I almost always listen to a band non-stop leading up to a show. then I take a break after the show. PJ included. not this time. Can't stop listening to the Hip/Gord solo since friday.
You just reminded me that I have never once listened to Gord solo. I don't have any reason as to why not.... I basically just forgot to. I don't even know what to expect. I guess I should give it a whirl!
Be warned. the first record (coke machine glow) is sort of weird. the second record (battle of the nudes) is REALLY weird. the third record (the grand bounce) is way more accessible. his record with the sadies, whom I don't like on their own, is very good.
I am now regretting passing on seeing him solo on his tour for Grand Bounce.
I like weird.
Last night i ordered cmg and botn off discogs. Going through cd's a bit later, found cmg! Dammit! Forgot I owned it. Pm me your address and I'll send you my extra copy.
I almost always listen to a band non-stop leading up to a show. then I take a break after the show. PJ included. not this time. Can't stop listening to the Hip/Gord solo since friday.
You just reminded me that I have never once listened to Gord solo. I don't have any reason as to why not.... I basically just forgot to. I don't even know what to expect. I guess I should give it a whirl!
Be warned. the first record (coke machine glow) is sort of weird. the second record (battle of the nudes) is REALLY weird. the third record (the grand bounce) is way more accessible. his record with the sadies, whom I don't like on their own, is very good.
I am now regretting passing on seeing him solo on his tour for Grand Bounce.
I like weird.
Last night i ordered cmg and botn off discogs. Going through cd's a bit later, found cmg! Dammit! Forgot I owned it. Pm me your address and I'll send you my extra copy.
Oh, thanks buddy, very nice of you! But that's okay. I don't play CDs. But I do pay for Spotify, so I can listen to it there. In fact, I will right now (how is the Gord Downie solo vinyl market? Insane or no?). I bet someone else here would probably love that CD though! (and I just started playing it, and must say I love the intro... reminds me of Daniel Johnston. .... and listening further, I am also reminded of Neutral Milk Hotel. Sweet!)
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Going to the last two shows. With seeing PJ at Fenway this past weekend and then the last two Hip shows, I'd say its a pretty great lineup of shows within a month, maybe a year. BTW, I have some floor seats (row 28) and if anyone has some 100 level seats and would like to trade for the Ottawa show.
2016-08-05 - Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg, 01 At The Hundredth Meridian 02 Pigeon Camera 03 Courage 04 Wheat Kings 05 Machine 06 Tired As f**k 07 What Blue 08 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind 09 Streets Ahead 10 The Lookahead 11 Man Machine Poem 12 At Transformation 13 Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man 14 Poets 15 Bobcaygeon 16 Membership 17 The Last Of The Unplucked Gems 18 Little Bones 19 The Luxury 20 Long Time Running 21 Twist My Arm 22 Boots Or Hearts 23 Opiated 24 New Orleans Is Sinking 25 Springtime In Vienna 26 Ahead By A Century
1st of 7 shows. opiated completely shocked me as an opener LOVE how the band is hanging around center stage to play/jam gord being gord will always be the show. and those lyrics.... summer killing us not a big fave but actually really enjoyed it on monday nashville, so hard done by, gus and something on were highlights BUT the highlight for me was scared little bones was on the written setlist but wasn't played. 2016-08-08 - London, Ontario 1. Opiated 2. Blow at High Dough 3. Boots or Hearts 4. New Orleans is Sinking 5. In a World Possessed by the Human Mind 6. Ocean Next 7. What Blue 8. Machine 9. Summer’s Killing Us 10. Gus the Polar Bear from Central Park 11. If New Orleans is Beat 12. It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night 13. Grace Too 14. Scared 15. So Hard Done By 16. Daredevil 17. Something On 18. Poets 19. Bobcaygeon 20. Fireworks — 21. Fully Completely 22. Pigeon Camera 23. Courage — 24. Fiddler’s Green
yeah, the beginning when they are all huddled around like they are playing in someone's living room. very cool. I really wanted to hear Gus in Winnipeg (my nickname since I was a teen-from an Eddie Murphy skit).
and fiddler's green. my god. that song would have had me on the floor weeping like a baby.
