Just got back from the show here in Montreal. Not going to go into too many details, but I've gotta say that I won't get a wink of
sleep tonight. Too pumped.

Pat (lurker) and I raced down to the show with our cans of pineapple tidbits and kidney beans (good mix, eh? Try to imagine a
dish made with those two, ugh...)

Whatever, didn't make the zone. It was probably someone who donated Kraft Dinner or a Mae West (it's non-perishable, no?)
that won. At least I brought something healthy. That makes me feel good.

Our seats weren't so bad - row W on the floor. Now, granted, I'm a short gal, but I found a trick to keep me on my tip-toes all
night. I leaned my left foot on the feet of the chairs behind me, and it propped me up wonderfully. I managed to gain at least 2
inches for the night with very little wear and tear on my legs or ankles. (Gotta save all the strength I can for biking to work, shit,
it's been fresh these past couple of days....) Kinda reminds of the time in grade 6 when I finally realized how to cheat the "flexed
arm hang" and stayed up there for 121 seconds. It was cool, and no stress on the body parts. Nobody was the wiser :)

Anyway, I'm not here to tell all the short people on the floor how to get a better view without damnwell getting up on the chairs
and taking it from there.

The big massive thing that you all need to know is that they played MONTREAL!! I just about had a heart attack. I was
shaking. Too unbelievably cool! It was kind of weird - the audience was singing along with every song throughout the whole
concert - but when they played Montreal the crowd was simply listening. All quiet. Except for me (and some others) - I was
freaking. Thank god there were no tapers near me. I wouldn't be able to live it down....

Yesterday was the 11th anniversary of the "Montreal Massacre", where 14 ambitious young women lost their lives. I've heard
something to the effect that the song was written with that tragedy in mind. Is this true? Gord dedicated the song to it, I think, but
I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm?

Overall, was it a good show? holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit
HOLY SHIT!!
Yep, I'd have to say it was fantastic !
Boots or Hearts, Locked, but you'll get the set list from someone else, I'm sure. I just can't get over the idea that they played
"Montreal"!!!

Sure, there were a bunch of songs I was hoping for, but hell, I'm not gonna complain. But if I don't get at least one of those
songs on the 23rd, you might hear me bitching at that point. I really want to hear 3 Pistols and and and and and Pat wants to
hear Another Midnight and me too and all of you too....

For now I've got more Hip to look forward to. It can't come soon enough, and it'll be a super Christmas present.

Raising a glass of milk to the 23rd! Lets plan some blowout pre/post festivities!!

That's it for me, and Pat swears that he'll write something soon. (ish).

We'll see you all soon(ish).
Man! That was a good show! Eeeeeeheeeheeheehee!!!!!

Steph (& Pat - he's here right now, but insists on lurking longer - "for now" he says - whatever....)
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There's a rule about unnecessary foul language in the Henhouse, right? Well, I'm about to break it.

OH MY FUCKING GOD.

OH MY FUCKING GOD.

There was someone on the newsgroup who said they were going to play Montreal -- the song -- tonight. I laughed and scrolled on, as I would when reading any crackpot's message. OH MY FUCKING GOD.

To say that it was great to hear would be an understatement. It's probably my favorite unreleased Hip song. OH MY FUCKING GOD.

The show itself had energy. The crowd was loud and had its moments. But for me, this show will always be one thing and one thing only... OH MY FUCKING GOD.

Have they played the song since 1991? Yes, yes they have. As of tonight that is.

Don't you worry, her mother's gonna make her look good. Maybe there'll be a real review later on. Until then...

Rob
P.S. OH MY FUCKING GOD. (This had better be the CANOE contest winner's song choice.)
==================================================================================
They actually played the song "Montreal" and I eat crow for doubting it. Other gems included Yawning or Snarling...damn, brain freeze, it's -17 here tonight. Met up with Travelling Man and Special_K for a couple of secs. High energy setlist and great crowd. This stands out as a gem of a concert. My lack of review does it no justice...man, so many great songs!!!!! I hope Special_K posts a setlist...

Jeff
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Awesome concert... Great sets... Just coulda had Long Time Running... And Cordelia... Then I would have been even happier... Extremely pleased, impressed, delighted... However you will! Great night for sure!

Here's your set list Jeff!!!!

1. Poets ("When you find out how te Bikers get paid, Alright!" - Gord tonight... )
2. Music @ Work
3. Escape Is At Hand
4. Fully Completely
5. Tiger The Lion
6. 100th Meridian
7. Puttin' Down
8. Gift Shop
9. Yawning and Snarling (Kate Rocked!!!)
10. Something On
11. Ahead By A Century
12. Greasy Jungle
13. Freak Turbulence
14. New Orleans (Hallowe'en rant?)

{intermission}

15. Scared
16. Train Overnight
17. Boots Or Hearts (Chris on the keys... Nice!)
18. Thompson Girl
19. Little Bones
20. Lake Fever
21. Ineviability of Death
22. Fireworks
23. Flamenco (Kate yet again!)
24. Courage
25. Montreal (I feel priveledged to have seen this live... Wow... Puts everything in perspective)
26. Locked In The Trunk of A Car
27. Bobcaygeon
28. Wherewithal

{encore}

29. Grace Too
30. Blow At High Dough

Have a good one,

Ryan (off to bed cause I have an exam tomorrow afternoon)
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With my swearing now almost behind me, I can now look at the concert almost objectively.

The show itself? Solid, great energy. The setlist was really turned upside the head, and it almost felt like they were playing set 2 before set 1. I mean, Meridian as song number 6? New O ending set 1? Little Bones in the middle of a set? Grace as an encore? That's crazy talk! Talking with Slacker between sets, we had no idea what they would play in the second anymore.

Highlights for me, apart from that crazy unreleased track, Greasy and Yawning. Lots of high energy tunes like Wherewithal and Locked and Blow.

Couldn't make out any ranting or intros at all. The sound was a bit muddy from my 19th row seats, and was a bit better for the 5-6 songs (including Montreal, whoo!) where I'd managed to sneak up to the front.

Montreal didn't deviate much from the versions circulating around (RA outtake and 91-shows). Gord changed the lyrics a little bit, but probably more from trying to remember them than anything else. :) I'd been talking to a friend of Dave Kauffman's (Dave, are you still on the list?) whose name I always forget. During Courage, he kept saying "Watch, I bet they throw in some lines from "Montreal." I said I wouldn't be surprised. They didn't, but then went straight into the song. The guy didn't actually know the music to the song, having heard only the lyrics during Courage. I think the shock on my face told him everything
he needed to know.

The crowd? Definitely less than for other Molson Centre shows. In 96, they had all the sections open and there were only a few hundred nosebleeds left unsold. This time, the top level was closed off entirely, and there were still a couple of pockets of empties. Lots of noise from the crowd, but lots of sitting as well.

It was cool seeing the other Henhosers again - Chicoutimi Badasses, Sili, Peter, et al. I've really got to see a Hip show where I don't have to drive 5 hours beforehand. Timing is everything.

Godspeed You Black Emperor tomorrow! whoo!

Rob