Wow.  As my ears unring, and my eyes debug, I just have to tell everyone about Halifax.  Reviews of the shows so far on the tour have ranged from disappointed (Calgary) to very pleased (many more).  Put this in the category of amazing!  The Hip was on tonight, friends, and I would have to put this at number 2 on my all time list.  Maybe the day off from New Brunswick helped (though they had good shows there, I hear) but I think the people that came from NB will support me on this:  Tonight's show was incredible.

Highlights:  So many.  The first set was the best Hip set I have heard in person.  Gord was ranting everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE.  But the highlight had to be the one rarity:  YAWNING OR SNARLING.  To top it off, Kate sang from "One night in el paso....to....resurface" and she did it unbelievably well.  She then sang with Gord the rest of the song with her
mike keyed up to the level that his was at so you could hear her.

Giftshop.  Chris played an amazing intro.  The lights the whole show were awesome.

The Completists.  Beautiful.

Did I mention the Ranting.  I couldn't hear much because of bad arena muffling but if there is ever a bootleg of the Halifax show, I pray that it is this one.

Courage.  Spawned a standing ovation with deafening cheers for about 1 minute until Gord asked the crowd to let them continue.

Lows:  This concert was so good I don't want to say anything bad about it. The crowd outside the floor sat down except in pockets that were up and down.  However, they were really appreciative and goodhearted- they were loud if reserved and that, I've learned, is Halifax style.

Note:  Hey all, what show did Gord mention Sloan's coke fizz line. Obviously he mentioned Sloan here, but this time, he intro'ed a song saying, with a hilarious sincerity, Coax me, Cajole me......!

NO BEER!  What?  I heard people complaining about expensive beer!  But better expensive than nonexistent.  Coming from the west I find this appalling.  Now I had a few before the show and in retrospect, I would not have wanted to have any part of that concert distorted from memory, so no beer was alright, but at least make the effort!  (The kicker, the box seats had beer- now I don't want to sound defeatist, but that's a little Elitist!!!!)

Johnny- Whoever said he is the hardest working drummer could not have been more right!
Robby- Absolutely smoking
Gord S.- Singing well, playing great, really having fun- jammed with Johnny a bit
Paul- Singing great, playing great
Gord- ranting like  a madma...no, like Gord.  Hitting all the notes.  Lake and Stay were beautiful (he jumped in early on Stay, "you see a light..." but you could barely tell, and he sang beautifully).  Again, whoever said his voice is better, also bang on-- Long Time Running anyone?  Wow.
Chris- very solid playing.  Filled out the sound beautifully
Kate- sorry I am not getting names here, but again, to whoever said they were in love with her, I think we are going to have to fight to the death. She was great- maybe a little weird on Flamenco, but SO good on Yawning, so good.  Her mic seems to be getting jacked up as the tour goes on.  I love how she sings her parts in her style, rather than just trying to imitate Gord.  She's awesome, and it was a treat to see her with them.

Thank you Hip and co., for an early Christmas gift.  Disgustingly fragmented but mostly complete setlist below.  I wish I could be in Newfoundland.

My Music at Work
Grace, Too
Fully Completely
Putting Down
Twist My Arm
Tiger- a MUST live.  I was always partial to it, but now way more.
Fireworks
Springtime in Vienna
Giftshop
Blow at High Dough
Scared (with Kate, awesome)
Yawning or Snarling (heavy on Kate content, my first time hearing this live)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Train Overnight (crowd confused and bewildered, but loving it)
Scared
 

The Completists
100th
Boots or Hearts
Lake Fever
Nautical Disaster
ABAC
Poets (lightning bolt of a version, Robby was on fire)
Long Time Running
Hiccups (the one for the crew, I believe Hiccups)/ Daredevil
Courage
IOD
Stay
NOIS
Flamenco ( Kate got bigger and bigger cheers as the song went on, and even a little back up rambling at the end!)
Fire In the Hole

Encore:
Emperor Penguin
Little Bones
 

Well over 30 songs.  7 from M@W.  Good rep. from all albums (Boots or Hearts, but no Opiated), (Long Time but no Pistols), Yawning, did I mention Yawning?!  Most importantly, 1 charged band and 8-9000 charged fans.  Sorry if this is starting to sound like a Mastercard commercial.  Thanks for reading.  PLEASE, IF ANYONE TAPED THE SHOW, POST IT SOON FOR THE GOOD OF ALL HIPSTERS!  What a night, time to Put Down.  Goodnight.

