Inclusivity, Tegan & Sara reign at The Roundhouse

If you told Tegan & Sara almost 20 years ago that tonight they’d be standing in London, a day before Valentine’s Day, serenading a sold out Roundhouse to over 3,000 devoted fans - they probably wouldn't have believed it. Yet here we are. And in everything they do, there’s an inkling that this was always on the cards. In that timeframe the Canadian duo have built a cult following on being outsiders, of representing something aside from daily routines of modern life and bursting with ultra light beams of passion and desire in the process. Tonight The Roundhouse doesn't just bare witness to a shimmering collective moment of unity and joy but of a story that’s been heading in only one direction. It's finally started reaching the stages it’s meant to be played out on. Alex Lahey is rightfully carving the origins of her own story. It's one that stands front, centre and grabs attention from the first hook and is told with a wink and a charm that’ll make her an essential part of 2017 and beyond. Sounding like The Beach Boys would have if, instead of chilling on the beaches, they holed themselves in a garage with scratchy guitars and a Playstation, tracks like ‘Wes Anderson’, ‘Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder’ and ‘Every Day’s A Weekend’ make the vast space feel like you’re chilling in Alex’s living room. Between those home comforts and Alex’s down to earth tales of DJ-battling with her mum or being dumped in Perth, she's a voice that people have to listen to. The moment Tegan & Sara hit the stage tonight, the doors are well and truly shut on the outside world. Nothing but inclusivity flows. This is a band that has continued to influence and change lives across two decades of existence but tonight focuses firmly on their recent forays into the swooning synth-pop grooves of ‘Heartthrob’ and ‘Love You To Death’. Diving through eclectic cuts, the band reach and grab at the highest of heights and pull everyone watching closer at each turn. ‘I Couldn’t Be Your Friend’, ‘I Was A Fool’ and ‘Goodbye, Goodbye’ are taken to whole other levels live as the band, thriving with the swagger and confidence that comes with truly finding their sound and hitting their stride - become everything they were destined to be. Pausing for air to revisit ‘The Con’ serves as a gripping snapshot of how much this band means to people before they power into the certified slammers of ‘U-Turn’, ‘Boyfriend’ and the eruptive ‘Closer’. Amidst tears flowing in joy, shared stories of heartbreak and one overriding sentiment Tegan & Sara in 2017 aren’t just superstars, they’re everyone and every person. This is not just a show but an ‘I was there’ moment where pop crowned the latest seats of royalty. <em>Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett</em>