I’m a 40-year-old man with three children and I like Tegan and Sara. I feel no shame in admitting so. Good pop is universal — I say it all the time but it’s worth repeating — and Tegan and Sara are very good at writing pop songs.
The twin sister duo brought their Let’s Make Things Physical tour to Indianapolis Saturday night to the delight of the rambunctious crowd at Old National Centre. Though the room wasn’t full, those on hand were fully immersed in the experience. Opening with two of their most popular older songs — Back In Your Head and The Con — certainly made a difference. The crowd was sucked in from the get-go, singing and bouncing along. It helps that Tegan and Sara are also such ingratiating performers — I’m always pleased when a band shows sincere appreciation for those who came to see them.
Touring in support of 2013′s outstanding Heartthrob — one of my favorite albums of 2013 — the duo and their band delivered 90 minutes of tight, soaring pop that pulled from throughout their (hard-to-believe) 15-year catalog. Reaching back as far as Monday Monday Monday from 2002′s If It Was You, the set list touched on all points in between then and their 80s-inspired newest record. Seven of the 21 songs during the performance came from that gem, including main set closers Drove Me Wild and their biggest hit to date, Closer. I’ve always been partial to 2004′s So Jealous, so I would have liked to have heard more from that album, but that’s a minor quibble. They kept the momentum going.
Excellent show. Cyndi Lauper would be proud. Were you there? What did you think?
Side note: I missed opening acts The Courtneys and Lucius because, well, I’m a 40-year-old man with three kids. Those early start times are tough. That said, I really like Lucius, so check out their 2013 album Wildewoman.