For years, I refused to listen to Tegan and Sara. I considered them far too mainstream to be something worthwhile. This was a mistake. I’ve come a long way from my initial position on the band, and their recent performance at The National was one of the highlights of my year thus far.
For years, I refused to listen to Tegan and Sara. I considered them far too mainstream to be something worthwhile. This was a mistake. I’ve come a long way from my initial position on the band, and their recent performance at The National was one of the highlights of my year thus far.
Tegan and Sara write some of the most complex and thoughtful pop songs out there, but their refusal to adapt to the standards set by other pop stars is what makes them really stand out. “I don’t think I could get in a hot tub without wearing a wetsuit,” said Sara of the hot tub that lies backstage at the National. Where most pop and rock stars are notorious for living it up in the starlight, partying, boozing, and hosting elaborate hot tub parties, Sara acknowledges that the closest she could come to that lifestyle is dipping her feet in the water while she reads a book. Mainstream sound, anti-pop values.
Notorious for their onstage banter and typical sibling rivalry, Tegan provided juxtaposition to her sister’s stance minutes later, declaring that they would be forcing all twenty-five of their touring companions into the hot tub after the show that evening, but that Tegan and Sara would not be joining in on the action. “That would be crossing the line,” she joked, “but we’re like little lesbian elves, so we can get away with it.”
Tegan and Sara engaged the sold-out crowd wonderfully throughout the night, and the performance did not disappoint. The National’s incredible sound system let the music pierce the audience with a rawness and clarity that recordings sometimes don’t allow, and the vocal harmonies, one of the most enticing things about their sound, came through beautifully.
The twin sisters, accompanied by an extremely capable and talented backing band, played most of the songs off of their new album, Sainthood. They also performed classics from acclaimed albums, So Jealous and The Con, along with a smattering of songs from their earlier studio albums.
It was a memorable night, and cemented Sainthood as one of my favorite albums of last year. While I appreciated the songs before, seeing them live brought out a lot of the subtleties that make the album such a great listen.
And those harmonies…
