Hey there. I just got back from seeing both Toronto shows and man they
rocked!!! I'm inclined to think that the second one was better, but my
seats were way better too, so I can't be very objective. But
none-the-less, I still think the second show was better.

Gord was as cool as ever(he did a little tap dance both nights out on
the middle point of the star stage with his mic upside down so you
could hear it hehe). Johnny was amazing, I think he's better than
ever!
Gord was grooving, Bobby wailed, and Paul continues to be talented at
smoking singing and playing. It's a bit of a blur now, but on more
than
one older song Bobby really cranked out the guitar much more than the
cd versions (duh, but I thought I'd say that :)

I can't give any accurate setlists or anything but I can say that if
you ever have a chance like this, try and see them twice in a row
(especially in the same city) Because with the both shows combined you
get to hear so many songs!!! Among the less heard songs they played
Opiated, Cordelia, and 3 pistols. They played Best Friends, but I
swear
the line "I called up from the bottom floor got no answer from the
11th
floor" was not in it. I don't think they played Stereo, but I only
know
like one line from it. There seemed to be a lot of new lyrics,
altogether with the in-betweeny songs eh. And GD also sang one verse
to
If You're Freaked I'm Fucked, the second night at the beginning of IOD
and the first night at the beginning of (???) a slow song :). (That
verse being: "If you're freaked I'm fucked, I love you that much. If
you're freaked I'm fucked, I know doesn't sound like much."(pretty
much) To me that was as if to say, well, doesn't sound like much eh,
like 2 lines out of a song we were/are making that might be the only 2
that are gonna stick around eh. And they played hiccups too.

Also the lazers and lights look way better on the floor and they did
that cool sky effect when they played 700ft ceiling. But afaik, most
of
the cool lighting is kind of lost on the people in the stands.
Security
was pretty tight I geuss, I mean, I wouldn't want to be trying to
sneak
cameras or tape recorders in (but I'm sure its easy if you know what
you're doing). Although security seemed to continually ignore, even
though right in front of me was the center ice isle, that there were
like 5 people in the 3 seats to my left. (which got kinda annoying,
you
know, like how they start pushing you along and spreading out, but,
it's no big deal)

I Could believe how many people weren't that into some of the songs,
and the concerts on general. But thats cause I know people are like
that for some reason. But what was pretty amazing and will make any
fan
who didn't get tickets is that these 2 guys sitting next to me in the
reds on thursday sat down after about 4 songs, and then LEFT! :O  Dumb
eh.

Also I'd like to say that the idiot who -in his own little world i'm
sure- figured that he was at edenfest or something Although he was in
the REDS! JUmped down and landed on some people not very far from me!
Like he was trying to crowd surf or something!!! Two words to describe
that: ASS HOLE! :) And, I mean, people are gonna smoke their pot and
their cigarettes, but what the hell is with cigars?! Both night there
were people by me smoking cigars. Like little shits eh. If you like
smoking fine. But keep in mind that some people can get HUGE headaches
from it or worse. And I got some cigar smoking idiot behind blowing it
right at my head i swear. I couldn't see for a couple minutes for my
eyes killing me and watering.

And the Rheo's did an ok show. The second night they were a bit
better.
But like, I'm not going to run out and buy their album. JUst my
opinion
eh. I liked it more last time with C.O.H. and Odds. And- this is
interesting: While I wasn't thinking about it or anything, my friend,
who didn't remember who the Rheo's were mention like one song or 2 in
that "Hey these guys sound like that old singer guy" ;) "Who? David
Bowie?" "YEAH TOTALLY". I heard it too after he said it, and
especially
you Jason, I think it has to do with one song in paricular, ya know,
like if you're trying to understand what these ppl mean eh. Not that
there's anything wrong with it, just saying.  And I just gotta say,
that "We are the horses" song has ALways annoyed me. I hate that song!
Arg! Hell, I'm coming away from 2 consecutive Hip shows and all i can
think of is: "Holy mackenaw joe, <holy mackenaw> Holy...." :@
 

ANyways, holy long post here. These were my 6th and 7th Hip shows and
they RULED!!!!! *ending notes:Paul chugged down a beer at the very end
of the show. 4, what appeared to be Rheo's came on stage with no
shirts
on holding hands with  H I P !  painted on their stomachs! :D And at
the end there was some kinda wierd lit up thing on the side of the
stage like a santa or a mascot of a store, but it was a little guy in
white with a blue scarf. Also G.D. pretended to be playing hockey with
the mic during 50 mission. Anyways, amazing shows too cool! Bring on
ARA97!!!!!
 

DAVE