Sara and I are so excited to announce that we will be on tour this summer/fall with Paramore! The dates will be part of the 2010 Honda Civic Tour.


We first heard about Paramore a few years ago and have been HUGE fans ever since. Their new record Brand New Eyes is one of our favourite releases of the year and we’re already practising our dance moves in preparation for the tour! Sara and I will be direct support and will be playing about 45 minutes every night.


The tour starts in Raleigh, NC on July 23 and we’ll be traveling to about 30 cities in North America before it’s over. Expect more details on cities and dates soon. For advance tickets (on sale March 23 with general sales starting March 27 at 10 am) and more info about the tour, go to www.paramore.net.


And yes, we will still be doing two dates for Lilith Fair! We will let you know more as soon as we have details on which cities and dates we are playing.


Tegan (and Sara)

I love the radio program THIS AMERICAN LIFE. The first time that I listened to the show was on a car trip through upstate New York. After this car trip and eight episodes back to back, I was hooked. I started downloading the podcast, I made mix CDs of my favorite episodes for friends and family, I even bonded with Chris Walla during the making of The Con about our mutual desire to collect and own a library of ALL the This American Life episodes ever broadcast. Which would be a lot because the show has been around since the mid 1990’s. As an obsessive collector of my favorite things it makes my brain hurt to imagine the satisfaction of a book shelf chronologically housing every incredible episode!

The show has brought me so much comfort during long bus drives across Europe and North America. I’ve passed countless Cross Atlantic flights with Ira glass and the programs many contributors as my main source of entertainment. I can’t think of another program that has made me laugh and cry so consistently. I’ve buried my face in countless jackets, scarves and pillows to stifle the sound of my private emotions in many of those public spaces.

After our most recent tour wrapped up in San Francisco I stayed in the city a few extra days to visit Alcatraz and the much loved city lights book store! During one of my walks I was knocked off my feet listening to this episode: http//www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/204/81-Words

What made it particularly important and incredible was that I can still remember quite vividly my first day of “psychology 10″ in high school. My mom was a social worker and I had entertained the idea of taking social work or psychology in university and thought the class would be a great introduction.

As my teacher handed out much of the semesters work sheets/photo copies, I scanned quickly through and noticed that in the documents homosexuality was referenced a lot. However, a giant “X” was drawn over the paragraphs or sections outlining descriptions about homosexuality. It was done carelessly and you could still read much of what was written underneath. I imagine the teacher informed us that we were supposed to ignore the outdated inclusion of homosexuality but I don’t remember the explanation or how it made me feel to see it listed after schizophrenia or any of the other psychological conditions or mental illness listed within the pages of our work books. There were countless other moments in high school where teaching materials or teacher themselves clumsily handled (MY) sexuality or gender, but psychology 10 and those photocopied papers stand out in my mind as a particularly upsetting reminder of how truly fucked up things were (and still are).

The remarkable moment I had walking around in San Francisco listening to the history and explanation of the DSM and the important change that happened because of so many people’s bravery was very moving. I wish that my teacher had explained the history of homosexuality’s removal from the DSM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders). It’s been almost fifteen years since I was a grade ten student, but it gives me such pride and hope to hear stories of people in history who worked to make change for LGBTQ people. I feel sad thinking that so much still needs to be done but listening to this American life and episode #204 reminded me that things are getting better.

Here finally is a piece I wrote last year for AOL’s laugh cry rage column: http://www.spinner.ca/2008/11/10/laugh-rage-cry-with-sara-quin/

skq!

Got word today that THURSDAY we are announcing a BIG summer tour supporting one of our fave bands. No, it is not the announcement of the two Lillith Fair dates we are doing, although info on those is also coming soon. It’s something else. We are just that busy! Check back on Thursday!

hello friends!

On Thursday March 4th at 5pm we will be visiting AMOEBA RECORDS in BERKLEY, CA for an intimate performance and signing!

SPACE IS VERY VERY VERY LIMITED. Tickets will be given out in advance at Amoeba, Berkeley (2455 Telegraph Ave. at Haste.) beginning Friday, February 26th at 10:30 am!!!

No purchase necessary!

One ticket per person – and you must be present to receive (no phone holds). Quantities are limited – while supplies last!

The signing will be somewhat brief, so please bring only your highest priority item for inking!

MORE INFO: http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/performances/berkeley/2010-march-04/tegan-and-sara/artist.html

t+s!

friends!

Having such a lovely time on this tour in the USA. It feels strange to think that I was bundled up in my parka and winter boots less than a week ago in DC. Especially as I sit here in Atlanta nursing the awful sunburn I got in Boca Raton yesterday. The miracle of touring!

I started having a panic attack last night thinking about the inevitable END of this tour. I attribute much of this premature anxiety to my ever growing affection for STEEL TRAIN and HOLLY MIRANDA. A tour can be defined by the company you keep during the long days before and after shows and we’ve truly lucked out because every single member of both bands are sweet hearts. I look forward to their sets each night, and have so enjoyed the summer camp atmosphere back stage!

Check out Holly Miranda’s amazing coverage in the new york times! So proud proud proud!!!!! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/arts/music/21miranda.html?ref=music



The crowds have been terrific at every show, and I’d like to specifically thank the folks in Richmond, VA and Boca Raton for their ENTHUSIASM. I have a flow chart of sorts that is always projecting on the inside of my brain that ranks each show and crowd. Last night, Boca Raton, became a front runner after the SECOND leopard print bra landed on stage. Its one thing to get a bra, its really something all together different to receive TWO animal print bras during one set. Seriously, thank you fans of Florida! Both shows were such a treat.



