and her guitar. The studio production on the album is big, with guitar and drums you feel as much as hear, and Melissa’ s voice is as powerful as ever.“ I wanted it to rock,” she says— and we think she’ ll be impressed with how true to her vision of a rocking show the BCMC’ s sound system will prove to be.
For Etheridge, her place as a major LGBTQ figure in rock music has never divided her audience. For starters, she never set out to be an icon in the less gay-friendly 1980s of her early career.“ I was just gonna be a big rock star, and no one will know about [ my being a lesbian ],”
she laughs. But after coming out, she found that her appeal was as broad as ever.“ I just stayed true to the music, and to my influences, from Springsteen to Aretha. And I think people realize that I don’ t come at this from an ego-based thing. I think it ultimately speaks to people. It breaks down barriers. It makes me hopeful.”
Another way Melissa breaks down those barriers is by going where her fans are— even if that’ s in the middle of the ocean. For the fourth time, according to her website, this October the Melissa Etheridge Cruise offers“ six days filled with incredible music, endless fun in the sun, and lifelong friendships with fellow ME fans.” This year she’ ll be joined onboard by talented friends like Tegan & Sarah, Shawn Colvin, Tig Notaro, and others.“ All are welcome, there’ s plenty of straights, gays, and in-between. It’ s a week of kindness and great music and peacefulness,” she says.
And somehow, in the middle of all of these demands on her time and energy, Melissa’ s already working on her next album.“ Writing keeps me happy, alive, and out of trouble,” she laughs. Here’ s hoping her path out of trouble leads her back to Brown County on her next tour.
Melissa Etheridge performs at the Brown County Music Center on Friday, March 27.
Visit < browncountymusiccenter. com > or call( 812) 988-5323 for more information. •
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March / April 2020 • Our Brown County 17