Let’s Make Things Physical Tour ft. Tegan and Sara
June 24, 2014
Hammerstein Ballroom- New York, NY
On the day of the Let’s Make Things Physical Tour NYC show, fans began lining up at Hammerstein Ballroom in the early morning in order to secure a good spot. By the time the doors opened, the line of excited fans extended down the block and around the corner.
The Courtneys, a female trio from Vancouver, was the opening band of the night. All three girls contributed to the vocals while also playing instruments. They were talented and the music was good, but, unfortunately, their set was lackluster. There was nothing special about it, and nothing really made them stand out.
My Midnight Heart took the stage next. Many of the fans in attendance had probably never heard of the band before, but it’s safe to say that they blew everyone away. Haunting music supported powerful, intense vocals. Front-woman Angélica Marie was definitely one of the highlights of the night. Her stage presence was mesmerizing, and she knew how to capture the crowd’s attention. She took advantage of the stage space and truly gave an incredible performance. My Midnight Heart was an excellent choice for a supporting band, and it’s safe to say that the band gained some new fans that night.
The anticipation in the room increased once My Midnight Heart left the stage. As the lights dimmed and the music started, fans in the front rows eagerly began screaming and dancing. When Tegan and Sara finally appeared, the atmosphere in the venue changed. Everyone was moving on their feet, including people in the back and people in the balconies.
The band started off with Goodbye, Goodbye, the third single off of their latest record. They followed it with I Couldn’t Be Your Friend from the same release. Tegan and Sara ended up playing the entirety of the regular edition of 2013’s Heartthrob, with the exception of Love They Say. Still, their setlist managed to please long-time listeners as well. They performed Living Room and Monday Monday Monday from 2003’s If It Was You and I Know I Know I Know and Walking With A Ghost from 2004’s So Jealous. Meanwhile, the light show behind them complemented the performance. It was intriguing, with prisms and patterns constantly changing. 
What the duo lacked in performance pizzazz they made up for with witty banter and storytelling in-between songs. During a break, Sara recounted a story of how she was on the subway when a group of girls spotted her. ‘They were probably waiting to see if Tegan would show up,’ she said, before sharing that they took a lot of selfies and proceeded to tell her about their acupuncture adventures. “After all that, you didn’t guest-list them?” joked Tegan, before they continued with their set.
To finish off the night, they performed a three-song encore consisting of Call It Off; Dark Come Soon; and a cover of Peter Townshend’s Let My Love Open The Door. As fans exited the venue after the show, many said things along the lines of “that was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to,” and “that was amazing,” and I think that speaks for itself.
Review by: Lori Gutman
Tegan and Sara
My Midnight Heart
The Courtneys
