TENNIS: The Farewell Tour at First Avenue

TENNIS brought a night of glistening nostalgia and tender celebration to the Fine Line in Minneapolis on their Farewell Tour. The house was packed to the brim with devoted fans, a beautiful turnout for a band that has quietly built one of the most beloved and singular careers in indie pop over the last decade. There was a noticeable sensitivity, and a collective awareness of gratitude hung in the air, the kind of feeling that only happens when everyone knows something special is coming to an end. And as Alaina mentioned, all good things come to an end, and really, all things will come to an end.

Even in the bittersweetness of goodbye, the energy was present and reverent. Tennis gave an authentic performance that reflected the soul of their music—elegant, raw, and brimming with feeling. Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, the couple at the heart of the band, showed off the undeniable musical chemistry that has defined their sound since day one. Rolling out hits like "12 Blown Tires" and "Weight of Desire" from their latest LP, Face Down in the Garden, felt like watching a favorite film one last time, and every second was magic.

The audience seemed to breathe in every note like it was the last. At one point, someone joked that everyone in the room was laughing and crying at the same time—and they weren’t wrong. It was an emotionally rich evening that felt more like a shared memory than a performance. Tennis has always had a way of drawing their listeners into a dreamy, analog world, and tonight, that world felt heartbreakingly real and close.

It was, without question, one of the more intimate and special nights of music in my experience. The crowd gave Tennis the send-off they deserved: not just loud cheers and endless applause, but a quiet presence that honored every lyric and chord. Wholeness is the word that comes to mind.

Opening the night was Billie Marten, joining Tennis for the first time on this final voyage. Hailing from the UK, Marten stunned the Minneapolis crowd with her delicate vocals and introspective songwriting. Her voice has the rare ability to stop you in your tracks—pure, grounded, and haunting. If this set was any indication, Billie Marten has a beautiful career ahead of her.

Here’s to this last ride with Tennis, and all the joy and poetry they gave us along the way. We’ll be spinning their records with full hearts for years to come.