So I have binge listened to all of Gord Downie's solo albums, and I love them! HFD, first, thanks for mentioning it and reminding me that these albums existed. Second, I actually don't think any of them are particularly weird. I mean, they are unique in places, but I didn't think any of them were weird to the point that they might turn off some of the less exploratory listeners .... although I suppose that if I'm very happily comparing some of the music to Daniel Johnston, who I love, perhaps my weird metre is on a different setting than a lot of people, haha. Anyway, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I like his solo stuff more than I like The Tragically Hip's!
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
So I have binge listened to all of Gord Downie's solo albums, and I love them! HFD, first, thanks for mentioning it and reminding me that these albums existed. Second, I actually don't think any of them are particularly weird. I mean, they are unique in places, but I didn't think any of them were weird to the point that they might turn off some of the less exploratory listeners .... although I suppose that if I'm very happily comparing some of the music to Daniel Johnston, who I love, perhaps my weird metre is on a different setting than a lot of people, haha. Anyway, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I like his solo stuff more than I like The Tragically Hip's!
I meant weird in the context of his music with the Hip. Not weird in general. I found CMG to be quite inaccessible, but I also listened to it for the first time when I was still just a "radio" listener. But it has grown on me. I really dig the Grand Bounce. I can't wait to get BOTN in the mail.
So I have binge listened to all of Gord Downie's solo albums, and I love them! HFD, first, thanks for mentioning it and reminding me that these albums existed. Second, I actually don't think any of them are particularly weird. I mean, they are unique in places, but I didn't think any of them were weird to the point that they might turn off some of the less exploratory listeners .... although I suppose that if I'm very happily comparing some of the music to Daniel Johnston, who I love, perhaps my weird metre is on a different setting than a lot of people, haha. Anyway, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I like his solo stuff more than I like The Tragically Hip's!
I meant weird in the context of his music with the Hip. Not weird in general. I found CMG to be quite inaccessible, but I also listened to it for the first time when I was still just a "radio" listener. But it has grown on me. I really dig the Grand Bounce. I can't wait to get BOTN in the mail.
And you're welcome!
Oh I see. I love every single album from start to finish! I am sad to see that only And The Conquering Sun is on vinyl though (as far as I can tell from a quick search anyway. Edit: The Grand Bounce is too actually. Not sure how easy it is to find though. I think not at all. There isn't even anything on sale on discogs).
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
another great show on the tour. like london another complete shocker for an opening song choice loving machine more and more. toronto # 4 and flamenco and 50mc were the highlights. but every song is a winner. first i thought the slower more atmospheric songs would be the ones that would make the water flow but last night it ended up being 50MC. mid song caught me reflecting on how great that song is and what it means to toronto/canada and then thinking again that this is the greatest live rock moment ever and then thinking oh no this might be the last time i ever see this :(
2016-08-10 - Toronto, Ontario 01 The Luxury 02 Little Bones 03 Fiddler's Green 04 Three Pistols 05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind 06 Tired As F**k 07 What Blue 08 Machine 09 My Music At Work 10 Lake Fever 11 Toronto #4 12 Puttin' Down 13 Gift Shop 14 Springtime In Vienna 15 Flamenco 16 Ahead By A Century 17 Fully Completely 18 At The Hundredth Meridian 19 Wheat Kings 20 50 Mission Cap - 21 Grace, Too 22 So Hard Done By 23 Nautical Disaster - 24 Bobcaygeon 25 Poets
another great show on the tour. like london another complete shocker for an opening song choice loving machine more and more. toronto # 4 and flamenco and 50mc were the highlights. but every song is a winner. first i thought the slower more atmospheric songs would be the ones that would make the water flow but last night it ended up being 50MC. mid song caught me reflecting on how great that song is and what it means to toronto/canada and then thinking again that this is the greatest live rock moment ever and then thinking oh no this might be the last time i ever see this :(
2016-08-10 - Toronto, Ontario 01 The Luxury 02 Little Bones 03 Fiddler's Green 04 Three Pistols 05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind 06 Tired As F**k 07 What Blue 08 Machine 09 My Music At Work 10 Lake Fever 11 Toronto #4 12 Puttin' Down 13 Gift Shop 14 Springtime In Vienna 15 Flamenco 16 Ahead By A Century 17 Fully Completely 18 At The Hundredth Meridian 19 Wheat Kings 20 50 Mission Cap - 21 Grace, Too 22 So Hard Done By 23 Nautical Disaster - 24 Bobcaygeon 25 Poets
Nautical disaster. Was only thing missing for me from two Vancouver shows. Hope to hear it on the cbc broadcast Reading that Toronto crowd was off the charts loud. Well done
I was shocked to look back at past Hip setlists of shows I've attended and I've actually heard Fiddler's Green. DAMN! It was during the World Container tour. Surprised I don't remember that.
