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Tegan and Sara have been doing this for a while. Probably for longer than you might know. With 5 albums under their belts spanning an already successful 10-year career, they arrived tonight to a packed out Terminal 5 – and deservedly so. Touring relentlessly both in the US and worldwide, they have built up the kind of loyal fan-base that most bands could only dream of and yet they still banter back and forth onstage as if it was only you, me and a couple of friends watching. Tonight there were almost 3000 friends in attendance. This sense of intimacy they have managed to create, even amongst thousands, is one of the many appealing things about them as a live band.
With more records sold and support received with each record they put out, they are a band that keeps steadily growing and just a small marker of that growth tonight – new songs, new arrangements and a new lighting show. For this tour they changed up the set list - mixing old with new, remixing the very old and throwing in a synth-infused remix of Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ for good measure. Songs from their most successful records; ‘Where Does The Good Go’, ‘I Bet It Stung’ and ‘Speak Slow’ from ‘So Jealous’ sounded newly energized on the live stage and their biggest hit to date, ‘Walking With A Ghost’ got a makeover with an acapella beginning, much to the audiences’ delight.
Most of 'The Con' was played and quieter songs like 'Call It Off' and 'Floorplan' slotted in beautifully between the intricate and amped up 'Like O, Like H' and 'Nineteen'. The set continued, throwing in a darker new song with powerful, echoing vocals: 'Give Chase' and a reworking and transformation of some much older songs including 'Superstar' and 'The First', the latter of which Tegan performed with Dallas from City & Colour.
With hilarious banter provided between songs, Tegan and Sara are utterly charming - their energy infectious. When the topic of the election came up, they strongly supported Obama (much to the crowd’s delight) and before playing the finale and title album track 'The Con', did a sarcastic and frighteningly accurate impression of Sarah Palin, “Oh gee, this one’s about feminism”. Whatever happens in the political arena, in the world of modern music, Tegan and Sara are undoubtedly role-models – constantly progressing and always keeping you entertained.
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