Buffalo News – 2006 [reprise]

2006 [reprise]

From local shows to blockbuster albums, News Critic Jeff Miers runs down his lists of favorites from an eventful year in pop music

By JEFF MIERS
News Pop Music Critic
12/17/2006

There is no one unified theme connecting the best of 2006 in popular music. Taken together, the music doesn’t present itself as a cogent novel – it’s more like a collection of short stories with little connecting them, aside from a certain spirit of exploration.
The usual tropes didn’t apply this year.

Popular music has long been held to be the terrain of youth, but some of this year’s strongest music was made by artists in their 50s and even 60s. Hip-hop is said to be the most radical pop music of today, but many of the strongest records released paid that form little mind, and the lion’s share of genuine hip-hop records were far from daring.

Heavy metal is sniffed at and written off as a dinosaur, but a few unabashedly metal-loving artists did some fantastic work in 2006, stuff that doesn’t sound so much dated as it does timeless and logical.

Protest music, long held to be an annoying vestige of the ’60s, made a surprising comeback, and not just among the folk who started making records way back when – the modern punk-rock crowd was sounding off on social and political issues as well.

And while digital downloading continues to be a controversial aspect of the way we gather and listen to music, its tangible effects are tough to discern. The strongest artists made albums, not singles. And while 2005 saw online purchasing of music explode, this year that blaze cooled considerably.

In all, 2006 was a very good year for pop music. Here’s the best of what went down: (I edited out the interesting, but non-Hip related portions)
The Top Downloads1) Ratdog – Live, Oct. 28, Town Ballroom, Buffalo
2) Tragically Hip – “The Lonely End of the Rink”
3) Lindsey Buckingham – “Cast Away Dreams”
4) U2 and Green Day – “The Saints Are Coming”
5) Beck – “Nausea”

The Top Arena Concert

Tie: The Tragically Hip, Artpark, June 18; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with the Allman Brothers Band, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Aug. 16

The Tragically Hip burned down the house during this fiery Artpark show, previewing a few songs from the then-unreleased “World Container” album. A great set list and a performance smacking of conviction made this one a winner.

Petty and the Allmans played like the truly seasoned pros they are. This show pulled an audience spanning several generations out to Darien Lake for the feel-good gig of the year.

e-mail: jmiers@buffnews.com

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Hipfan and friend Dave Caley has posted his recordings from Holiday Jam on his blog for download.

Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Thanks Dave.

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iPod version

The Tragically Hip
Sportpark Boshoven
Weert, Netherlands
July 9, 2006

DVD (2.35:1, NTSC, Widescreen, Anamorphic)

Video Sources:
Right Soundboard – Sony DCR-SR100 (Chris Kirkpatrick)
Centre Soundboard: HDR-HC1 (HD1080i) to HD Tape (Adrian Burden)
Left Soundboard – HDR-HC1 (HD1080i) to FireStore FS-4 hard drive (Mark Sloggett)
Right Stage – DCR-TRV22 (Dustin Starchuk)

HD converted using MPEG Streamclip

Audio source: Trevor Astrope
AT853RX > SD 722 > Transferred via FireWire > MacBookPro for sync with video

Recorded 50 feet from front left speaker stack.

Edited:
Final Cut Express

DVD & Assembly:
iDVD

In January 2006 The Hip announced plans to tour Europe. On a whim I suggested that we get a group together and follow them. Little did I know that this suggestion would turn into the trip of a lifetime with 7 fellow Hip fans from across this great nation!

This show was on night three of our trek. The previous two nights were spent enjoying shows in London, England & Brugge, Belgium.

Early on the morning of this show some of us got up and took a quick swim in the ocean – it was really, really cold. After warming up we hit the road and headed for Eindhoven where we had a hotel booked.

When we arrived in Eindhoven at the hotel, we were informed that they had given our rooms to a group that was already at the hotel, so we would have to stay somewhere else. Through their Dutch/English we thought they meant that we would have to find another hotel! But what they meant is that we would have to stay at one of their other hotels, and they had rooms booked for us.

They gave us a choice: another similar hotel in Eidhoven – 5 minutes from theirs; or a 5 star resort in Baarlo – 30 minutes from Eindhoven, but closer to Weert.

We went for the resort!

