November 30, 2002

By Tegan

It is the last day of the tour. This tour started back on September 13th in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it was our first time to the Maritimes, here in Canada. It was a beautiful day and the first show went off without a hitch. We were excited and pumped up. Everyone was on their best behaviour those first few days as we struggled through some good and equally bad shows. By the time we had celebrated our 22nd birthday, been turned back at the border, missed our show with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, partied with strangers at a "just got divorced party", and nervously awaited news about our Visa's we were pretty excited to get across the border to our first US show. It was an instore in Buffalo prior to an evening performence at "Mohawk Place", a charming little hole in the wall that didn't have a sound system or drums for our drummer. We got through pushed on and visited our incredibly devoted and excitable fans in Ithica, Pittsburg, Philidelphia and New York. After those first few weeks, Rob, our devoted but excited for a break, no matter what he says, drummer, went home.

We, Sara, Tegan, Nick and Chris, our equally devoted bass player, started the month long Ryan Adams tour we had been invited to take part in. We were so excited I even got sick the night before the tour started and we had a long drive up to Washington DC. This was October 3rd and the sniper had just killed his second victim. I didn't leave the motel in fear except to go the first gig. It was okay, I think Sara and I were too nervous playing on our own and really didn't connect that well with the audience. The shows got better as did the scenery and by the time we hit Nashville, Ryan was on stage for a few songs every night and we were climbing the CMJ charts here in America. Things were looking hopeful and positive for the future and we were seeing Tegan and Sara fans at almost every show. We went out and signed autographs at a few shows and I really enjoyed everyone's stories. We opted out of flying the next few dates which meant some long drives for our 'new driver' Nick. Nashville to Chicago, to Minneapolis to Denver, Las Vegas to LA, all in a matter of a week. It was a long week. By the time we were loading into Whiskey Pete's in the Nevada desert I was ready to spend some money and some misplaced rage. I won $40 American at the casino in the lobby, I screamed and cheered. Lame I know, the 80 year old couple beside me seemed not to even notice, they seemed consumed with their cigarettes and pee bags, but I was overjoyed. I bought everyone breakfast at Denny's later that day. LA was fun, we saw Ben Affleck in his blue convertible on Santa Monica Boulevard, or was that last time around? Oh well. San Fran was fun as always and our hotel gave us free lighters, flashlights and pencils.Sara and I flew home for two days and then crossed back into the States to do Seattle and Portland. Both shows were high on my favourite shows list and were great to end on. We gave Ryan a shirt that Sara said, "tegan and sara love ryan". It was an enjoyable moment.

After a short one day break we started the Born in The Eighties Tour up in Canada. I could barely sleep I was so excited. This would be our first tour with back drops, a full band, our own opener and a real 15 passenger van. Say goodbye to Dodgy the Mini Van, no more sharing a hotel room with three other people, no more 5 people in the audience. It was to be a full rock show, with hoodies, t-shirts, a rock band, a real tour van, the whole thing. I couldn't sleep. The first night in Victoria was so much fun. We had a ton of press, the show was sold out and there were 700 people, our friends the way out opened the show and we all sang and danced like kids. It was a great beginning. Vancouver was next and made me love my new home even more. They were loud and called us back twice. Thank you to them. Salmon Arm was all ages and I enjoyed seeing all the parents drinking coffee and the back. This was the last Way Out show and we stormed on stage and joined them and they did the same during our set. Very fun. We were sad to seem them go so fast. Next was Banff and Lethbridge. Both shows were fun, my mom and dad came to them and sat in the back of the van with me. Very funny. My mom told me after the Lethbridge show that she would not be coming on the road with us anytime soon again. Too much sitting around and too much work. I appreciated her words, though I can't imagine it was as hard as raising sara and I while getting a degree and working full time, but I felt glad and exaughsted to be a musician that night. Calgary and Edmonton were star studded, that is they were full of our friends and family, out front and in the back stage areas. They were the most warm shows. I felt good before, druing and after. It made me love them more for driving all the way to see us in Edmonton. Some people didn't enjoy the show and said they were going to beat Sara up next time we came back so I am planning a trip in the new year. I got the flu that night and I think it was the stress of rude drunk people. I threw up and shit like never before. I clensed their bad shit in every truck stop on the way to Saskatoon. When we got to Saskatoon we had to postpone the show due to me passing out in the lobby of the hotel and not really coming to fully till after doors. Sara insisted, once she new I wasn't going to die, I was just dehydrated, in going to the club and apologizing for having to postpone the show to the next night. She sat in the lobby of the club for four hours doing refunds and meeting people. Our tour manager made signs and I drew pictures of me throwing up on them from my sick bed. The make up show was amazing, the fans the club and everyone who helped with my recovery get a big hug and lots of high fives for being so fucking great. On to Regina where though the sound was a tad rough the show as fun and the Value Village proved to be too much excitement for me. I bought a childs winter jacket that was later found to be carrying big black bugs in the hood. Thank god I didn't try it on. Some guy complained that he didn't think we were giving it on stage, I gave him the jacket in return. Just kidding. After the Winnipeg show, which rated pretty high on my favourite shows list two girls complained that we were losing our 'tegan and sara' traits that everyone enjoys so much. I yelled at them and feel bad for it, but who the fuck complains five minutes after you get off stage. I was still getting over the flu and had to catch a flight to Toronto three hours from then and they had the nerve to complain and were so kind to point out that our band was clearing our stage for us........thanks to them again for almost ruining my night, they wrote to us later that week and said our new album sucked and they hate us....there were a lot of tears over this revelation. Hamilton, Toronto, London and Guelph were very enjoyable as always. Thanks to all the people who came bearing gifts. Thanks also to Gentleman Redge, Luke Ducet, and Adam from Sewing With Nancie for their support on those shows. Kingston, was fun and to Serena Ryder good luck and to all the University students good luck with your keg parties. Ottawa as usual topped out as the loudest, craziest audience. Thank you for making music so much fun again and again. We enjoyed you so much.

Montreal was warm and the club was wonderful. The opening acts, Lindy and Social Register were great guys and in Peterborough thanks to the club and all the people that made the long trek to that show from surrounding areas, also the Vyletz for starting the show and for driving all the way to Toronto, we heard that they sold a ton of cd's so congradulations to them. We had a great tour and the born in the eighties memories are all caught on film so expect some little movies soon. Thank you again to everyone for coming and supporting our live music and for buying our album. We might have grown up a bit but so have you and we are so happy to have seen you all again. We are reading all your emails and enjoying all your mail so keep at it if you like. To all the fans that came to many shows and we got to know along the tour, thank you for your help, and for your loyalty. You make what we do relevent and enjoyable. To those that wrote letters spouting rants on how we have changed and how much you hate us now, thank you for giving us endless material to talk about in the van. We love you even though you don't love us. Thanks to everyone who made the tour possible, to our wonderful and talented band, our new and patient management and our devoted and caring agents. Thanks to Universal and all the people who wrote stories, reviews and sponsered all the contests along the way. See you all soon, well not all of you, but most of you. Have a wonderful Christmas.

tegan

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