Saturday, August 04, 2007
Posted at
09:17
by
Carly Carioli
Tegan and Sara, "The Con" (Live at First Act Guitars, August 4 2007)
Anyone who's ever seen Tegan and Sara's "sober sally" sister act knows that about half their stagetime is banter -- a well-honed routine that must be one of the few living examples of the '70s neurotic-folk-chick schtick that once ruled joints like Club Passim. Don't take that as a suckerpunch: doubtful anyone ever did it better, and even if we're still not sure which one's which (sorry), they always come off as smart, funny, genuine gals. Sometimes they come off so smart and funny and genuine that you forget what sharp pop craftswomen they are -- it's increasingly rare to see them sticking to acoustic guitars the way they're doing at in-stores to promote their new The Con (produced by Death Cab's Chris Walla), which may follow Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga as the next "oh we knew they were good but we didn't know they were that good" indie story of '07. (Pitchfork: "no longer tampon rock!") For reals: our four-year-old gets mad when we turn it off. Alert Disney Channel.
This afternoon T&S played over at First Act Guitars on Boylston Street for about 75 of their biggest fans, most of whom you'll likely see in the audience tonight at their full-on, sold-out (craigslist tix here) electric-band gig at First Church over on Marlborough Street. For those of you who couldn't make it, click on the video above to see the first song of their unplugged set this afternoon (how's that for turnaround?). Stick around for the closing credits to see what OTD looks like as a Simpsons character. We'll be posting the other three songs, plus interview and more banter, as mp3s and vids throughout the week, and you can hear the full set on WFNX 101.7 this Monday morning on the Sandbox.
