Concert Review
Artist: Tegan and Sara (opening act: An Horse)
Venue: Massey Hall
City: Toronto
Date: January 19, 2010

Reviewed By: Gabor Pertic (Toronto)

There is a sense of absolute comfort when you see a Tegan and Sara show. The Canadian Twin-Sister Duo perform with a blend of passion and humour, knowing exactly when to get serious or when to launch into their anecdotal banter (a staple at any T&S concert). The girls are moving up in the ranks of Canadian musicians, getting the honour and privilege of performing at the historic Massey Hall. This distinction was met with humbling pride and yet another consistently engaging concert.

Opening band An Horse performed their set with a similar sound to the headliners. The Australian duo had a set that was charming, but nothing entirely new or game-changing. The guitar/drum act played well and with full hearts, but the chords and melodies lacked the emotional punch the band was aiming for.

Tegan and Sara came on stage to an adoring (predominantly female) crowd. They kicked off their set with a few tracks of off their latest album, Sainthood. Upon first listening to the album, it seemed the duo was branching off into a more electronic sound than before; however, after a number of listens and now having heard the songs live, you get a sense that this is still classic T&S. They embrace harmonies, toy with popping cadences, and do not hesitate to give and take the spotlight between one another, allowing time for each of them to shine.

Naturally, hits like ‘Speak Slow’ and ‘Where Does The Good Go?’ got the loudest reactions; however, I found myself drawn to certain songs that may not have gotten as much attention on their prior releases. ‘Burn Your Life Down’ and a stripped version of ‘Knife Going In’ were performed with care and consideration and became highlights of my night. The rousing ‘Sentimental Tune’ came late in the set and got the crowd clapping with its exhilarating crescendo. The girls definitely found ways of filling the historic venue. While their anecdotes maybe got a bit lost in the big venue (unlike past club-size shows, where their banter almost becomes a conversation with the crowd), the songs themselves held up and hit every wall with power and focus.

For the encore, the twins got on stage without the rest of the band and played more intimate versions of crowd-favourites like ‘Back in Your Head’ and the stunning ‘Call It Off’. And as the band returned for the grand finale (‘Living Room’), the young Canadian duo proved that they are just as worthy to set foot on the legendary stage as all the big-name acts that came before them.

SET LIST

1. Arrow
2. Don’t Rush
3. Alligator
4. The Ocean
5. Walking With a Ghost
6. I Bet It Stung
7. Burn Your Life Down
8. Where Does The Good Go?
9. Speak Slow
10. Hell
11. On Directing
12. Red Belt
13. The Cure
14. Paperback Head
15. Night Watch
16. Soil, Soil
17. Knife Going In
18. So Jealous
19. Nineteen
20. Northshore
21. Sentimental Tune
22. Someday
23. The Con

(ENCORE)

1. Back In Your Head
2. Feel It In My Bones
3. My Number
4. Call It Off
5. Living Room

Written by :

Gabor Pertic

 

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