I had a realization as I stood enraptured in the sold-out crowd for the indie band Tennis's farewell concert in New York City -- with the Brooklyn and Verrazano bridges, Empire State and Chrysler buildings and World Trade Center, decked out for Pride, all within eyeshot: Music is my religion -- so if this is how others feel in their houses of worship, who is this anti-church agnostic to judge?*
Although I still have my legacy acts -- albeit with members of them dropping like flies -- that Tennis is calling it a career after 15 years, the same year my other "current" band (Saint Etienne), couldn't be worse timing. For me to accept a group that formed in the 21st century was a huge leap(!) and their dissolution leaves a huge hole in my entertainment pipeline.
Spoiler: The setlist felt perfect -- "I'll Haunt You," "Ladies Don't Play Guitar," "Always the Same," "Runner," "Matrimony," "One Night With the Valet," "My Emotions Are Blinding," "Weight of Desire," "Mean Streets," "Hotel Valet," "No Exit," "Glorietta/Pillow for a Cloud," "I Can Only Describe You," "In the Morning I'll Be Better," "Diamond Rings" (my personal favorite), "How to Forgive" and “Need Your Love” with "Pollen Song" and "12 Blown Tires" as the encore. Damian later mentioned "I Miss That Feeling" was his only quibble. (I was surprised that their current album, the sublime "Face Down in the Garden," got relatively short shrift; was really hoping to hear "At the Wedding.") But since the tour is doubling as a "new release" slash "farewell" event, I think they struck just the right balance. (They have seven studio albums, two extended plays and countless singles to their credit.)
Where we -- and they -- go from here is anyone's guess. Damian is hoping their retirement will be akin to that of tennis player
Danielle Collins. At the very least, I'm hoping Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley release more music in whatever shape suits them moving forward, because as Damian said to me during the show: "There will never be another band like this, will there?" And the answer seemed pretty clear to the thousands on hand, the biggest crowd of their careers: Definitely not.
*So long as what you worship doesn't interfere in other people's lives, liberties and pursuits of happiness.
P.S. Shoutout to Beauty Queen, aka Katie Iannitello, who sang a little backup. I'm discovering she has recorded a
bunch of great music I'm digging into now!
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