Tegan and Sara at Ottawa Bluesfest 2023. Photo credit: Scott Martin Visuals
In a show that was early on marred by sound issues, Tegan and Sara showed incredible confidence and poise. Between a malfunctioning monitor and buzzing pickups, it was bad luck for Sara who twice had to stop the show to address the technical problems. But the twin frontwomen turned these false starts into opportunities to joke around with the crowd and introduce the band. Tegan and Sara take loving pot shots at each other in interviews, and it was a blast to see them play-act a band meltdown and breakup as the Bluesfest crew quickly got the technical issues fixed up.
With everything squared away, Tegan and Sara were back on track to play a fun and intimate set full of crowd-pleasers spanning the band’s 25-year-long career.
The show skewed a little more toward the bands 2010s pop-era songs like “Boyfriend.” Fitting comfortably alongside were new tracks from Crybaby, notably the bouncy “Out of My Control.” Nothing got a bigger reaction than the show closer, the band’s breakout hit, “Closer,” from 2013’s Heartthrob.
But there were plenty of older songs marking a number of other career highlights for the band, whether it was a slowed down version of “My Number,” the song the band played on Letterman early in their career, or rocking out with fan favourite radio staples “The Con” and “Back in Your Head.”
Before “Closer” had the crowd jumping, the addictively simple, anthemic “Walking with a Ghost” stood out for its roaring sing-along. The one-two punch of these set closers showed off the two sides of Tegan and Sara’s appeal as hard-driving Indie rockers with a dancy side.
Follow Spotlight Ottawa for more music reviews and news about all things music in Ottawa.
at Ottawa Bluesfest 2023. Photo credit: Scott Martin Visuals
Tegan and Sara at Ottawa Bluesfest 2023. Photo credit: Scott Martin Visuals
Tegan and Sara at Ottawa Bluesfest 2023. Photo credit: Scott Martin Visuals