Tegan and Sara's European Tour Diary: Part II
By Tegan Quin and Lindsey Byrnes
Identical twin sisters and indie-pop deities Tegan and Sara
released Sainthood in 2009 and have since been touring the Chris
Walla-produced album like crazy. At the moment, they're traveling across Europe, playing shows in Ireland, Denmark, Holland, Germany and England.
Throughout the journey, Tegan will be sharing tales from the road
with PAPERMAG, alongside photos snapped by Lindsey Byrnes. Here's
her second installment:
My name is Tegan Quin and it's been two days since my last nap. As I write this I'm sitting backstage in Amsterdam at The Paradiso. We go on stage in one hour exactly. Since I last wrote we have been very, very busy. After our four days in Belfast we traveled to Dublin. I've only been there once, from what I remember. It kind of reminds me of SoHo or the East Village in Manhattan. Though I saw most of it from the window of our bus and the van that took us to our in-store so don't take my word as gospel. As we sped to Tower Records in downtown Dublin we passed the Clarence Hotel. Shaun, our bass player pointed out that the Clarence is owned by Bono from U2. I would have liked to pop in to see if Bono was working the front desk but we were short on time.
Tower closed its doors in America in 2006 (sad) but still lives on in a few franchise locations on this side of the world. While we were there Sara found an amazing book about learning to play guitar. Bikini clad women teach the young "lads" how to play basic chords and work on their up and down strokes (seriously). As record stores go the way of the dinosaur Sara and I cling to the hope that playing in the ones that remain will encourage people to buy our record, or any record for that matter. In this case we also encouraged them to buy the guitar book with the bikini-clad instructors.
After the record store performance we headed to the Olympia (built in 1879) to get ready for our second gig. The audience, like the Belfast one before it, was fantastic. The theater has three levels and was busting at the seams. Any jet lag I had was definitely knocked out of me after that show.
The next day we took an early Aer Lingus flight (yes we made jokes about the name all morning) to Amsterdam for our day off. First we took an amazing boat tour of the canals of Amsterdam and then I broke off to go and tour around Rembrandt Square. While I was there I nervously declined a young, heavily accented gentleman's offer to join him for drinks -- three times. When I was finally able to, I scampered away to the safety of a crowd on the next corner. I'm pretty sure he wanted me to be his heroin mule but perhaps I've watched too many movies like The Beach and Broke Down Palace to know for sure. Today I toured The Van Gogh Museum and The Rijke Museum. Good to balance all this rock 'n' roll with a bit of higher learning (not a subtle reference to drugs because I'm in Amsterdam). Two days in Amsterdam taking in the sun and sights and I'm pretty convinced I'm going to spend a summer here riding my bike and living on a canal (that's what she said). For now I'm going to bring a map home to my mother because The Paridiso, the venue we're playing tonight, is on the "Hop on, Hop off" red bus tour map. You know you've made it when... -Tegan
Photos by Lindsey Byrnes
My name is Tegan Quin and it's been two days since my last nap. As I write this I'm sitting backstage in Amsterdam at The Paradiso. We go on stage in one hour exactly. Since I last wrote we have been very, very busy. After our four days in Belfast we traveled to Dublin. I've only been there once, from what I remember. It kind of reminds me of SoHo or the East Village in Manhattan. Though I saw most of it from the window of our bus and the van that took us to our in-store so don't take my word as gospel. As we sped to Tower Records in downtown Dublin we passed the Clarence Hotel. Shaun, our bass player pointed out that the Clarence is owned by Bono from U2. I would have liked to pop in to see if Bono was working the front desk but we were short on time.
Tower closed its doors in America in 2006 (sad) but still lives on in a few franchise locations on this side of the world. While we were there Sara found an amazing book about learning to play guitar. Bikini clad women teach the young "lads" how to play basic chords and work on their up and down strokes (seriously). As record stores go the way of the dinosaur Sara and I cling to the hope that playing in the ones that remain will encourage people to buy our record, or any record for that matter. In this case we also encouraged them to buy the guitar book with the bikini-clad instructors.
After the record store performance we headed to the Olympia (built in 1879) to get ready for our second gig. The audience, like the Belfast one before it, was fantastic. The theater has three levels and was busting at the seams. Any jet lag I had was definitely knocked out of me after that show.
The next day we took an early Aer Lingus flight (yes we made jokes about the name all morning) to Amsterdam for our day off. First we took an amazing boat tour of the canals of Amsterdam and then I broke off to go and tour around Rembrandt Square. While I was there I nervously declined a young, heavily accented gentleman's offer to join him for drinks -- three times. When I was finally able to, I scampered away to the safety of a crowd on the next corner. I'm pretty sure he wanted me to be his heroin mule but perhaps I've watched too many movies like The Beach and Broke Down Palace to know for sure. Today I toured The Van Gogh Museum and The Rijke Museum. Good to balance all this rock 'n' roll with a bit of higher learning (not a subtle reference to drugs because I'm in Amsterdam). Two days in Amsterdam taking in the sun and sights and I'm pretty convinced I'm going to spend a summer here riding my bike and living on a canal (that's what she said). For now I'm going to bring a map home to my mother because The Paridiso, the venue we're playing tonight, is on the "Hop on, Hop off" red bus tour map. You know you've made it when... -Tegan
Photos by Lindsey Byrnes
Your Comment
Posted at 6:13 on Jun 17, 2010
Haha Sara's face with that book is hilarious, Haha and the start of this blog sounds like Tegan was in nappers anonymous or something.
