Music & Concerts

Tegan and Sara look back to the ’90s on stunning new album

Out sisters revive material from high school years on ‘Hey’ record

Published

6 years ago

October 3, 2019

Tegan and Sara, gay news, Washington Blade — **Tegan** and **Sara** revisit their grittier early musical style on new album ‘Hey, I’m Just Like You.’ (Photo by Trevor Brady; courtesy Sire)

This week I had the chance to see the jukebox musical “Moulin Rouge” on Broadway, based on the 2001 film of the same title. And while the singing, dancing and set were beyond anything I’ve seen so far, I couldn’t help but leave feeling a bit depressed about the hollowness of the music — most of it recent pop — which felt more like a collection of marketing jingles.

What a relief it was to be reminded that this isn’t the condition of all current music by Tegan and Sara, whose newest album, “Hey, I’m Just Like You,” was released last Friday on Sire Records. “Hey, I’m Just Like You” is their ninth studio album, following a long chain of recordings beginning with their 1999 debut “Under Feet Like Ours.” But the record does something rather unusual — the twin sisters have re-recorded and re-worked a number of songs they wrote while in high school in the mid ’90s. This comes in conjunction with the release of their new memoir “High School,” which focuses on their high school years in Calgary, their struggles with queerness and the inception of their musical project.

Nostalgia glimmers on the new record, like a vintage car that has been carefully restored to a better condition than it ever knew in its heyday. As such, the new album easily capitalizes on the ‘90s as focus of so much nostalgic feeling: The internet before Cambridge Analytica, overalls, and of course Alanis Morisette’s “Ironic.”

The album plunges into this world straightaway with the first track, “Hold My Breath Until I Die.” The song has an uptempo, alternative pop-rock sound and an instrumentation that is neither over produced nor excessively busy, typical of a distinctive ‘90s rock sound. Lyrically the teenage angst comes through distinctively: “Late at night, when your words are eating me alive/does it make you sad to leave me here like that?/in my dreams‚ the blood runs from my eyes/if I fall‚ will you catch me in your arms?”

This is not to say that the new album sounds exactly like their early stuff. On the contrary. Re-listening to “Under Feet Like Ours” and their second album “This Business of Art” (2000) one can’t help notice a grittier, tougher sound, one that fades away slowly through subsequent releases and ultimately evolves into the sisters’ 2013 record “Heartthrob,” which is basically just synth pop. The new album layers the grit of their early sound with the sentimental gloss of nostalgia. It makes for a seemly balance of the music of yesteryear and a contemporary sound.

The lead single “I’ll Be Back Someday” functions as an teen anthem, pulsing with the restless energy that only puberty can supply: “I run, run, run, run, run away/get, get, get, get, get away/but I’ll be back someday.” It’s a head-banging, must-see-live kind of concert song. But it is also another example of the fusion between old and new. The bridge offers something akin to a mellow synth pop sound, linking together the riotous refrains.

“Hello, I’m Right Here” is one of the slower, sadder tracks on the album. Largely piano driven, it’s a testament to the versatility of the sisters. And it captures the mournful and ubiquitously teenage desire to be seen. “I Don’t Owe You Anything” is a slower, synth-heavy rock track. Another successful integration of contemporary pop sound with angsty lyrical content. It’s impossible not to belt along, without falling into the mindless earmwormery that is everywhere so pervasive.

The album does a great job of making peace between the old and new. Opening with an almost wistful sound, it seamlessly integrates the more poppy tracks, including the pop apex of the album, “We Don’t Have Fun When We’re Together Anymore.” It’s masterfully moody yet fun album, an absolute treat for anyone suffering from residual ‘90s nostalgia. Let’s hope it catches on.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.