Tegan and Sara, graced Madison with another beautiful performace last night at the Annex. Drawing from their most recent release, So Jealous, the group from Canada left the crowd wanting just one more song, but that’s nothing knew for Tegan and Sara. I was lucky enough to have an interview with Tegan Quinn, one half of the genius that is Tegan and Sara, and ask her a few questions about life on the road, music, and a couple other things.

Q. How’s the tour going so far? You’ve played in Madison before, anything about the city or specific performance that stands out in your memory?

A. It is a great city with a great indie scene. We always see indie movies and you guys have so many book stores. It’s beautiful.

Q. Next month you’ll be heading to Australia, which has to be extremely exciting. How long will you be touring there, and is there anything outside of playing music you plan on doing?

A. We are going for 3 weeks. We won’t have time to do much but travel and play. We are going to try and see the beach, tan a bit and meet some koalas at the sanctuary in Brisbane.

Q. On your most recent record, John and David from the New Pornographers filled out your band. Will they be joining you on tour?

A. NO, they have other projects. Our band consists of a constant drummer and bass player and Matt Sharp filled out the songs with keys. We play mostly all the guitars. John and Dave mostly just engineered and produced this record.

Q. Are you able to write while touring or is that something you like to do away from the road?

A. We try our best. Often it is impossible to find the time. We try though we do.

Q. You spend a decent amount of time touring. Are there certain albums that are “road essential” What is currently playing in Tegan and Sara’s CD players?

A. Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons, Joanna Newsom, and The Decemberists.

Q. What are your thoughts on music blogs and the power of the internet in terms of helping your music reach more people?

A. I think it is great. I think people just need to listen for themselves though. Some of these sites pick up some random obscure crap and make it seem like we are buying gold….I just think people need to listen to what is not being pushed. Just because it is not being played on the radio does not mean it is necessarily great.

Q. Are there any songs that you recorded for So Jealous that didn’t make it on the record? That seems to be a difficult situation. Usually there are those few songs that a few people like, and some don’t. What happens to songs like those? Do they get taken on the road and played or saved for the future?

A. There were a few songs we recorded that didn’t make it. These get released on singles or as b-sides on line. Some songs that did not make it past demo form come back later on in our musical lives or we mess with live but mostly they just go into the vaults.

The following are MP3′s from the Tegan and Sara website. Do yourself a favor and go out and grab So Jealous. You won’t be dissapointed.

I know I know I know
Speak Slow

And from their 2002 release, If it was you:

Monday Monday Monday
I Hear Noises

Then you can re-live the excitement that touched down in Chicago last weekend by visiting Gorilla vs. Bear and My Old Kentucky Blog for all of your Lollapalooza needs.

Bonnaroo Organizers Head West With Vegoose

By Ray Waddell, Nashville

After months of speculation, the producers of the Bonnaroo festival have confirmed they will stage a mega-event in Las Vegas around Halloween. Produced by A.C. Entertainment and Superfly Presents, Vegoose is set for Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium Oct. 29-30. Other late-night music events are planned for the area in as many as five different venues from Oct. 28 until Halloween night.

Among those believed to be performing at the stadium shows are Dave Matthews, the Black Crowes and Jack Johnson. Superfly president Jonathan Mayers would not confirm any artists, but did tell Billboard.com, “We’re very excited about the lineup we’re putting together. The programming will be somewhat similar to Bonnaroo in that it will be an eclectic mix of artists.”

Bonnaroo, held in Manchester, Tenn., each June, is the top-grossing music festival in the world, ringing up $13.3 million from 76,049 people this year, according to Billboard Boxscore. While Bonnaroo is held on 700 rural Tennessee acres, Mayers believes the vibe will translate to Vegas.

“We’re in the special event business,” Mayers adds. “Bonnaroo has been very successful, and we want to create another special event. We think Vegas and Halloween are a great combination, and Vegoose will be an exciting destination.”

Tickets will go on sale in early August, and Mayers says producers will be cognizant of travel expenses involved in getting to Vegas when finalizing ticket prices. “We want to make Vegoose a good value for the ticket price, just like Bonnaroo,” he says. Additional details will be announced on Vegoose.com.
(more…)

Sun 10/30/05 Milwaukee, WI The Rave / Eagles Club
Tue 11/01/05 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre

thanks to More Cowbell for the info!

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
ACG & MGD Music present
Dar Williams
with special guest
GIRLYMAN
Tickets: $29.00 Advance
______________________________
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
Last Coast/True Endeavors presents
Matisyahu
Tickets: $17.50 Advance/$19.50 Day Of Show
Tickets on sale, Wednesday, August 31st.

Both shows at the Barrymore Theatre

Here is the setlist from last nights Ben Harper show in Chicago. It was increddible, and any words I use here to try and explain will never fully capture the show. Here is a review from the Chicago Sun Times.

glory and consequence
please bleed
don’t take that attitude to your grave
brown eye blues
excuse me mr.
gather ’round the stone (w/ charlie musselwhite)
homeless child (w/ charlie musselwhite)
one road to freedom
please me
burn one down (full band)
will to live
temporary remedy
suzie blue
where could i go
steal my kisses >> pressure drop

E 1:
another lonely day
walk away
there will be a light
pleasure and pain (w/ tom freund)

E 2:
ain’t too proud to beg
dressed in black