One last link: I’ve FINALLY committed to a book club of sorts. I promise to keep sending updates if the kind folks at teganandsara.org don’t let me fall off the commitment train. http://forum.teganandsara.org/topic.php?id=18

skq!

dear friends!

Tonight at 12 AM PACIFIC time, our new video for ALLIGATOR, will premiere on MYSPACE and on MUCH MUSIC in Canada.

a delightful director (marc de pape) + mountains of multi-colored confetti + a plastic bag igloo + futuristic ewoks + a posse of one piece long john wearing dancers = winter wonderland magic!

hope you enjoy it!

skq

festival season is upon us! there isn’t really a time these days where there are no festivals, so the term festival season really isn’t valid, however here i am using it as i announce one of several festivals we are sure to be playing this year.


this one is nice and special as its close to home for tegan, well not really that close, but a whole lot of our canadian friends sure like to make the trip each year. SO, we are happy to let you know that we are joining the great canadian migration to george, wa on the memorial day long weekend (not to be confused with the victoria day long weekend in canada, which is a whole different weekend altogether) for the sasquatch festival! we are playing on the second day, sunday, may 30th, so you have one day to get ready and one day to cool down. ticket and camping info is at their website www.sasquatchfestival.com!

Hello Friends in the United States of America!

Tomorrow marks the first date of our SAINTHOOD 2010 winter/spring tour! In anticipation we’ve trimmed our cuts and dry cleaned the show shirts. We’ve also added some additional oldies to the set list, as per your many requests via the interweb. Also! Please check teganandsara.com frequently…we have some exciting news about singles and remixes and tours and videos to update you on this month!

We can’t wait to see all of you! Here are the dates once again! Steel Train and Holly Miranda are joining us! Tickets still available for most shows!

Fri/Feb-12 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theater - SOLD OUT!
Sat/Feb-13 - Boston, MA - The Orpheum
Tue/Feb-16 - Philadelphia, PA, Tower Theater (Upper Darby)
Wed/Feb-17 - Washington, DC - Warner Theater
Thu/Feb-18 - Richmond, VA - The National
Sat/Feb-20 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Theater - SOLD OUT!
Sun/Feb-21 - Miami, FL - Sunset Cove
Tue/Feb-23 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse - SOLD OUT!
Wed/Feb-24 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina’s
Thu/Feb-25 - Dallas, TX - Palladium
Fri/Feb-26 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
Sat/Feb-27 - Houston, TX - The Warehouse
Tue/Mar-02 - Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Wed/Mar-03 - San Diego - Copley Symphony Hall
Fri/Mar-05 - Oakland - Fox Theater
Wed/Mar-24 - Minneapolis, MN - The Orpheum
Thu/Mar-25 - Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside
Fri/Mar-26 - Chicago IL - The Aragon
Sat/Mar-27 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Theater
Sun/Mar-28 - Cleveland, OH - Lakewood Civic
Tue/Mar-30 - Columbus, OH - Promo West Pavilion
Wed/Mar-31 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
Fri/Apr-02 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
Sat/Apr-03 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
Sun/Apr-04 - Denver, CO - The Ogden
Tue/Apr-06 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
Thurs/Apr-08 - Portland, OR - Keller Auditorium

bookworms!

sometimes you approach me on the street, sometimes in line buying socks at H&M, occasionally you catch up to me next to the strange hat embroidery kiosk at the eaton centre in montreal…but you all request the same information! what am i reading you wonder!? often i feel unprepared to answer, perhaps a title or two pop into my brain, but often i walk away feeling like i’ve disappointed you!

so, as promised, here is a partial-incomplete-spontaneous list of what i can remember reading this past year!

this is my best attempt to list my favorite reads (or attempted reads) that occurred between the sun tanning in central park months of july-september 2009 and the cross atlantic flights and tree trimming months of october 2009- january 2010!

THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING- MILAN KUNDERA…while you’re at it…consider IMMORTALITY!

LIKEWISE- ARIEL SCHRAG…this I read while nursing a terrific hangover in New York in August. I wept and laughed out loud. Should be a mandatory read in high school.

EVERYTHING RAVAGED, EVERYTHING BURNED, WELLS TOWER

Re-Read ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES, RIVKA GALCHEN…page 31, page 50, page 51…sneaks up on you. so pretty and strange.

GQ magazine, January 2010…I didn’t exactly READ the article on Rihanna…mostly I appreciated the photos…as art. Right!?

INTIMACY, JEAN-PAUL SARTRE

A MOVEABLE FEAST, ERNEST HEMINGWAY…Thank you Laura Clendening.

BY GRAND CENTRAL STATION I SAT DOWN AND WEPT, ELIZABETH SMART.

THE CITY AND THE PILLAR, GORE VIDAL

ASTERIOS POLYP, DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI

THE BEST AMERICAN NONREQUIRED READING 2009…I look forward to the new collection every year! THE BEST AMERICAN COMICS is also a gem.

SLOW MAN, also, DIARY OF A BAD YEAR, J. M COETZEE…absolutely loved both of these books.

Chapters of JOAN DIDION’S POLITICAL FICTIONS and countless inspired writing from my much loved subscriptions to NEW YORKER MAGAZINE and BELIEVER MAGAZINE!

There were others, but I’ve scattered and abandoned my books between home landing pads and friends bookshelves…and I have a terrible memory…

To the kind hearted bookworms who gave me I SEE/YOU MEAN, THE MAN WITHOUT QUALITIES, BARNEY’S VERSION and many dozens of other literary gifts…thank you!!!

keep reading the real thing,

skq