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TENNIS' FAREWELL TOUR : SOMETHING SPECIAL A synopsis and gallery from Tennis’ memorable night at Franklin Music Hall on their Farewell Tour.
Tennis, a band by married duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, combines sounds of rock, pop, and indie music, creating a cool swirl of 50s melodies and dreamy rhythms. The first time I heard “Origins”, I actually thought the song was from the 70s. Turns out the album “Young and Old” is actually from 2013.
Tennis makes music that feels good, calm, and free at the same time. With seven studio and over a decade of time in the industry, it’s safe to say that Tennis has an incredible discography and a remarkable career. When I saw the announcement about their farewell tour, I knew I had to witness it firsthand.
The room had an energy to it that I hadn’t felt in a while. It felt somewhat like a graduation, or the last meetup before a best friend moves away. Excitement filled the room but with a tinge of sadness, like we all knew this was the last time we’d get to enjoy this. It was bittersweet, but I think knowing that this was the last tour made people more present and mindful.
I was talking to a few people throughout the evening that had a long history of being a fan of tennis. Some were wearing old merch, sharing memories about Tennis shows they’ve seen before or earlier albums that resonated with them. There were newer fans like myself, and people that grew up listening. There were couples in the crowd dancing and singing together, people who came on their own to secure a spot at the barricade. I had someone offer me their spot in the crowd for a photo, one that became one of my favorites (thank you to that man). Live music has that effect on people, connecting you with someone you may have never crossed paths with otherwise.
The set itself was absolutely wonderful, rather than feeling like an audience member at a show it felt like we were in an intimate room with Tennis as they jammed out in their own world. The visuals were beautiful, bright vibrant colors and fun shapes, a dream for a concert photographer like myself. I spent half the time watching the show and taking photos, the other half of the time observing people in the crowd be so free. I had a moment where I was watching someone in the front dance so freely on their own, and that combined with the music brought me to tears.
The show really reminded me of the fact that life is always changing, but we are always in control of our narrative. That it can be a beautiful thing to close a chapter and move to something new, that you can give yourself the opportunity to close it in your own way. There’s not a road map that you have to follow or a route you have to take, you can do whatever calls to you.
I can imagine that after years and years of working in one creative niche, one might feel the need to take a step back, connect with themselves and see what other paths wait for them. I’m sure as a musician with such loyal fans this could be a hard decision to come to, and I think it’s great that Tennis was able to say goodbye and thank you in their own way. This show really was special, and it’s one I’ll think about for a long time.
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