Sean

setlist in order:

Use it up
NOIS
Chagrin Falls
Fully Completely
Grace, Too
Lake Fever
Silver Jet
Courage
Vapour Trails
Weaken
100th meridian
Scared
Locked
ABAC
Dire wolf
Poets
Blow

encore 1
BobCaygeon
All tore up
little bones

encore 2
the wherewithal

                                         Use It Up
                                         New Orleans Is Sinking
                                         Chagrin Falls
                                         Fully Completely
                                         Grace, Too
                                         Lake Fever
                                         Silver Jet
                                         Courage
                                         Vapour Trails
                                         It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken
                                         At The Hundredth Meridian (Simple Things, Life Is Forgetting.)
                                         Scared
                                         Locked In The Trunk Of A Car
                                         Ahead By A Century
                                         Dire Wolf
                                         Poets (Don't tell me.......Don't tell me........Okay, tell me.)
                                         Blow At High Dough

                                         Bobcaygeon
                                         All Tore Up
                                         Little Bones

                                         The Wherewithall
 

Nice to see a second encore. Pretty cool show, though I couldn't see half the time! The crowd was awesome, everybody on their feet dancing and singing from the get-go. Still wishing for Emperor Penguin.....someday. Ah well, so ends my Tragically Hip summer experience!
-CCM

Just a short note. I was privileged enough to have a campsite behind the venue. Sometime between the hours of 4 and five, I started to hear a small but constant beat. I ran over to my car and turned off the Hip I was listening to, and, sure enough, it was soundcheck time and I could hear it perfectly. In order:
-Good Life
-Lake Fever
-Dire Wolf
-Wherewithal(Gord only sang the ending of this song, but sang the others in full).

Then the band went off on some 10 minute jam. Never heard it before, but damn it was cool.Ý

On a lighter note, there were obviously quite a few "Captain Canada's", but for the first time, I also saw quite a few "Captain America's".

Won't be forgetting, or is it for getting? this one.
-Andre C.

The boys were on all night except for Courage when Gord started to sing before the rest of them were ready to play.Ý Gord was very animated and there was plenty of Gordisms.Ý I remember one specifically about "trying to escape".Ý Was hoping they were going to launch into Escape is Hand... but it didn't happen.

Highlights for me were Scared, Locked, Chagrin Falls, Little Bones and Wherewithal.Ý Always nice to hear Grace because that was the song that got me into the Hip.

Got to meet a few HH'ers, also ( Hi Chris - you are welcome!, Hi Ian). Saw at least 4 or 5 audio setups and 2 video setups.

Peace,
Brian

Amazing show. We got there around 5:30, and were fortunate enough to have VIP parking priviledges, so we shared some brewskies with other Hipsters in the gated area (which was nice for restroom accomodations - did you notice that outside of the gate, in the main parking area, there were only like 4 port-a-potties?? Unreal). Anywho, finally waltzed into the venue part-way through the Wayne set. They sounded pretty good.

Definite highlights of the show (besides being second row, baby!!!!) was seeing Gord's facial expressions. Also, I didn't realise this from the last two shows I've seen on this tour, but he's gained some weight. He's looking good. Also, he was wearing jeans,
something you don't see very often. Didn't think to bring a camera, because I thought they weren't permitted, but I did see quite a few people videotaping and holding regular cameras as well. Bummer, would have made for some sweet shots being so close.

Langlois was pretty mellow (status quo, I should say)...but noticed he didn't enjoy a cigarette for the show this time around. Gord S and Robbie were almost joined at the hip (no pun intended, haha) for most of the show. They were bang-on! And as always, Johnny looked like he was in pain playing the drums. He always goes balls out.

Poets was probably another highlight for me, the drum riffs in it were amazing. I loved this version!! Anyone else agree with me??

The only downfall about being so close to the stage at Darien is that the sound was SOOOOOOO LOUD!!!! I couldn't believe it. None of Gord's singing was muffled, because it was a solid sound system, but it was hard to make out his Gord-isms being that close. I would have loved to be on the lawn for some of them, I know the sound was likely better back there. I couldn't hear for a few hours after the show, but it was worth it!!

Was great to see a second encore, albeit one song. I wasn't expecting that. But the crowd was great, we deserved the encore.

Gord opened the show dedicating it to Amy (????) as his inspiration, which was pretty cool. I was hoping he'd open with wishing me a happy birthday, but no such luck, hehe.

Very impressed with the show. Gord did quote a bit of maneovering throughout it. I swear he looks like Gumby sometimes. Loved his impression of the double chicken walk he did early on in the show (if you were there, you know what I'm talking about).

Very cool show. Very cool. Cannot wait to see them in Orlando now, I'm stoked!

Kari

WHEW! What a show. My first Hip experience since Feb '99. Turned to drugs to fight off Hip withdrawl. They played real tight to night. Great seats, next to sound board.  My wonderfull girlfriends first Hip show. She definately dug it. 2 ENCORES! If there wasnt a local noise ordinance theyrd be 5 encores, the crowd was out of their heads. WOW its almost like i forgot the hip. I loved them from the beginning, but its like they got put on hold for techno and The Strokes. Thanks for an amazing show to snap me out of my misguided musical wanderings. The songs are my life.. no the songs are life it self, every word, I was there or felt what 'there' was. I am enlightened.