I was shocked to look back at past Hip setlists of shows I've attended and I've actually heard Fiddler's Green. DAMN! It was during the World Container tour. Surprised I don't remember that.
I do this all the time. And I sit and think to myself, "Holy crap. I'm losing my gawddamn mind."
Maybe I'm not. If it's happening to you as well... maybe that's normal for old crappers like us!
I was shocked to look back at past Hip setlists of shows I've attended and I've actually heard Fiddler's Green. DAMN! It was during the World Container tour. Surprised I don't remember that.
I do this all the time. And I sit and think to myself, "Holy crap. I'm losing my gawddamn mind."
Maybe I'm not. If it's happening to you as well... maybe that's normal for old crappers like us!
I think it also may have to do with not really paying attention at the time to what they played or never played for other shows other than what I was attending. I had no idea until recently that there was 15 years where they didn't play that song.
I also tend to be horrible at recalling what a band played, even later on that night. People will ask me "how was the show?". I say "awesome!". "did they play (this)?".
another great show on the tour. like london another complete shocker for an opening song choice loving machine more and more. toronto # 4 and flamenco and 50mc were the highlights. but every song is a winner. first i thought the slower more atmospheric songs would be the ones that would make the water flow but last night it ended up being 50MC. mid song caught me reflecting on how great that song is and what it means to toronto/canada and then thinking again that this is the greatest live rock moment ever and then thinking oh no this might be the last time i ever see this :(
2016-08-10 - Toronto, Ontario 01 The Luxury 02 Little Bones 03 Fiddler's Green 04 Three Pistols 05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind 06 Tired As F**k 07 What Blue 08 Machine 09 My Music At Work 10 Lake Fever 11 Toronto #4 12 Puttin' Down 13 Gift Shop 14 Springtime In Vienna 15 Flamenco 16 Ahead By A Century 17 Fully Completely 18 At The Hundredth Meridian 19 Wheat Kings 20 50 Mission Cap - 21 Grace, Too 22 So Hard Done By 23 Nautical Disaster - 24 Bobcaygeon 25 Poets
just like pearl jam the shows keep getting better! feeling blessed to be a part of this. so much respect for gord. it's a celebration, no question about it gd top of his game last night, in all his greatness and uniqueness. there is no one like him the metallic suits, the hats and those feathers! baker having fun and playing fantastic. smiles, hugs and kisses it's a beautiful thing. bought $5 tragically hip rolling papers and a couple of stickers like all bands now. the money is in the merch. mega lines all night long highlight every song and it's a good life(such a great video) and throwing off glass ending the show with abac with these words "and disappointing you is getting me down " wow
Fri Aug 12, 2016 Toronto, Ontario 01 Courage 02 Locked In The Trunk Of A Car 03 Eldorado 04 At The Hundredth Meridian 05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind 06 In Sarnia 07 What Blue 08 Machine 09 The Dire Wolf 10 Use It Up 11 It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken 12 Throwing Off Glass 13 Grace, Too 14 Greasy Jungle 15 Scared 16 Nautical Disaster 17 Membership 18 Bobcaygeon 19 Something On 20 Fireworks - 21 New Orleans Is Sinking 22 Boots Or Hearts 23 Blow At HIgh Dough - 24 Gift Shop 25 Ahead By A Century
I tell this story, my Tragically Hip story, every PJ Board since 1998 or so, and i don't think i've told it on this board, and i don't think anyone cares,lol.. but eh... i like retelling it.
It's summer 1996...The Black Crowes are coming to town and, well, it's 1996--you have to camp out for tix!
Now I live a solid 45-60 minutes west of Detroit, depending on how fast you drive. There are about a dozen or so of us in line at our ticketmaster out in the suburbs. They're running a ticket lottery for placement for this show cause, you know, the Crowes sell out fast. Well the guy who wins...is a dude from Toronto, who is in town for a wedding.