The resort, Chateau de Raay, was incredible – but sadly we had no time to enjoy the amenities. We quickly checked in, gathered our gear and headed for the Weert.

As we had a slight issue securing our tickets from the ticketing agents (had to pick them up in the Netherlands Monday-Friday and we did not arrive until Sunday) The Hip’s management had arranged for us to pick them up at the venue. We pulled into the parking area and told the attendant that we had to pick up our tickets at the box office.

He replied, “No tickets, only passes at the box office. Sit tight and we’ll see if we can get you some All Access passes…” (This is paraphrased from his Dutch/English.)

I shared this news with the guys, and they rightfully scoffed at me.

Ten minutes later with our AAA Wristbands on, they quickly retracted their scoffs…

AAA = All Area Access… or at least that’s what we thought it meant as we were able to access all areas including the side and backstage area.

We wandered the backstage area for a while, saw Gord D walking near his bus and strumming his guitar, before heading to the viewing area.

We grabbed some food, set up our gear, and enjoyed a late afternoon show.

After the show we headed backstage to grab some food and possibly chat with The Hip.

The World Cup final was on TV at this point, so we hung out with many of the days performers, including The Hip, and watched the game.

-chris

Visit the resort in Baarlo.

Setlist
——————————————–
01: Daddy
02: Courage
03: Lonely End Of The Rink
04: Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park
05: Ahead By A Century
06: Gift Shop
07: Summer Is Killing Us
08: Bobcaygeon
09: Nautical Disaster
10: Springtime In Vienna
11: Yer Not The Ocean
12: At The Hundredth Meridian
13: It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken
14: Blow At High Dough
15: My Music At Work

————
Be sure to visit
www.hipfans.com
www.onegeeksopinion.com

:: SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ::

Torrent

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Last night was the 3rd Annual Holiday Jam for Sick Kids Hospital, and as in previous years, the performers did not disappoint!

Buck 65 kicked off the evening with some of his trademark spoken-word/rapping followed by his interpretation of “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”. Many in the crowd were unsure about Buck 65, but warmed to him as his short set progressed.

Matt Mays took the stage second and played a classic “Matt Mays Hliday Jam Set” that put some in the crowd to sleep… but as he admitted, that’s what always happens.

Without any introduction, Kathleen Edwards and her band of friends took the stage and set up their gear. I’ve seen Kathleen before and only recognized Colin (her husband/guitarist). After her first song, she said, “Holiday Jam is like a letter to Playgirl for me as I get to invite up whoever I want to play.” Colin Cripps, Luc Doucette, Jim Bryson and Justin Rutledge made up her all-star team. The played a few KE songs, and Justin sang a song. I was hoping that Jim would take a turn on the guitar & mic, but it was not to be. (Kathleen also introduced the crowd to the “F” word…)
After Kathleen, Sam Roberts’ band mates took the stage and set-up their gear. Sam was no where to be seen. Eventually he came out and the band ripped through a few tracks before inviting tour mates Jason Collett and band on stage for a cover of The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” – which they nailed. Sam said that they have been playing it for more than a month now… way before the Christmas season arrived.

In keeping with Holiday Jam tradition, Matt Mays joined a solo sam Roberts for a tune. Apparently the “rivalry” between the two bands has reached a fevered pitch – dead fish in the van, crickets, and Matt accusing Sam of putting shit on the microphone.
After the awesomeness that is SRB subsided, the always amazing Sarah Harmer took the stage. She opened with a Christmas tune, followed by a few of her songs. Doing her best Phil Collins impersonation, Sarah started a song singing with her guitar before deflty moving to the drums, where she contined to sing, while pounding out a driving beat.

As soon as Sarah Harmer and her playing partners left the stage, the fans who had remained orderly and near the side/back of the room decided to rush the stage and crowd out all of the fans who arrived early enough to get seats. I could go on a rant abot this, but I won’t; you get the point. Thankfully chants of “Hip, Hip, Hip” were reserved until after all of the other artists had completed their sets.

The Hip took the stage to a loud ovation and broke into “A Night Like This” which really threw the hardcore Hipfans for a loop… however the biggest shock for me was “C’Mon Everybody”

Here’s their setlist:

A Night Like This – Bob Dylan
In View – The Hip
C’Mon Everybody – Eddie Cochrane
Makes No Difference – The Band
Bobcaygeon – The Hip
Pretend – The Hip
Queen – David Bowie
Family Band – The Hip
Fireworks – The Hip

Encore:
Summerside Of Life – Gordon Lightfoot (All of the evening’s performers came out for this one.)

