Well, I had an amazing time down in Erie. We arrived around 6pm Friday to the Erie County Fair Grounds, and it was packed.
Since we were there to see the Hip, I didn't catch too many bands, so it was a heavy drinking night. Everybody was really cool,
and we made friends with all of our camping neighbors, mainly Canucks. Unbelievable heat, however. Anyway, on to the show.
They got underway at about 9:15. I started off in the back, setting up my bootlegging equipment. They opened with Grace,
Too. Relentlessly, I pushed through the crowd until I was up front. It was incredibly hot in there. I was right infront of Robby.
The crowd was fenced in with some flimsy snow fence that was constantly on the verge of collapse. Evertime it would tip over,
the security guards would just drop their shoulders and ram us back. The finished the first set, and came back with Bobcaygeon.
They then started Fire in the Hole, which Gord proclaimed to be an anti-hate song. He went into about five minutes of some
time of lecture before breaking into the lyrics. Meanwhile, everybody is getting worked into a frenzy. By the time he started the
actual song and got to the line "There's a fire in the hole!" people were going absolutely crazy. People we pushing from the
back the whole time, but now the were doing it ten times harder. Then the snow fence broke free. Probably twenty to thirty
people collapsed with it. Seeing the huge pile of bodies and the fans still charging forward, Gord wisely stopped the show right
then and there. Those people would have gotten trampled. I was in the front row to the right of this, and the rest of the fence
collapsed just after the middle did. Had the show kept going, it could have been real ugly. The whole thing lasted 80 minutes.
But it was fucking great. My first show since '97 ARA.

Wow, just got back from Grape Jam. The Hip put on a great performance,
even though it was cut short in the enocre - half way through Fire In The
Hole, Gordie stepped away from the mic and told the band that was enough,
and they left. I was standing about 30 rows back, and saw something being
tossed towards him - I think it hit him. Anyone know what went down?!

Anyway, I just had one beef. Okay, I got there early in the afternoon to
enjoy some of the other entertainers, and as it got closer to show time,
we all stood our ground, getting ready for the Hip to come out. Well I was
fortunate enough to be standing center stage, SECOND ROW...but it didn't
last long. Now, I've been to many, many Hip conerts in person, usually I
get settled around the 7th or 8th row deep...so this was the closest I had
been ever! But it was so not worth it! Sure, nice to be that close to
Gordie, to see him do his thing...the the crowd was being UNBEARABLE -
trying to rush the stage, and fans were getting knocked down and crushed
continuously! It was horrible! Maybe if I were 6 feet tall and over 200
pounds, I could have handled it for the entire show...but I'm a small
female (5'4", 100 pounds) and it wasn't much fun for me. After about a
half hour, I realized that I needed my freedom - to be able to jump up and
down, swing the arms, enjoy the songs...so I did the smart thing, and
MOVED back about 25 rows. MUCH better! And the people were much nicer back
there, less drunk! ;)

But I am not complaining, really. I guess it's to be expected when you get
that close to the front. I just know not to do that again at the next few
shows I am going to see!

But really, a great show...with a great mixture of new and old tunes. Two
thumbs up! Again, just a shame it was cut short!

Kari
..patiently waiting for Toledo!!!!