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  • what a beautiful song...and an "ode" to those who've seen injustice and suffered because of it...for lack of better words.

    i know people go nuts every time i've seen them play it in concert. people know most hip songs word for word, but this one especially is sung by the fans without missing a word. this one really seems to hit on something with people, and that's a good thing, i think.
  • direwolf74
    direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    what a beautiful song...and an "ode" to those who've seen injustice and suffered because of it...for lack of better words.

    i know people go nuts every time i've seen them play it in concert. people know most hip songs word for word, but this one especially is sung by the fans without missing a word. this one really seems to hit on something with people, and that's a good thing, i think.


    Another song that gets people singing along at the top of their lungs is "Nautical Disaster", which I find really interesting because the song isn't really that catchy or radio-friendly. There's no discernable verse, chorus, or even a bridge. It's basically Gord's beautiful lyrics set to a circular bass line and chord progression. If you've never heard the song, that might make it sound boring or uninteresting, but I'm tellin ya, it's the best thing they've ever written. A seamless marriage of poetry and rock. Robby Baker's guitar solo during the coda is f**king brilliant, and it's the perfect example of why I love his playing so much. He's never too flashy and his solos are always smooth, soulful and heartfelt. To quote Dave Bidini, "Baker's playing is what gives the Hip's songs their painterly colors."

    For some great insight into the inspiration for the song, go here:
    http://www.hipmuseum.com/nautical.html

    "Nautical Disaster"

    I had this dream where I relished the fray
    and the screaming filled my head all day.
    It was as though I'd been spit here, settled
    in, into the pocket of a lighthouse on some
    rocky socket, off the coast of France, dear.

    One afternoon, four thousand men died in
    the water here and five hundred more were
    thrashing madly, as parasites might in your
    blood. Now I was in a lifeboat designed for
    ten and ten only, anything that systematic
    would get you hated. It's not a deal nor a
    test nor a love of something fated. The
    selection was quick, the crew was picked in order
    and those left in the water got kicked off our
    pantleg and we headed for home.

    Then the dream ends when the phone rings,
    you doing alright he said it's out there most
    days and nights, but only a fool would
    complain. Anyway Susan, if you like, our
    conversation is as faint as a sound in my
    memory, as those fingernails scratching on my hull.
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • that's one thing that's always amazed me direwolf...the fact that many tunes don't have a traditional sing along archetype (particularly in nautical disaster, as you said) and some of the words would be difficult enough for some people to pronounce, let alone sing along to :D...but somehow people know every word and sing along without missing a beat. amazing!

    i like your bidini quote. cool.
  • locked
    locked Boston Posts: 4,048
    good to hear there are some fans of the hip in the US. i'm sure they must be die hard! "locked" is certainly one of them! sounds like you had a good time in boston. i should convince a couple of friends here to take a road trip i think...i've always wanted to see a game at fenway, so maybe i could get lucky enough that a hip date would coincide with a ball game...:D

    Where have you guys been my whole life..????????????????????
    I'm a lifelong Bostonian (never been to Canada) and long time PJ/Hip maniac both starting in 1993-1994(thankfully they have been touring at different dates..

    here are my Hip stats BTW:
    8/6/94 Middle East, Boston
    11/10/94 Orpheum, Boston
    4/21/95 Somerville theater
    10/23/95 Fleet Center, Boston
    5/17/96 Avalon, Boston
    10/4/96 Avalon, Boston
    8/11/98 Bill's Bar, Boston
    12/5/98 Orpheum, Boston
    6/29/00 Somerville theater
    6/30/00 Somerville theater
    7/27/02 Somerville theater
    7/28/02 Somerville theater
    9/21/04 Avalon, Boston

    I filmed all of the Somerville shows, maybe you've seen one of my bootleg DVD's out there? (Thanks to Chris K. from Hiptracker.com, he edited them)
    I finally took a break for the 2004 Avalon show.. turns out nobody filmed it or recorded it for audio (Arrrrg!) so I guess I'm the offical Boston filmer for the 2006 tour..
    Can't wait for the new site to get "fully" loaded and let's keep in touch as PJ and the Hip both release new albums . tour dates..!~!!
    As Gord would say "It's a good life if you don't weaken"...2006 will put our wallets to the test (with PJ / Hip shows, T-shirts and offical bootlegs.. eh?)
    PS: I'm also "Locked" on Hipbase.com..
    Peace my new friends,
    Scott in Boston
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • i absolutely LOVE that henhouse cd

    butts wigglin, man. nuff said

    overall i remain a loyal fan cause they are still kicking out some great music and are always great live

    note: if you haven't signed up to the new fan club yet, now is the time. gone is the THC...
  • locked
    locked Boston Posts: 4,048
    oh yeah! pigeon camera...that whole album...pigeon camera is yet another underappreciated hip gem.

    I don"t belive they have played that song live since Gord forgot the lyrics during the famous 7/28/02 show in Somerville..?

    Can anyone confirm?
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • locked
    locked Boston Posts: 4,048
    **************
    "let me out....let me out...let me out!!!...." :D
    ***************

    "can you open your trunk sir..?
    I'm hearing a meuwing sound..."