He's not here for Crowes tickets, no. He starts spinning some tale of a band called the Tragically Hip...how huge they are in Canada. He tells us they are lined around Maple Leaf Gardens twice just for wristbands for a chance at tickets to their show there.
He's not sure he can get Hip tickets here in Michigan for this. The people who at the store aren't sure either. So we wait. And as we wait, he evangelizes how great they are for the half hour between the lottery draw and tix going on sale. 30 minutes might not seem like a lot..but try talking for 30 minutes straight on one subject and see how much you can actually convey in that time!
10am hits..he's first in line...and the s.o.b. jumps all the wristband people in Toronto and gets tickets,lol. Good on him. Me? we get tickets, the Crowes....usually awesome...Chris seemed a bit too fucked up that show, but thats here nor there for this thread.
Fast forward to the point of this thread...the Hip. I'm at a record store a couple weeks later...and all this dude's talking them up has me in front of their albums at the store. One problem---I don't know which to buy! So....i go with the album that has the little sticker on it with the most "hit songs included"....Fully Completely.
So i pop it into my CD player...and briefly look through the liner notes and do you want to know my first thought. My first honest-to-God reaction?
They have TWO guys named Gord?? wtf, Canada....
I put it in...I listen. I'm not impressed. You know how it is. I'm sure this has happened to all of you with some/many bands over the years. But this album...just sounded bare, instrumentally, i don't know. It still does, really.
But i was younger...like 19 at the time. And NHL '97 came out soon on the PS1. And i played a season of it. And Fully Completely was put in my rotation while i was playing it. And it started getting more and more play.
And i found out...i really like that album. Like, really really like it.
Courage-great! Looking for a place to happen...great! Hundreth meridian--don't know who Ry Cooder or Rye Cooper is, but that song is great and he could sing MY eulogy! Locked in the Trunk.....that was a "sticker song," featured on it.... kinda goofy, all those "let me outs!" but fun! The title track is great....(the whole album is, i know i skipped a couple and will probably again)...but my favoirte then..and probably now still is Fifty Mission Cap. Why? I don't know! It sounds like an amaaaaaazing hockey story. And if you/I go back to when this took place... 1996-97... my Detroit team...well, that was magical era for Hockey. Hey, Toronto.... You're going to win one again. It's going to be so great when you do, too. I'll be happy for you. Even though we were mortal enemies the last time we were in the same conference....I dunno..i'm older now. We've had some titles, they're great. I hope you get to feel that feeling!
Wheat Kings....ehhh-- in my head, this feels like it's probably a hit radio song...i just never could get into it. It's probably my one skip if i skip a song, though i probably wouldn't. And El Dorado was super catchy last track.
Bottom line.. this album grew on me big. i still listen to it a few times a year. I've tried a few other albums...they don't stick. I think Fully Completely was a time and place for me, even if it was 4 years after it's release, lol. But thats ok! I put this on at work sometimes and people are like "what the heck...." and i'm like, "hey, i like this!"
But now...man, i heard the news on the one Gord and that is a...yeah. His attitude, though?? Like, basically, "Fuck it, lets go tour once more!" How can that not give you goosebumps? I can't imagine the range of emotions going through the fanbase at these shows. Like, if this were Pearl Jam and any of their members...i'd probably be in tears for the entirety of the show.
But yeah...I'm a total casual united states fan, but dammit, that one album has given me 100s of playthroughs overs 20 years and God bless The Hip for it.
I tell this story, my Tragically Hip story, every PJ Board since 1998 or so, and i don't think i've told it on this board, and i don't think anyone cares,lol.. but eh... i like retelling it.
It's summer 1996...The Black Crowes are coming to town and, well, it's 1996--you have to camp out for tix!
Now I live a solid 45-60 minutes west of Detroit, depending on how fast you drive. There are about a dozen or so of us in line at our ticketmaster out in the suburbs. They're running a ticket lottery for placement for this show cause, you know, the Crowes sell out fast. Well the guy who wins...is a dude from Toronto, who is in town for a wedding.
He's not here for Crowes tickets, no. He starts spinning some tale of a band called the Tragically Hip...how huge they are in Canada. He tells us they are lined around Maple Leaf Gardens twice just for wristbands for a chance at tickets to their show there.
