Toronto VIP

It never happened, but your questions still matter

Instead of traveling to Toronto, we took a day off in Detroit for Tegan to rest

Illness meant that we did not make it to Toronto for our show on Nov 1 but we still received the questions from the VIP. Here are answers to some of your very thoughtful inquiries.

-Sara

• Would you ever put out a record with songs that you wrote in journals in High School or that didn’t make albums? -Chelsea Gibson

We intend to use unreleased music from that era on the TV show adaption of our memoir (if we get additional seasons, of course…)

• With such a vast body of work to choose from, adding more tracks with every record, how do you choose what songs to do for a tour? -Eric

On this specific tour we worked from a list of our favourite songs and also singles from our most recent album, Crybaby. Our musical director Heather Baker, then created a sequence from those selections. We love to play the songs we know fans love (Back In Your Head, Nineteen) but we like to sneak in some of our favourites as well (On Directing, I Bet it Stung)

• Do you have any pre-show rituals?

• How has touring been like with a baby? -Kayla

We usually start a vocal warm up an hour before the show starts, and that involves changing into our clothes for the show, and fixing up our faces and hair. The band joins us 30 minutes before the set starts and we sing together, or just gab about the day.

Touring with Sid has meant a lot more suitcases, and expanding rituals to include his needs each day. I can’t imagine being apart from him right now, and I’m delighted that he seems so amenable to all the travel and changes required. He had his first swim in a hotel pool, and traveled across half a dozen states on the tour bus. Quite an adventure for a four month old!

We took Sid to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and he nursed while NIN’s Woodstock ‘94 performance blasted in the background

• I first saw you, in Ottawa (Barrymore's I think?) Back in 1999...memory is hazy. Then again at Massey Hall around 2007, I think. Do you prefer smaller venues? I'm always shocked you are not playing the ACC.

• Can I get a selfie with Canada's most influential band? -Derek Gruchy

We’ve learned to find joy playing in any size room. Though we haven’t personally sold out an arena, we’ve supported other bands on those big stages and there is a wonderful thrill in entertaining so many thousands of people. But, there is also something very special about the intimacy of smaller rooms and the way the storytelling part of our performances shines brighter in those spaces.

• The show High School, based on your memoir is really great! What was the highlight for you in seeing the show come to life? -Brenda Murphy

The opportunity to be on a set and see the show get made start to finish was really special. As a massive fan of television I enjoyed witnessing the act of creation from inside/ behind the curtain.

One of my favourite nights on set was shooting the scenes after Tegan and Sara go to their first rave. There was an actual vintage city bus on set that the cast drove around in and we followed behind them in a van outfitted with monitors. It felt like a stakeout.

Riding along in the “stakeout van”

• What songs come easier to write: love songs or break up songs, and who would you say writes more of each? -Caitlin Foster

In some ways the best, and perhaps easiest songs are written about the place somewhere in between those two poles. During the times in my life where I wasn’t yet sure which kind of song I was writing, I ended up looking back at the work as foreshadowing of what was to come. When the pain of a breakup, or the distraction of new love is too acute, I don’t find myself particularly productive.

To everyone who had planned to come to VIP and attend our show in Toronto, we are so grateful for your support, and understanding! See you next year,

-Sara