    GD 7/28/02
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • direwolf74
    direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    locked wrote:
    I don"t belive they have played that song live since Gord forgot the lyrics during the famous 7/28/02 show in Somerville..?

    Can anyone confirm?


    LOL! I was there that night and that was a classic Gord moment. Love how he kept asking those of us in the front row to feed him the lyrics:

    "I've forgotten the words and I'm gonna need some help here. I'm not fucking kidding."

    And you're right. As far as I know they haven't played that song since that night. Everytime they tour the Hip pull out a few gems from the past and sprinkle them throughout the set. Here's a short list of songs I'd love to hear them play on the '06 tour:

    Pigeon Camera (of course!)
    Put it Off
    Yawning or Snarling
    Tiger the Lion
    Sharks
    Heart of the Melt (not an old song, but I'd love to hear it)
    Escape is at Hand for the Travellin' Man
    Thompson Girl
    Emperor Penguin
    The Luxury
    Opiated
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • "fire in the hole" is a great one to hear live...only heard them play it once, but it fargin' rocked!

    thanks direwolf and locked for sharing that story about pigeon camera...pretty funny :) not so funny that they haven't played it since though...

    ...and i am "let me out" over at thehip.com :D
  • direwolf74
    direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    "fire in the hole" is a great one to hear live...only heard them play it once, but it fargin' rocked!

    They still play Fire in the Hole fairly often. It seems to pop up during the encore every third or fourth show, although I've seen them open with it a couple times like at Edgefest 2003. That song is great live and it never fails to kick my ass. It's an absolute monster of a song. Kind of a weird punk-rock/metal hybrid...or about as close to punk as the Hip have ever gotten (not counting the other two beasts in their repertoire, The Wherewithal and Heart of the Melt). Ever hear/see the version of Fire in the Hole from Woodstock '99? Incredible!
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • i only caught a couple of tunes from the woodstock performance, unfortunately. i didn't know they played fire in the hole there! must have been awesome. it's definitely one of the heaviest hip tunes, and one of my favourites from day for night...along with thugs and nautical disaster, to name a couple.
  • Lost_Clay
    Lost_Clay Posts: 1,085
    agreed great tune,

    Gord screamin the opening lines to fire in the hole (live)

    nothin beats that

    edit : i'm kleh on hipbase.com =)
    "ah fuck it get in trouble"

    06/29/03 09/22/05 09/24/05 09/25/05 05/09/06 05/10/06
  • direwolf74
    direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    *bump*

    Ok everybody, list your favorite Hip albums from 1-10!

    1. Day for Night
    2. Phantom Power
    3. In Between Evolution
    4. In Violet Light
    5. Road Apples
    6. Trouble at the Henhouse
    7. Fully Completely
    8. Music@Work
    9. Up to Here
    10. Self-titled

    *note*
    I would've rated Fully Completely much higher if it weren't for Chris Tsangarides' lousy production. The guitars sound way too polished, and Johnny's drums have that unfortunate plastic-spork-hitting-mashed-potatoes kind of sound. Oh Pigeon Camera, you deserved so much more!
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • Kricket
    Kricket Posts: 707
    fully completely - is my personal fave.
  • all due respect direwolf...sorry to post this right after yours...ahem...:)

    1. Fully Completely
    2. Phantom Power
    3. Road Apples
    4. Trouble at the Henhouse
    5. Day For Night
    6. Up To Here
    7. The Tragically Hip
    8. Music @ Work
    9. Live Between Us (if it's ok to include a live cd..)
    10. In Violet Light
  • direwolf, do you use the same handle at hipbase?
  • locked wrote:
    ahhhh............
    cheers from Boston
    ...Fellow Hip heads..

    my sig speaks for itself.. everyone in "the Pit" thinks it means I'm in jail..

    "it'd be better for me if you don't undertand.."

    Fully Completey and Road Apples are the closest thing to representing the Hip live.. (where the real magic is) don't bother buying their live CD (Live in between) its is god awful...

    Like PJ , the Hip has Tons of Boots and SBD's that are 10 times better than the live CD
    But their new DVD..
    "That night in Toronto" captures them in one of their greatest performances Ever!
    defintely worth buying
    ("You want Fully... AND Completely..")
    They also have a new greatest hits CD.. "Yur Favorites".. that's equally as good..
    I'd start with those two..
    Stay Hip..
    Scott

    Hey Scott!

    Locked In The Trunk Of A Car... is EASILY one of my TOP 10 ALL TIME FAVES!! It's one of those songs that lights me up like a Christmas tree covered with firecrackers :D

    I've seen them several times... even have a damn fine 'gettin to know Gord' story :) and they truly have to be seen live to 'get it'... not unlike our friends Pearl Jam :)

    I downloaded One Nite In TO.... haven't given it a proper listen yet...

    *heads off to scroll on iPod*

    Lisa :)
    Exercising her will to lose control...
    she lets go
  • you made it! :)
  • you made it! :)

    *waves*

    so this is where you've all been hiding...

    damn sneaky Canucks :p
    Exercising her will to lose control...
    she lets go
  • you know we are not all smiles and sunshine...:D