It’s hard to believe that Canadian indie pop duo, Tegan and Sara, are nearly 20 years into their extraordinary career. With an ever-growing fan base, eight studio albums to date - each packed with the vigor and passion of their first - and youthful looks disguising their real age, it’s easy to mistake the Grammy-nominees for rising newcomers instead of a pair of veterans that just released their critically acclaimed eighth studio album, Love You to Death, last June.
Originally breaking onto the scene in 1999 boasting a harder-sounding, pop-punk vibe, the duo comprised of twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin have refined their sound over the coarse of the generation. Their recent releases radiate a feel-good, poppy sound intertwined with mainstream hooks that run through the memory for hours on end after listening. However, despite recreating their sound, Tegan and Sara didn’t lost their stylistic edge and witty lyrical appeal, both of which the couple presented on their booming North American tour.
It’s been a difficult week for the sisters and many others that identify with or advocate for the LGBTQ community after the United States presidential election results dropped on the country like a ton of bricks last Wednesday.
Last nights show was one of the hardest of our 17 year career. This is a country of amazing people. Yes, there are hateful fucks, indifferent assholes, selfish-self centered racists and bigots and misogynists. But there are also some of the biggest hearted, special, passionate, fired up people i’ve ever met. We believe in and will continue to work towards fighting and organizing and standing in solidarity with the good hearted people of this country to ensure that the millions who didn’t vote for this hateful, dangerous man don’t suffer anymore than they have to.
President-elect Donald Trump’s free-flowing speech, typically filled with distaste for a community that continuously fights to have their voice heard, created an unneeded, additional fault line through social equality. However, unlike politics, music doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t separate the community or detach people from the feeling of togetherness and belonging. In fact, music, especially Tegan and Sara’s, connects a diverse audience and brings joy to a world that’s often sold the idea of discord through mainstream media.
Photos by Jared Allen
Men and women, old and young, each and every one stemming from a different background shared a night of unrivaled fun in Asheville, NC. The sold-out show brought out every emotion from an audience that seemingly couldn’t wait for the duo to grace the stage. Excitement overflowed inside The Orange Peel once Tegan and Sara’s hyped-up cover of “I’m So Excited” rang out from the speakers while pink and blue strobe lights colored the walls. The couple burst onto the stage, welcomed by deafening cheers that unveiled the crowd’s true gratitude for the band.
The Canadian’s swept their audience of their feet with “Back In Your Head,” “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend” and “How Come You Don’t Want Me.” The bouncy keyboard tones of the opener and the infectious melodies of its follow-up possessed the audience that swayed back and forth and shouted the lyrics in unison with the musicians. Their set incorporated material from six of the couple’s eight studio albums, touching on nearly each fan-favorite, all while maintaining a casual vibe that didn’t feel overly curated.
Tegan and Sara paused before a select few songs to bounce (literally) into the beat and jump start a dance party. Tracks from Heartthrob, including “Drove Me Wild” and “Goodbye, Goodbye” stole the opening half of the show and provided some of the purest pop pleasures of the night. Song after song, Tegan and Sara unveiled a crowd pleaser that served as a reminder that the band’s extensive catalog of beloved tracks is deeper than most realize.
Tegan and Sara // Photo by Jared Allen
Midway through the set, Tegan and Sara addressed how long they’ve been touring and creating music. A speech that initially felt like a retirement monolog quickly became filled with smiles as the sisters admitted that they continue to wake up every morning with the drive and desire to perform in front of their loyal fan base, even at 36 years old. The couple rewinded their career midway through the set and performed a string of tracks from 2007’s The Con. Tegan and Sara dusted off their guitars for “The Con,” “Call It Off,” I Was Married” and “Nineteen” - each providing as much of a dancing vibe as their predecessors.
By the latter half of the show, Tegan and Sara had fans wiping away tears thanks to their heartwarming spectacle. “Hang on to the Night” pleaded the audience to live in the moment and kicked off the pair’s litter of songs from Love You to Death. “BWU,” an underrated track off their recent album proved impossible to not sing along to while the saucy “Boyfriend” and “U-turn” invited the crowd to freely dance with the duo as they stepped down to the bottom half of their stage.
While most song’s from Tegan and Sara’s 100-minute set strung together without break, the few times the sisters paused to share stories or openly converse with their fans that occupied the first couple rows provided as much joy as the music. Whether they discussed their love for Tempurpedic mattresses or cats, the smiles never vacated from the audience’s faces. Tegan and Sara lived in the moment and the crowd felt at home with the duo that simply desired no-more than to give a fun, heartwarming show.
Unfortunately, the saying “All good things must come to an end” proved to be true as Tegan and Sara wrapped up the beautiful evening with “Stop Desire.” The amount of love and excitement in the air made it impossible not to have fun and enjoy the sights and sounds that emanated from the stage. Between Sara’s impassioned speech about the LGBTQ community and the unrivaled quality of talent on display, Tegan and Sara justified their place among the most passionate and talented musicians active today.
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