He's not sure he can get Hip tickets here in Michigan for this. The people who at the store aren't sure either. So we wait. And as we wait, he evangelizes how great they are for the half hour between the lottery draw and tix going on sale. 30 minutes might not seem like a lot..but try talking for 30 minutes straight on one subject and see how much you can actually convey in that time!
10am hits..he's first in line...and the s.o.b. jumps all the wristband people in Toronto and gets tickets,lol. Good on him. Me? we get tickets, the Crowes....usually awesome...Chris seemed a bit too fucked up that show, but thats here nor there for this thread.
Fast forward to the point of this thread...the Hip. I'm at a record store a couple weeks later...and all this dude's talking them up has me in front of their albums at the store. One problem---I don't know which to buy! So....i go with the album that has the little sticker on it with the most "hit songs included"....Fully Completely.
So i pop it into my CD player...and briefly look through the liner notes and do you want to know my first thought. My first honest-to-God reaction?
They have TWO guys named Gord?? wtf, Canada....
I put it in...I listen. I'm not impressed. You know how it is. I'm sure this has happened to all of you with some/many bands over the years. But this album...just sounded bare, instrumentally, i don't know. It still does, really.
But i was younger...like 19 at the time. And NHL '97 came out soon on the PS1. And i played a season of it. And Fully Completely was put in my rotation while i was playing it. And it started getting more and more play.
And i found out...i really like that album. Like, really really like it.
Courage-great! Looking for a place to happen...great! Hundreth meridian--don't know who Ry Cooder or Rye Cooper is, but that song is great and he could sing MY eulogy! Locked in the Trunk.....that was a "sticker song," featured on it.... kinda goofy, all those "let me outs!" but fun! The title track is great....(the whole album is, i know i skipped a couple and will probably again)...but my favoirte then..and probably now still is Fifty Mission Cap. Why? I don't know! It sounds like an amaaaaaazing hockey story. And if you/I go back to when this took place... 1996-97... my Detroit team...well, that was magical era for Hockey. Hey, Toronto.... You're going to win one again. It's going to be so great when you do, too. I'll be happy for you. Even though we were mortal enemies the last time we were in the same conference....I dunno..i'm older now. We've had some titles, they're great. I hope you get to feel that feeling!
Wheat Kings....ehhh-- in my head, this feels like it's probably a hit radio song...i just never could get into it. It's probably my one skip if i skip a song, though i probably wouldn't. And El Dorado was super catchy last track.
Bottom line.. this album grew on me big. i still listen to it a few times a year. I've tried a few other albums...they don't stick. I think Fully Completely was a time and place for me, even if it was 4 years after it's release, lol. But thats ok! I put this on at work sometimes and people are like "what the heck...." and i'm like, "hey, i like this!"
But now...man, i heard the news on the one Gord and that is a...yeah. His attitude, though?? Like, basically, "Fuck it, lets go tour once more!" How can that not give you goosebumps? I can't imagine the range of emotions going through the fanbase at these shows. Like, if this were Pearl Jam and any of their members...i'd probably be in tears for the entirety of the show.
But yeah...I'm a total casual united states fan, but dammit, that one album has given me 100s of playthroughs overs 20 years and God bless The Hip for it.
Cool.
The Hip is an acquired taste, but once you dig them... they're top shelf.
Comments
www.headstonesband.com
www.headstonesband.com
I bet someone else here would probably love that CD though!
(and I just started playing it, and must say I love the intro... reminds me of Daniel Johnston.
2016 - 5/5, 5/8, 5/10, 5/12, 8/5, 8/7
2014 - 6/28, 6/29
2013 - 10/12, 11/24
2011 - 9/14
2005 - 9/16
www.headstonesband.com
Winnipeg,
01 At The Hundredth Meridian
02 Pigeon Camera
03 Courage
04 Wheat Kings
05 Machine
06 Tired As f**k
07 What Blue
08 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind
09 Streets Ahead
10 The Lookahead
11 Man Machine Poem
12 At Transformation
13 Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man
14 Poets
15 Bobcaygeon
16 Membership
17 The Last Of The Unplucked Gems
18 Little Bones
19 The Luxury
20 Long Time Running
21 Twist My Arm
22 Boots Or Hearts
23 Opiated
24 New Orleans Is Sinking
25 Springtime In Vienna
26 Ahead By A Century
LOVE how the band is hanging around center stage to play/jam
gord being gord will always be the show. and those lyrics....
summer killing us not a big fave but actually really enjoyed it on monday
nashville, so hard done by, gus and something on were highlights BUT the highlight for me was scared
little bones was on the written setlist but wasn't played.