Posted at 10:15 on Jun 17, 2010
I love Sara's WTF face :D I'm laughing so hard reading this, obviously because of the "that's what she said" part. :)
I really love the photos, they are awesome. :D
I can't tell how much you guys rock.
Posted at 5:01 on Jun 18, 2010
the instore and the gig in the olympia were both AMAZING.
had such good laughs.
these girls deserve so much more credit than they're receiving
Posted at 8:53 on Jun 18, 2010
Lindsey Byrnes is an amazing photographer, thats all i have to say.
Posted at 8:54 on Jun 18, 2010
You were amazing in Paradiso last night! But it's the Rijksmuseum, not the Rijke Museum. ;)
Posted at 8:54 on Jun 18, 2010
omg. thats me and my poster...i saw lindsey take that photo...yay i love her now haha
Posted at 8:54 on Jun 18, 2010
I still wish I understood the whole "That's what she said" thing...? :S
Posted at 9:32 on Jun 18, 2010
I like your idea about playing in record stores to encourage people to buy your album. There are still the small percentage of people who don't download (such as myself). If I can't afford to purchase it, I just wait till I can, it makes the anticipation grow and when you finally get to hear it its awesome! Love the new album :)
Posted at 9:41 on Jun 18, 2010
hahaha Sara's like "why didn't they have this book when I learned guitar?"
Tegan, seriously now, could u get any cuter? Looking sharp there!
Glad to hear u finally kicked the jetlag napping habit.
Posted at 9:51 on Jun 18, 2010
My name is Sarah Hull and it has been one day since I last commented on Tegan and Sara's European Tour Diary. Thanks guys for doing this for your fans! You are the best band with the best fans!! HA!
Posted at 10:39 on Jun 18, 2010
Loved loved loved loved loved the gig at Amsterdam. They should be comedians, theyre hella fun.
Keep doing what you're doing ladies, cause not only your music is amazing, you 2 are such nice people. Holland loves you!
Posted at 10:55 on Jun 18, 2010
Hi there!
you guys are amazing! I live in amsterdam, unfortunately I didn't get to see you yesterday. my school is opposite Paradiso, and i was looking out the window all day but i didn't see you arrive. We went to the Rijksmuseum that same day.
Amsterdam is indeed a great city for tourist things, like canal hopping and cycling. You should definitely come back for the summer, the citycentre is beautiful. Still, I find it unfortunate that anyone visiting Amsterdam always keeps talking about the drugs. Sometimes I think it overshadowed the great things of Amsterdam, which I find regrettable. There are two cofeeshops within 250 meters from my school, and you notice nothing at all. Some people in Amsterdam indeed only talk about smoking and being stoned, but that's just big talk and playing cool. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and it's important to look beyond the drugs.
xxx Kim
Posted at 11:03 on Jun 18, 2010
Y España cuando??????????????????????????
Posted at 11:48 on Jun 18, 2010
HAHA omg thats me in the purple in the last picture!
I have no idea why I look so depressed...considering how close I was to Tegan and Sara lol!
That pirate sign was hilarious! 'sorry if you can't see Tegan and Sara this is what they look like' *stick figures with guitars* lmao
Posted at 1:30 on Jun 18, 2010
I wonder if Aer Lingus ever transport convicts? ...I see a new Nicholas Cage movie in the near future.
Great blog! Amsterdam is georgeous indeed. I do wish T&S would play in Norway someday though.. ;) Keep up the excellent work ladies!
Posted at 2:37 on Jun 18, 2010
Aw! Sara :D
Hope you guys are really taking it all in!
Exited for you guys too come too Florida!
Posted at 7:18 on Jun 18, 2010
I can't wait to read about there days in london, can't wait to see them again x
Posted at 8:19 on Jun 18, 2010
is it just me or does tegan look exhausted in the fourth picture?:S
Posted at 9:08 on Jun 18, 2010
Wow that book. Glad to hear everything is going good! These blogs are very fun to read.
Posted at 2:08 on Jun 19, 2010
Oh sara your so adorable can't wait to see you guys in September!
Posted at 7:00 on Jun 19, 2010
Travelling from Belfast half Deaf from the night before. walking around Dublin not having a clue where to find the record store,(Finally did) Going to then find the other venue where you where playing and get food cause we had no time to eat in are travels form running for buses and trains. Finally finding the venue 5 hours early just to be sure we had the right place. sat down for a rest on the street (in the queue) watched a drunk man being a dick in the street and break a window, watched the drunk man get lifted by the Garda :L, Watched the window get repaired (nat by the drunk man), and being in the second row at your dublin concert was the most amazing 2 days of my life, And would KILL to go and see Tegan and sara again. Thanks Dudes uzs are amazing.
Posted at 12:30 on Jun 20, 2010
ahahaha! the girl in the background of the 1st photo. great.
Posted at 12:35 on Jun 20, 2010
Lindseys photos SO GREAT!! what a talent :)
Posted at 12:09 on Aug 04, 2010
I want to meet them SO bad! They're my role models!
TEGAN AND SARA LOOK FOR A TIE DYE ENVELOPE IN YOUR FAN MAIL :D