Long Road Back: Tegan, Sara, Hand Habits and My Decision To Start (Another) Music Blog

words + photos by Joe Cortez | November 9, 2023

"I can't believe there aren't any gay bars around here," proclaimed the girl four rows behind me loud enough to be obvious that she wanted everyone around her to hear. Perhaps she was looking for a hook up or perhaps she was hoping one of the wealthier fans in attendance would attempt to fill the void by building one in town. No matter, the frustration in her voice was palpable, if not completely understood by me.

As I sat comfortably in the makeshift Danish proscenium located in the heart of Solvang, CA, I couldn't help but feel totally elated and wholly moved by what I was witnessing; my favorite band was performing at the peak of their prowess and had, earlier in the night, introduced me to a wonderful new voice in Hand Habits, thus re-igniting a spark that had too long laid dormant. On this night I remembered what it was to be in love with live music and eager to tell the world about it.

My journey to Solvang for this show was not as direct as you might expect. No, to be completely honest, I had dragged my feet in buying a ticket, waiting until only a few days before the concert took place. In the months and, now years, following the global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself hesitant to attend large gatherings, concerts in particular. Although I ventured out to the occasional show here and there, I did so with a degree of caution and hesitancy unfamiliar to myself as a frequent concert go-er during the before times. Knowing that this night was likely my last time to see T&S on their current tour, I knew I had no other choice. This was a show I couldn't miss.

Walking in late, I was greeted by the haunting sound of Hand Habits. Performing solo this night, songwriter Meg Duffy seemed at times apologetic for not being on stage with a full band but there was no need for such excuses. Duffy's confessional songwriting accomplished the rare feat of somehow shrinking the theater down to a level of intimacy usually reserved for small gatherings in a backyard or living room.

And then, the twins Quin appeared, tearing through a set filled with songs old and new with a few surprises throw in for good measure ("Feel It In My Bones" for one). Some were reimagined, some were performed with a precision reverence for the studio versions, all radiated with vibrant energy and urgency.

Making good on a date that had to be cancelled a year prior due to rain, the weather this night good, better than good perhaps as I often found myself looking up at the night sky, stars on full display, while the music filled the theater.

One of the signature highlights for long time Tegan and Sara fans has been their between song banter, once done to cover up guitar tunings and now done perhaps due to the overall familiarity the band and fans have cultivated with each other over the years. Whatever the reason may be, it was a joy hearing them recount stories from their lives because I think it reveals ultimately that they are genuine and authentic to the bone, on stage and off.

Having seen the duo perform live many times, I think I can sum up their appeal as such: Tegan and Sara make music I wish I heard when I was a teenager. It's not that listening to them or watching them perform makes me feel young again but rather it awakens a spark of joy that seems to grow dimmer and dimmer as the years drag on. Their music is nothing short of the thing that makes long drives to far away cities, dealing with horrible parking and waiting in long lines not just bearable but exciting in its own way because I know the journey will lead me to something I will cherish. As the responsibilities of life and adulthood pile up, I realize now how precious these experiences are and how little they should be taken for granted, gay bars or not.





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