Security is tight as the contest winners stroll proudly by me and the 6 other Hip fans who showed up to support and see maybe if they could get inside... the biggest band over the last decade in Canada and other than those invited we had aİ7 fans outside..mmm.. It probably helped us as Todlyn chatted with his connection and we over heard a few groups had not shown... " Are you a fan" the guy asks me... pulling out 2 HIPCLUB cards I giggle saying 50+ plus shows sir ."..andİare you on the Henhouse"İ hells ya "Jeffro"..... wellİour next standing position at 8:50pmİwas in front of the Sound Board.
Ok....I have been to some small shows before like Crowbar, State Penn.İ
but this was like an Indie band releasing their 1st crack at career.İHead
count was 250... including contest winners from the radio, HipİClub and
some Universal folks... then there is Todlyn and I represent'in the HH...
truth is they should have bussed all of you into the Club above Q107 last
night and we would have enjoyed a few intelligent questions that didn't
have clear answers on the website for the last 3 weeks.....you all no how
toİUSE ITİUP ....lit off the show very well with even some-not-so-hip fans
grooving immediately...to Johnny's drum machine..and GordS's base-clinic.İDownie
presented the lyrics confidently and his voice shined thru on the this
one...ARE YOU READY is that first song on the CD i think I might skip to
go to a favourite but I never do... and liveİthe haunting guitarsİcome
blasting down the isles like a Rock song with legs...... IT's A G! ! !
OOD LIFE'sİ... Pink Floyd feel...withİBobby tickling his music-box is taken
over with Paul shy stepping upİto his mic which seemed to have that extra
bit of volume we all hope for at a hip show..and more momentum blew in
with what I think are some of the best lyrics on IVL.... "get life day-to-day"....
with a small commercial break a few wandered right up front and got pictures
taken with Gord D , and eventually Bobby and Gord S.. chatted with a few
cameras.. Paul with his "no collar-robert plant" shirt was tuning his guitar
alone and would glance up briefly every few seconds... heck with us standing
at the back only 25 feet away... I threwİmy thumbs-up with a nod and Paul
looked right at Todlyn & I and waved nodding back. I hadn't quite warmed
up to SILVER-JET like many had butİas Gord put his guitar downİ...and edged
toward the front of the small ship they called a stage this tune was clearly
a favourite ofİthe boys and all the gregory ! ! ! peck fans....my heart
jumped too!İ THROWING OFF GLASS was apparently one of Downie's fav's to
perform... an interesting song...that I am not sold on personally yet...
Now for a another "get the fans on their feet Rock jam...THE DIRE WOLF
was all I had hoped for...with the lyrics leading the way "Isle aux Morts"
..again a guitar riff that grabs you like a tough guy wouldİ...look for
PAUL on this one...hisİgroove was coming out nicely and then bobby plays
right back at him... Gord S.İbounces proudly and smiles because of what
"his band" is providing us...he knows it's a...İBEAUTIFUL THING and this
oneİis what it isİ........ a simple feel good tune that Paul & Sinclairİ
add some great back up followed up with Bobby's tribute to Clapton...trust
me you'll be singing along to this one...continuing...Now a phone-question
is asked about what is the next NOIS type song that may show signs of a
jam-fest...enter --->THE DARK CANUCK ..."you c! ! ! an cast your doubts"
but this one folks live may "Turn em inside out"...I ate it up....mmmm
at the 3minute mark it changes pace and really begind to ROCK.....no gord
has no wood strapped on to himself on this one ..he is free-stylin...and
his team is taking the music ship to a new speed!! The potential here is
something i can't write about - see it for yourself...how about some early
90's Hip...come on in .. THE DARKEST ONE - ok...the guitar-blend here reminded
me of the UTH days... a great grooving track that hasİthatİLittle Bones
ending..... Another power house that i once again I didn't purchase 100%...and
after hearing it last night i have grown to Love...to Love...to Love -
downie experiments here with his voice...and it works! Sold ! The video
guy beside us was from the Hip club and said video clips would be going
up after editing !!!İ - Tonights the night, Tonight " We're gonna go out
and get ALL TORE UP....İ play yer Tonight's-the Nights Right......! ! !
man this song....this night ..was there ever any doubt Todlyn asked...meİİ
"Na...." there really wasn't are you all listening to this last song they
played with me as i type this for you future IVL addicts..???? Tonight's.....well
all sweaty and satisfied like I'm 7 on Dec 25th..... take a gander at the
word play in this diddy..." Drink up folks it's getting on time to close"......or
is it ... Camera's off.. LAKE FEVER - Hurry-Hurray.... the group now begins
to stand & sing the more familiar... the band feeds off of this....did
the sound guy push the volume..... again PAUL steps up and I swear opened
his mouth while singing...withİhis smoke... a few on his side of the roomİstand
and cheer... with his part..in this play...... - now its Mr. Bakers turn
to take us out with a POETS...guitar-jam.... between Gordie's poses and
frowning brow....almost an hour & 45 min.... the MUSICAL-SAUNAİ release
party has ended... a couple of Beer with "dude" who a! ! ! ssisted us inİ
(thanks again)..and a few stories of old and talk of the New.... you know....İ
you know....
ONE song title I left out I think should have been inserted here befor
this part - LEAVE
.".... Another power house that i once again I didn't purchase 100%...and
after hearing it last night i have grown to Love...to Love...to Love -
downie experiments here with his voice...and it works! Sold ! "
ARE YOU READY .......
JeFFro