2016-08-08 - London, Ontario
1. Opiated
2. Blow at High Dough
3. Boots or Hearts
4. New Orleans is Sinking
5. In a World Possessed by the Human Mind
6. Ocean Next
7. What Blue
8. Machine
9. Summer’s Killing Us
10. Gus the Polar Bear from Central Park
11. If New Orleans is Beat
12. It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night
13. Grace Too
14. Scared
15. So Hard Done By
16. Daredevil
17. Something On
18. Poets
19. Bobcaygeon
20. Fireworks
—
21. Fully Completely
22. Pigeon Camera
23. Courage
—
24. Fiddler’s Green
and fiddler's green. my god. that song would have had me on the floor weeping like a baby.
www.headstonesband.com
Anyway, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I like his solo stuff more than I like The Tragically Hip's!
And you're welcome!
www.headstonesband.com
I love every single album from start to finish! I am sad to see that only And The Conquering Sun is on vinyl though (as far as I can tell from a quick search anyway. Edit: The Grand Bounce is too actually. Not sure how easy it is to find though. I think not at all. There isn't even anything on sale on discogs).
like london another complete shocker for an opening song choice
loving machine more and more. toronto # 4 and flamenco and 50mc were the highlights. but every song is a winner.
first i thought the slower more atmospheric songs would be the ones that would make the water flow but last night it ended up being 50MC. mid song caught me reflecting on how great that song is and what it means to toronto/canada and then thinking again that this is the greatest live rock moment ever and then thinking oh no this might be the last time i ever see this :(
2016-08-10 - Toronto, Ontario
01 The Luxury
02 Little Bones
03 Fiddler's Green
04 Three Pistols
05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind
06 Tired As F**k
07 What Blue
08 Machine
09 My Music At Work
10 Lake Fever
11 Toronto #4
12 Puttin' Down
13 Gift Shop
14 Springtime In Vienna
15 Flamenco
16 Ahead By A Century
17 Fully Completely
18 At The Hundredth Meridian
19 Wheat Kings
20 50 Mission Cap
-
21 Grace, Too
22 So Hard Done By
23 Nautical Disaster
-
24 Bobcaygeon
25 Poets
Awesome.
classic eagles story...
http://www.macleans.ca/culture/jim-cuddy-celebrates-the-tragically-hip/
www.headstonesband.com
Killer list in Toronto!
-Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/22/9 -Pemberton,B.C-7/17/16
-Vancouver,B.C-GM Place -9/25/9 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/8/18
-Vancouver,B.C-Pacific Coliseum-9/25/11 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/10/18
-Misoula,MT-Adams Field House-9/30/12
Hope to hear it on the cbc broadcast
Reading that Toronto crowd was off the charts loud. Well done
www.headstonesband.com
Maybe I'm not. If it's happening to you as well... maybe that's normal for old crappers like us!
I also tend to be horrible at recalling what a band played, even later on that night. People will ask me "how was the show?". I say "awesome!". "did they play (this)?".
www.headstonesband.com
here's a new article with some great link's for/on gord
i didn't know about wearing the grey to the shows in support of brain cancer research
Gord Downie's chief oncologist, longtime Tragically Hip fan, a mainstay on tour
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/arts/gord-downie-james-perry-hip-1.3717247
feeling blessed to be a part of this. so much respect for gord. it's a celebration, no question about it
gd top of his game last night, in all his greatness and uniqueness. there is no one like him
the metallic suits, the hats and those feathers!
baker having fun and playing fantastic. smiles, hugs and kisses
it's a beautiful thing.
bought $5 tragically hip rolling papers and a couple of stickers
like all bands now. the money is in the merch. mega lines all night long
highlight every song and it's a good life(such a great video) and throwing off glass
ending the show with abac with these words "and disappointing you is getting me down "
wow
Fri Aug 12, 2016
Toronto, Ontario
01 Courage
02 Locked In The Trunk Of A Car
03 Eldorado
04 At The Hundredth Meridian
05 In A World Possessed By The Human Mind
06 In Sarnia
07 What Blue
08 Machine
09 The Dire Wolf
10 Use It Up
11 It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken
12 Throwing Off Glass
13 Grace, Too
14 Greasy Jungle
15 Scared
16 Nautical Disaster
17 Membership
18 Bobcaygeon
19 Something On
20 Fireworks
-
21 New Orleans Is Sinking
22 Boots Or Hearts
23 Blow At HIgh Dough
-
24 Gift Shop
25 Ahead By A Century
It's summer 1996...The Black Crowes are coming to town and, well, it's 1996--you have to camp out for tix!
