Taking the third spot on my top 10 list for Sasquatch! are one of my favorite bands, Tegan and Sara. We got some pretty sweet spots in the pit thanks to a lot of the Cold War Kids fans who left, which was great because Tegan and Sara really aren't a band that you can sit far away on a lawn to watch; with their witty and engaging stage banter and emotion laced songs, it's almost silly to distance yourself away from these girls when they're tearing up the stage. Of course, the festival setting didn't provide for too much of their famous banter, but the two of them (+ ted, j5, and shaun) really put on a great show. I guess many "hardcore" Tegan and Sara fans could express some disappointment in the more mainstream/festival-friendly set list (think: speak slow, back in your head, walking with a ghost), but for the time they were allotted and the audience they were supposed to play for, I think the set list was crafted quite well. Amidst the minor sound problems and pretty stifling heat, tegan and sara killed it, and I think I've officially decided that 'The Con' and 'Nineteen' are two of my favorite songs to hear live, right next to the ranks of Death Cab's 'Transatlanticism' and Paramore's 'My Heart'. Tegan already has a way of singing those tracks that makes my chest tighten, but when I hear and (especially) see her perform them live, with Sara jamming on the side, the songs are brought to an entirely new level of win. The same goes for 'Burn Your Life Down' which always gets me when Sara sings...no, almost yells, "I drive around the block, and I'm not looking to my right. I feel the glass against my cheek, and I can't see you in the light. I break my heart around this, break my heart around this..." Suffice to say, T&S live have never failed me, and I doubt they ever will.
On that note, I'm still redankulously upset that I'll be missing them when they stop by Southern California FIVE times this fall, once to be a part of the amazing 2008 Street Scene line-up, and then another four CONSECUTIVE dates at the HENRY FONDA in October. Normally I'd maybe apologize for cyber shouting at you all with my capitalizations, but there really was no other way to emphasize how upset I am. /rant
Jealous. I've decided that "The Con" is one of my favorite songs period. And I agree that the friendly setlist was a good choice. That doesn't bother me. On the contrary, I hate when bands pull a Modest Mouse and just play shitty versions of their obscure songs.
Posted by: bt | June 22, 2008 at 08:36 AM