This show was recorded – audio and video – in its entirety and will be torrented through The Hip Tracker.

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Fan and friend, Mark Sloggett has just posted “Sloggett’s Cross Country Adventure with The Tragically Hip” to The Hip Tracker.

Here’s what Mark has to say about the post:

“This torrent is comprised of every single show from the Hip’s mini club tour of the four major Canadian markets between October 17th and November 10th, 2006. I was lucky enough to be able to go to all the shows. Every show was taped with the same equipment. The shows were taped with Neumann KM184 microphones with a Lunatec V3 pre-amp into an Edirol R-4 hard disk recorder.

Personally my favourite shows of the tour were Calgary #1 – my knees buckled when they started to play Fiddler’s Green, Toronto #3 – couldn’t believe that they were playing Tiger The Lion, and the Horseshoe Tavern show – finally after following the band for so long I was able to see them in the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.

Soundwise I loved the sound of these mikes. I was able to borrow them from a couple of Guelph taper friends. Thanks Dave and Jeff!

Specially thanks to Patrick, Bernie, Sarah, Jenn, Mav and the rest of the crew at EggPlant for making it possible to tape the shows.

A special note – Vancouver #2 was my 200th Hip show.

Also shout out to the European crew. We found out about these shows after the Amsterdam show from the Hip’s manager. Amazing that everything fell into place like they did.

Anyways enjoy the shows.”

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A new torrent has been uploaded.

Name: TTH: Eat Me Completely
Size: 395.67 MB
Category: SHN/FLAC – Other
Uploaded by: chris

Description:
——————————————————————————-
The Tragically Hip
“Eat Me Completely”

Source: Unknown

Transferred: CD > iTunes AIFF > xACT > FLAC > hipfans.com

Tracks:
01. Blow At High Dough – Ontario Place Forum, 1990-06-22
02. It’s Just As Well – 86th Street Music Hall, Vancouver, 1990
03. Locked In The Trunk Of A Car – Landsdown, Sydney, AUS, 1993-03-18
04. Cordelia – Molson Park, Barrie, 1992-07-01
05. Get Back Again – CBC Studios with Murray McLauchlan, 1992
06. Radio Show – CBC Studios with Murray McLauchlan, 1992
07. Small Town Bringdown – CNE, Molson Canadian Rocks, Toronto, 1993-08-??
08. Greasy Jungle – The Orpheum, Boston, 1994-11-10
09. 2000 Light Years/The Changeling – Grand Central, Ottawa, 1987
10. New Orleans Is Sinking/Nautical Disaster – Kumbaya Festival, Ontario Place, Toronto, 1994-09-05
11. Hey Maria (Gord with Andrew Cash + band) – Kumbaya Festival, Ontario Place, Toronto, 1994-09-05
12. Suzie Q – Grand Central, Ottawa, 1987
13. Baby Please Don’t Go – Grand Central, Ottawa, 1987
14. Thugs – Kumbaya Festival, Ontario Place, Toronto, 1994-09-05
15. Crack My Spine Like A Whip – Ontario Place Forum, Toronto, 1990-06-22

I acquired a copy of this CD some time ago – not sure of the source, creator, etc, but it’s a piece of Hipstory that many fans have enjoyed.

-chris

——————————————————————————-

You can use the URL below to download the torrent (you may have to login).

http://www.thehiptracker.com/torrents-details.php?id=257&hit=1

–
The Hip BT Tracker

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Christmas Basket Fund Online Auction 2006
107.7 MIX FM in Stratford, Ontario had all the performers from the Ovation ’06 Festival sign an Epiphone acoustic guitar.

Signatures include:

• Nelly Furtato
• Hedley
• Jim Cuddy
• The Tragically Hip

A rare and unique collectible for the rock fan.

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If so, check out this deal from MDG Computers. Buy a qualifying laptop, and you get 2 tickets to see The Tragically Hip in Hamilton or Toronto.

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Hey fans,

I just posted a video of 38 Years Old from the June 24, 2006 show at Fort York. This DVD will be posted to thehiptracker.com in the next couple of days.

Enjoy!

iPod ready MP4

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