What is the element that validates your everyday bar band? Is it surviving a night without getting beer all over your shoes? Perhaps the assurance that your equipment isn’t damaged or stolen?

Maybe it’s hoping someone will sing along to one of your songs that night.

In the instance of the Indigo Girls, it’d probably have to be its Grammy awards, ever-growing catalog and signature brand of earth-toned girl power that’s been sweeping the nation over generations of listeners since its start in the mid ’80s.

“But really,” Emily Saliers insisted, “we’re just a bar band. At the root of it all, we want people to have a good time at the show.”

And a good time Athenians will have, as Saliers and songwriting partner Amy Ray take the stage tonight at the Classic Center. The show, supported by Brandi Carlile, marks the group’s first performance in the area in almost a decade – a rarity considering its early and exceedingly strong ties to the Classic City.

“We are totally excited to be back in Athens,” Saliers said.

With respect to her band’s blossoming start in Decatur, she feels as if Athens is a sister city.

“We recorded our first independent album there and then eventually ‘Strange Fire’ at [local producer] John Keane’s studio,” she said.

“We had lots of support from Michael Stipe and R.E.M. and have very fond memories of Love Tractor, the B-52′s and old establishments like The Uptown Lounge. It was such a creative and supportive time and community.”

The show tonight kicks off Indigo Girls’ final tour behind 2006′s “Despite Our Differences.”

“This is a great time of the year and we’re ready for a new record,” Saliers said.

“It feels refreshing to tie up the season and start a new chapter.”

Much like the rest of their comforting catalog, “Despite Our Differences” is an album that continues to showcase signature harmonies, soulful songwriting scripture and the classically folk rock political statement or two, such as on the album’s opener “Pendulum Swinger.”

In the wake of potential change this year, Saliers is enthusiastic about promoting subtle politico throughout the band’s performances.

“When you think about it, it’s just so exciting,” she said. “We’ll be on the road voting absentee, visiting different parts of the country. Right now there is a distinct vibe politically and it will definitely be more of a ‘hey, what’s up’ kind of approach, nothing massive.”

Outside of the country’s political climate, Saliers also recognizes a great change in the significance of good-hearted girl power throughout her 20-plus years in the band.

“Girls haven’t had many role models in rock music. There’s almost been kind of a resistance towards it,” she said. “I think that now there’s a bigger landscape and changing opportunities for girls to find their own voice, be authentic, and really catch the world if they want to.”

Timeliness aside, the duo’s most die-hard fans can rely on Ray and Saliers to play their biggest hits proudly.

“I still enjoy playing ‘Closer To Fine.’ In fact, we always hand the last verse to the audience to sing themselves,” she said.”When it comes to putting our sets together, we always find balance between tempo, dynamics, crescendo and release.”

Like any great bar band, Saliers is sure to always keep one crucial performance element in tact.

“We love taking requests,” she said.