I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: January 25, 2018] Tennis

I had only ever heard of Tennis once or twice in passing on NPR.  I noted them as a poppy, synthy band whose songs were catchy.

I wasn’t sure how much I would like their main set, and I was prepared to head home early if I didn’t enjoy it. But Tennis proved to be delightfully sweet and a perfect match for Overcoats (they clearly mutually respect each other).

Tennis are the creation of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley.  They play sweet synthy pop songs. Because of the way they were dressed I think I heard a lot more disco overtone than was actually there.  There’s an 80s synth pop sound throughout their songs, but I think the heavy basslines brought a real disco swagger.  And the guitar was always interesting.

And their drumset lit up as well! (Check out how they put their logo on the drum head).  I really liked their merch, I thought it was very simple but very cool.

Moore plays keys–effortlessly playing as she sings.  Her voice is soft but spot on–she knows her range and hits it perfectly. I hear tones of early Madonna in her voice.  Riley plays guitar (mostly) and occasional keyboards.  I was really impressed with the complex guitar chords and little guitar riffs he was throwing into these poppy numbers.

It’s unavoidable to talk about how they look.  Between Moore’s high pants, glittery platform shoes and natural afro (she  assured us no one would get a perm to look like that and she’s trying to own it) and Riley’s glitter shirt and long bowl cut (It used to be a lot longer), they just screamed ABBA to me.  But they are not nearly as dancey.  Their music is kind of smooth and sweet.  And, since Moore and Riley are married, they are even more adorable together.

They played two or three songs in quick succession, each one quite short.  I figured this would be a pretty short concert.

Moore told us that she had gotten the flu pretty early in the tour and had recently passed out in a Whole Foods (the only thing more obnoxious than that, she said, would be passing out on her barista).  Pat was right there in the store to pick her up and rush her to intensive care.  But she was on lots of steroids and was doing alright.  I must say, given that she was in the hospital just a few days earlier, she had a lot of energy.  She also had a lot of amusing stories between songs.

Their songs were really quite pretty, gentle and soaring pop songs that we all swayed to as she sang.  But there were a few moments that stood out for me.  I loved the chugging guitar of “Never Work for Free.”

I loved the bass thumping of “In The Morning I’ll Be Better”–it was very pronounced live and really kind of rocked the song pretty hard.  All of their songs are light and sweet, with gentle keys and delicate guitar  The one difference was the bass.  The bass sound was surprisingly distorted—not crazy, but more than expected.  It also seemed to get louder as the night went on.  I never would have guessed I’d need earplugs for these guys, but I’m glad I brought them, mostly for that bass. And yet the bass sound was fantastic (if only it were quieter).  The groovy lines and funky riffs really added a lot to the songs (and a disco swagger).  It was also nicely prominent on the wonderfully titled “Ladies Don’t Play Guitar.”  And sounded terrific on “Origins.”

Before one of the later songs, Moore said she was glad that there was a balcony there because every review talks about her outfit, but no one ever mentions her keyboard–it’s like an accessory or something.  But, she informed us there was a complicated part that she was totally going to shred on and she wanted witness.  And indeed, it was a cool part and yes, she did play it.  Actually it was quite clear that she a playing all night (and keeping time with her swaying platform glitter shoes (see right)–its hard not to talk about her outfit when it’s that cool).  And the keyboard was always the dominant instrument.

She stepped away from the keys for “My Better Self.”

Speaking of looks, I also have to give a shout out to their awesome looking website.

She also told us that one of the side effects of the steroids she was taking for the flu was sexual suggestiveness, so she apologized if she went too far (like the pose to the left).  She said she was born a minister’s daughter, so for her serious flirting was a flip of the hair.

She sounded great on “Fields of Blue” and “My Emotions Are Blinding.”  After thanking Overcoats, she dedicated “Modern Woman” to her “spiritual sisters.”

After an hour or so, they left the stage.   We all knew they’d be back for an encore, but she joked that as a minister’s daughter when she hears applause, she feels she needs to run right back out on stage.

They played three more songs.  During one of them, while Pat played a particularly long solo (for them), she smiled and said, That’s my husband.”  And he was very attentive to her throughout the night. He played intensely but was often looking over at her.

For the final song, she sent the drummer and bassist (“the best backing band money can buy” but whose named I can’t find anywhere) off stage, so it was just her and Pat for the touching “Bad Girls.”  Since there was no bass, I was able to remove the earplugs and hear her gorgeous voice au natural.  And during the bridge she sang this line as she pointed to her wedding ring

You know I love a good ceremony
That’s why I chose matrimony

I have yet to find out why they are called Tennis though.

Speaking of merch, I can;t find a picture, but I loved the shirt that had

ABCDEF
GHIJKLM
NOPQRS
TENNIS

and the shirt that said something like TENNIS In almost full stereo 180 degrees.

Setlist