Brien

We were one of the first to get the after show party which turned out not to be a party....no food, no drinks....nothing but WAITING... "the waiting is the hardest part"Ý I have been backstage before at shows and wasn't totally surprised that there were 100 people or so...... Johnny arrived first did a few pictures and stuff and Gord S was next.... his oldest son Kile is only a inch shorter than him now at 13 with blond spiked hair.ÝHe introduced him to someone beside us. Mr. Langlois came in next with a pack of Marlboros and a glass of red wine. Although I saw Bobby's wife ...he wasn't around... Downies's wife was also there and 1 or 2 of there daughters ...as Downie came in last with red flip-flops, his baseball cap and was surrounded fast....smiling, joking and signing everythingÝincluding the guy who had a Yamaha 12 string acoustic signed by everyone....I think he may have been a Sabre or some other Hockey player.Ý

In 1998ÝI had a Wooden Guitar Pick made with the initials R.B. on itÝand never had a chance to hand it to Bobby myself even though I hadÝbeen to many small shows and been right up front.....ÝIt looked like Bobby wasn't coming and it had been at least an hour or more so I walked over to Paul Langlois and introduced myself... (wishing the initials were PL now) I told him this Pick was made out of Indian Rosewood and sounded great on an Acoustic Guitar...I had it made for Baker and could he give it to him? PAul said sure..... this is pretty cool as he examined it...and then he dropped it...I quickly said no...don't throw it away....please get it to him....with a smile he said no problem.. I apologized for interupting and said I had to get going.....he siad cheers and nodded......As we headed Ýout of the tent and were half way out of the backstage area we were walking head on with Gord Sinclair and one of his sons.....So we of course! ! ! said "hey Gord great show tonight, we really enjoyed it"... he turned slightly slowing down and said "Thanks alot guys ...glad youÝlike it "...... with a big smile and a nod !

Needless to say we will be dropping a box of beer off at our new friends houseÝas a thank you for the free TIX & passes. Then follow that up by asking about upcoming possibilities for Theatre Shows....?Ý(SomeÝothers we ran into confirmed the Hummingbird Toronto Shows)

Jeffro's Road Rules ::: If at all possible plan to be at your seat for the entire show. If you must leave...pick a song you have seen liveÝ40_+ times.... not one where you miss Paul singing "Now the morninís over, itís time to let those sprinklers hose"

Though one final show remains on the roster at the venue - Incubus on the 15th of this month - Sunday's Hip show smacked of finality, and the large, exuberant crowd treated the performance as the summer's last dance.

The Kingston, Ont.-formed Hip was certainly up to the job. Offering the strongest, most inspired set they've played in Western New York in years, the band - vocalist Gordon Downie, bassist Gord Sinclair, guitarists Paul Langlois and Robby Baker, and drummer Johnny Fay - touched on nearly every album from their roster, as the crowd danced and sang along - loudly - with each number.

From the moment the Hip took the stage, with a sizzling take on "Use It Up," one of many visceral smack-downs from their recently released "In Violet Light," it was clear that they were on fire. It was also clear that Buffalo is a bit of a home away from home for the group; here, we take our Hip pretty seriously, and old and new songs alike hold appeal for us.

So it was certainly a treat when, the second song into the set, the Hip dug its collective heels into the rowdy and bluesy "New Orleans Is Sinking," a song it has traditionally reserved for the end of the set. Downie dropped his acoustic guitar, grabbed the microphone stand, and dived headlong into the improvised body language and impromptu vocal riffing that has endeared him to Hip fans the world over. The crowd responded in kind; it was clear that Downie was in a fine mood and that inspired mischief would be the order of the day.

Perhaps the strongest tune from "In Violet Light," the lilting, atmospheric "It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken" made for a midset highlight, as did the far more swanky "Silver Jet" from the same album.

"Grace, Too" found Downie absolutely in his element, as Sinclair and Fay churned out a swampy rhythm section and Langlois and Baker strutted and swayed above it. This was the Hip at its best, all swirling counterpoint, stunning dynamics, and Downie being . . . well, Downie.

For many, the highlight of the evening came in the form of "Locked in the Trunk of a Car," a song the band hasn't performed for a few tours now. Hard-core Hip fans ate it up, and Downie tore into the sinister track with relish.

Frankly, there were no weak moments in this sterling, well-paced set. "Fully, Completely" was a barn-burner, "Blow at High Dough" blew the roof off, and "The Dire Wolf" seemed epic in proportion, particularly the interwoven guitars.

"Could've been the Willie Nelson, could've been the wine," sang Downie in another of the evening's highlights, the haunting "Bobcaygeon," from the album "Phantom Power." That song, acoustic-based and aglow with the refracted light of memory, might be the one that sticks in this writer's head the longest. Its gorgeous glow packs some of the band's most winning attributes - subtle, intricate rhythms, delicately woven guitars, compellingly off-beat lyrics and Downie's sonorous voice - into one undeniably moving whole.

For Hip fans, this was a show to remember.