I made it to the show at the Ironhorse last night (just got home) and it blew my mind...I've never seen the hip at such a small club..and I got to get right up front and center, first row of people, right in front of Gord D...
A friend of mine called me in Ottawa early on July 1st and said he had a tip-off that the hip would be there, his girlfriend works at the bar, and had to go there to clear all the stuff out for some big band that rented it, but they couldn't tell her who it was..so I packed a car, called some friends and headed for Kingston within the hour. Went to see Road Apples that night, got my fill of the old stuff, then headed to Ironhorse to get in line.. The first few people showed up around midnight...I got there  about 2:00, and was within the first 30 or so to get a wristband.. but it was pretty empty there till around 4:30ish...(special thanks to the Molson guys for the tunes in the parking lot durning the wait)...

The show was amazing...pretty tame crowd though, most didn't really get into unless the hip played some old stuff...They opened with Poets.  And to everyone who said they felt it would rock live, you were right and then some..it's almost a shame they played it so soon, before the crowd was really warmed up. Next, they played Something On (my fav. new song of the night) and Save the Planet (where Gord played guitar for the first time that night)..far as I could tell, all the new songs were covered..I lost track after a while..but for sure were: Fireworks (introduced as "we used to call this Bobby Orr, but we write to many songs about hockey"..,Membership, Bobcaygeon "if you've ever been to Bobcaygeon you'll know what this is all about" ,Thompson Girl "if you've ever been to Thompson, you'll know what this is all about", Chagrin Falls ..add to this some new songs I couldn't place, and I'd say they covered the whole album..they did around two hours total, throwing in some older stuff here and there, including Grace, Too, ABAC, Gift Shop, Fire In the Hole, Courage, and, finally giving in to the chants from the crowd, New Orleans..they ended the show with Don't Wake Daddy...

One strange note...there was a banana sitting at the base of the drum kit the whole show, but was never picked up by Gord... wonder if he was planning on using it and forgot? or just a joke of sorts...there were lots of people yelling at him to shake it..

Gord  looked like he was really having a blast, smiling, laughing, cracking jokes..(when the chants got REAL loud for New Orleans, he said "This song is a lot like New Orleans, and launched into a new tune, can't recall which it was)..

Only one thing about the whole night I would complain about..the crowd..one of the most tame, rude crowds I've ever been a part
of..didn't pick up that much till the encores, when they played most of the older songs on the list..and I got sick of hearing "what's with all this new shit..play Little Bones" from everyone near me...

Much was there, interviewing the crowd in line and at the show, and they filmed the show...wonder if this is the one they'll air..

well, that's about it I guess, sorry for all the typos I'm sure are here, I had to hop back in the car and head back to Ottawa as soon as the show was over..I'm real tired and barely able to type..

To all those hoping for the other shows, two tips---

-if you don't get an early tip off, you might be out of luck.  For this show, they gave out 600 tickets , and I'm guessing from the looks of the line, anyone who showed up after 6 was outta luck..but check your town for signs..the sign was up at the Ironhorse between midnight and 1..
-don't get to loaded in line..the girl in front of me got shot down at the ticket door for being drunk, after waiting 6 hours in line..(happy ending-we got her ticket for her, she got to go and I hear she went REAL sober...)

Kilah


I just got back from the Hip's first show featuring songs from Phantom.
First, the show was FANTASTIC.  They played the whole new album (as far
as I could tell) mixed in with some of the older stuff.  The new songs
were extremely rockin'.  They were very reminiscent of the rhythmic
qualities of Up to Here mixed with the melodic stylings of Henhouse.
The songs were driving but still maintained the tension and grittiness
we have come to expect.  Most promising are Poets, Fireworks, Something
On, Membership, Bobcaygeon and Thomson girl.
         An outstanding Hundreth Meridien and Century were other gems in a show
with very little less than a gem.  Go see a show (it is worth camping
out). I can't wait for the new album.  As always, the next album is
promising to be their best. It's good to see that the Hip is back!
 

                        -Mark-
                "I am not a number I am a free man"