Wheat King (Now Yawning, definitely not Snarling)
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i was going to do this last night, but just ran out of gas so here it goes...

i was worried about attending this show, i love the hip and felt that it was going to be a great experience, but after reading some reviews, i was afraid i would be "left wanting more!"...except for a couple of songs i would have like to have heard the show had everything i could have hoped for...the seats were great lower bowl (thx Q104) and friends of mine actually got to move behind us for the second set and encore due to some empty seats...anyway, the show opened with My Music at Work, which i have never been really partial to, i thought it was one of the weaker songs off the album and never warmed up to it much... however, seeing it live, i was quite impressed and enjoyed the fun gord seemed to be having...grace rocked and followed by fully, those two songs are meant to go together, they flow so well...twist my arm was amazing and tiger was even better than the studio version...what an amazing song...yawning or snarling...i've always loved this song and have never heard it live...what a song, and with kate singing a verse, simply amazing...boots or hearts, been dying to hear this for a long time and how about courage (i think), when gord let the crowd sing the whole second verse back to him...poets was great, with the intro reminding me of another tune (not hip) but they didn't quite play enough for me to catch it,...nautical was sweet with gord pointing to the crowd, picking the crew for his lifeboat, daredevil was great but i'm not sure the crowd was too sure of it...long time running and then inevitability of death...another great tune that i've always wanted to hear live...and fire in the hole was perfect with gord introing once again as this is the song i hate, this is the song i hate...emperor penguin and little bones were great closers to an amazing show.

highlights

gord - ranting like a man possessed, solid acoustic work and lots of cool hand gestures...and of course amazing vocals
gord s - i think he was better than i've ever seen him...moving, dancing and his head looks like it's attached to an elastic band
paul - paul was actually moving around a fair amount...like six or seven steps, not just two...
rob - leopard print pants, no goatee and just flying on lead
johnnie - going nuts on the drums, i don't think i ever appreciated what a good drummer he really his
kate - a nice addition, too bad most of her vocals were mixed too low to hear...but when you could, it was great
chris - he adds an interesting twist to the hips music

all in all, i believe that not only was this as good as the other shows i have seen, it was better...the entire band seemed to be having more fun than the last time i saw them and they were incredible tight...great show, i hope someone has a tape...
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Drove up to Halifax on Tuesday night for the Hip show.  Walked in during Music at Work.  The overall show was probably the best of the three Maritime shows I saw this past week.  Gord seemed to enjoy the crowd.  "Thank you Halifax, we mean it."

Very funny sign in the rafters: "I'm a Werewolf Baby!"  Unfortunately the boys either didn't notice it or chose to ignore it (I know they wouldn't play it but I would have like to hear Gord comment on it or shoot us a few lyrics from the song).

There was a group of young girls dancing up a storm to the right of the stage.  They were really into it (unlike most of the other people there).  Anyway during one of the tunes, Gord turns and gives them two nods and a big smile.  They flipped out!  Pretty funny.

Yawning or Snarling was the best song of the night, and probably the best of the week.  Flemenco is probably second but unfortunately the crowd ruins it (please don't yell during quiet songs people).  Gord let the crowd sing part of Courage again.  Boots or Hearts seemed to really get people hoppin.

Robby was wearing his leopard skin pants.  Sweet.  After the encore he went to the end of the stage and shook/slapped hands.  He usually just waves but as I said, the band seemed to be really into the crowd tonight.

Met Kate after the show.  I was buying that light blue shirt and she was signing autographs at the merch booth.  I said hello and got her to sign my ticket stub .  Chris was there too but the lineup to meet them was pretty long so I left.  I love Chris' cowboy hat.

Went out after the show.  If you are ever in Halifax, the Tickle Trunk is a great bar to hang out and drink pitchers in.  I was up 40 bones at the Casino but ended up losing it all.  Had to leave because a buddy of mine got the boot (too many pitchers at the Tickle Trunk!).

Oh yeah and it was funny to hear Gord's voice crack during Lake Fever, He smiled and said "It's gonna take awhile."  He also started a verse too early in Fire in the Hole but just stopped and re-started at the right time.  Both screw ups he laughed off.  I find these sort of things gave the concert some character.  Kate seemed amused as well.

Anyway that's it for my Hip tour 2000.  Doubt they'll be back around the Maritimes anytime soon, but I'm certainly not above driving a few hours to see them in the States or something.

Enjoy the shows you crazy Newfies,

Andrew
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This show was simply amazing. Not going to say much, just list some highlights:

-Yawning (as everyone's already said)
-Daredevil (always been of my favourite Hip songs, and the jam starting it is unbelievable)
-100th when the band stopped and Gord did the "If I die of vanity..." part solo with the band jumping back in at the chorus
-Blow Gord let the audience sing the entire second verse to him :)
- Coax me, Cajole me, Twist my Arm. Great intro by Gord. Also, did anyone else pick up on the funk riffs in this song? The funk showed up in a few others too.
-Little Bones. The final song. This was the one song where it seemed that the whole audience was on their feet, treating it like it was actually a concert. Got so involved in this one that I felt I was on stage. Damn, their music messes with my mind :)
-Also the huge, at least 1 minute, standing O right before Long Time Running, while the spotlight was on Gord an dall else was dark. Finally quieted down, then a spotlight came up on Rob and it happened all over again :)

If anyone has a tape of this show, please, email me. I'll do almost anything to get my hands on it...

Chris
elevator@spacemoose.com