Now I live a solid 45-60 minutes west of Detroit, depending on how fast you drive. There are about a dozen or so of us in line at our ticketmaster out in the suburbs. They're running a ticket lottery for placement for this show cause, you know, the Crowes sell out fast. Well the guy who wins...is a dude from Toronto, who is in town for a wedding.
He's not here for Crowes tickets, no. He starts spinning some tale of a band called the Tragically Hip...how huge they are in Canada. He tells us they are lined around Maple Leaf Gardens twice just for wristbands for a chance at tickets to their show there.
He's not sure he can get Hip tickets here in Michigan for this. The people who at the store aren't sure either. So we wait. And as we wait, he evangelizes how great they are for the half hour between the lottery draw and tix going on sale. 30 minutes might not seem like a lot..but try talking for 30 minutes straight on one subject and see how much you can actually convey in that time!
10am hits..he's first in line...and the s.o.b. jumps all the wristband people in Toronto and gets tickets,lol. Good on him. Me? we get tickets, the Crowes....usually awesome...Chris seemed a bit too fucked up that show, but thats here nor there for this thread.
Fast forward to the point of this thread...the Hip. I'm at a record store a couple weeks later...and all this dude's talking them up has me in front of their albums at the store. One problem---I don't know which to buy! So....i go with the album that has the little sticker on it with the most "hit songs included"....Fully Completely.
So i pop it into my CD player...and briefly look through the liner notes and do you want to know my first thought. My first honest-to-God reaction?
They have TWO guys named Gord?? wtf, Canada....
I put it in...I listen. I'm not impressed. You know how it is. I'm sure this has happened to all of you with some/many bands over the years. But this album...just sounded bare, instrumentally, i don't know. It still does, really.
But i was younger...like 19 at the time. And NHL '97 came out soon on the PS1. And i played a season of it. And Fully Completely was put in my rotation while i was playing it. And it started getting more and more play.
And i found out...i really like that album. Like, really really like it.
Courage-great! Looking for a place to happen...great! Hundreth meridian--don't know who Ry Cooder or Rye Cooper is, but that song is great and he could sing MY eulogy! Locked in the Trunk.....that was a "sticker song," featured on it.... kinda goofy, all those "let me outs!" but fun! The title track is great....(the whole album is, i know i skipped a couple and will probably again)...but my favoirte then..and probably now still is Fifty Mission Cap. Why? I don't know! It sounds like an amaaaaaazing hockey story. And if you/I go back to when this took place... 1996-97... my Detroit team...well, that was magical era for Hockey. Hey, Toronto.... You're going to win one again. It's going to be so great when you do, too. I'll be happy for you. Even though we were mortal enemies the last time we were in the same conference....I dunno..i'm older now. We've had some titles, they're great. I hope you get to feel that feeling!
Wheat Kings....ehhh-- in my head, this feels like it's probably a hit radio song...i just never could get into it. It's probably my one skip if i skip a song, though i probably wouldn't. And El Dorado was super catchy last track.
Bottom line.. this album grew on me big. i still listen to it a few times a year. I've tried a few other albums...they don't stick. I think Fully Completely was a time and place for me, even if it was 4 years after it's release, lol. But thats ok! I put this on at work sometimes and people are like "what the heck...." and i'm like, "hey, i like this!"
But now...man, i heard the news on the one Gord and that is a...yeah. His attitude, though?? Like, basically, "Fuck it, lets go tour once more!" How can that not give you goosebumps? I can't imagine the range of emotions going through the fanbase at these shows. Like, if this were Pearl Jam and any of their members...i'd probably be in tears for the entirety of the show.
But yeah...I'm a total casual united states fan, but dammit, that one album has given me 100s of playthroughs overs 20 years and God bless The Hip for it.
The Hip is an acquired taste, but once you dig them... they're top shelf.