12.30.08 – Lorne, Victoria
12.31.08 – Marion Bay, Tasmania
01.03.09 – Busselton, Western Australia
01.07.09 – Brisbane, Queensland
01.08.09 – Sydney, New South Wales
01.09.09 – Melbourne, Victoria
01.11.09 – Adelaide, South Australia
My grandpa has a laugh that could be defined as contagious once airborne. He is a true master of storytelling. Leading you to the punch line, his voice picks up speed, the pitch of his words jerking towards the ceiling, his shoulders narrowing and hunching as he breaks into giggles. It's impossible not to laugh with him. My sister and I are known for telling stories at our shows, and everything we do we learned from our grandpa.
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Tegan was interviewed by CBC Radio 3 about her thoughts on Prop 8. Visit their site to stream the audio, or download the mp3 below (credit to jblarb on .ca for the rip).
As I type, I feel hopeful. Look how far we have come! As an example,
below are some quotes from Paul Martin, the former Prime Minister of
Canada, who, three years ago, stood before Parliament and defended the
rights of gay people. I hope they give you the antidote you might need
to turn back the effects of the rage you might be feeling in the wake
of the Prop 8 debacle. Let it instead inspire you the way it did me.
Let it promote movement and organization on your part to continue the
fight for civil rights for all people. Let it remove the stain of this
Proposition and instead give way to change.
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"Gay marriage" is not what is at stake. It's the right to choose to
marry, the right to benefits, the right to adopt, the right to access
the same set of rights extended to every citizen in the United States
of America. Those rights do not extend to homosexuals. And it's f---ed
up. And you should care, straight or gay, white or black. Canadian or
American.
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Editor's Note: This column was written prior to the U.S. presidential election.
I've
struggled all week with what to write about. This week I'm writing
about "Laugh." Or I should say writing on "Laugh." Neither wording
makes me feel any clearer on what I should write.
I do a lot of
laughing. In fact, a few weeks ago, in the middle of a four-show run in
Los Angeles, I apparently woke up laughing. Thankfully someone was
there to witness it or I probably would not have remembered in my
post-dream state. You know those moments that are so funny but no one
is there to witness but you? This is my biggest want in life. To find
someone to bare witness to those moments.
This past Sunday
morning, after brunch, I sat cross-legged in my aunt and uncle's living
room writing funny stories about my childhood. How did the story about
Sara and I moving our family van in the K-Mart parking lot at age 6 --
while my mom unknowingly shopped inside -- have anything to do with
"Laugh"? I mean, we laugh every time we argue about the plausibility of
the story with my mother, but does this really fit into a column? And,
if so, how? Also, did I want to try to explain why my mother would have
left us in the van at age 6 in the first place? Did it really happen?
Too complicated and perhaps not funny enough to get a laugh anyway. And
was this what I was writing about? Things that were funny? So people
would laugh? Is this how I would pull it together? My column?
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More or go to Spinner's site to keep reading.
This summer I was sitting in Parc Lafontaine in Montreal, reading a book. I was trying to ignore my grass allergy when my attention was drawn to a man wearing a tight white "running outfit." I'm not sure what one actually calls this sort of outfit, but it involved the type of spandex shorts I've only ever seen on triathletes at the Beijing Olympics, or adorning my preteen body in 1992.
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Over the next six weeks, we'll challenge Tegan and Sara to blog about one of three themes -- laugh, rage or cry -- and, in fine Sister Quin fashion, wax literal on something that recently made them do just that. It's simple, really. The twins will alternate weeks, bringing their blogging total to 3-all.
This weeks by Tegan. Theme: CRY
I wrote our last record about crying. I've spent nearly a year answering questions about what I was crying about, and I've rarely had a believable response. No one understands why someone like me would enjoy being upset.
Here's a little excerpt from TeganandSara.fr's interview with Tegan:
Faith:
Is there any subject that you've never covered in a song but that you've been thinking about doing?
Tegan:
I try to write about things other than relationships, love and myself but I find it very difficult. I wrote a song for
Augusten Burroughs newest book and I still feel the song is much more about me and how I would deal with his
life. I am stuck in my own head seeing things from my perspective. This is a weakness in every area of my life and being.
I went to the last 2 shows in Los Angeles Saturday and Sunday and holy... best shows I have ever seen. They covered "Tired of Sex" by Weezer and "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen (with Matt Sharp singing!). Overall their stories were super funny, the sound was excellent and the crowds weren't too rowdy. Videos coming soon.
