Just got home from an absolutely amazing experience at ye olde Winnipeg Arena. I'll start by giving you five words: Phantom Zone, front row centre! Yep, that's right. Caught the secret location and met a lady with a black beret at Vimy Ridge Park, for those of you familiar with the city. Booted down to the Arena for 6 PM sharp, and I got the tickets. We were the first ones to enter the Phantom Zone after gratuitously dishing out $99 for three shirts. The event staff was very welcoming, as we were personally escorted to our seats. By the way, no problems getting in with the minidisc recorder. Had it in full open view at I passed the turnstiles.
Anyhow, perfect seats. I couldn't even dream of ever being that close. I had the pleasure of meeting Tood MacDonald before BDR came on, and his friend Chris. Super-nice guys. Got lucky enough to grab a pass from Sire Records to interview Robby and catch the soundcheck! Way to go guys!
OK, about By Divine Right. A great band! Very entertaining, and great tunes. Do not miss these guys (and gal)! Thinkin' about getting the CD...
And the Hip...
I don't really know if I can put it into words. As I said earlier, I could never dream of being that close, but anticipating the fact that I might have a chance at Phantom Zone tickets, I bought a disposable Kodak, and brought Alan's minidisc with me (which I was going to do anyway). Got some great shots of the band. I hope they turn out. Anyway, the Phantom Zone was divided into two sections, Left and Right. We got the left-hand side, thus right in front of Mr. Downie and Paul. I don't think you can ever get a real feel for Gord's talent and facial expressions until you're 10 feet away from him! He was extremely animated, endlessly spewing banter and mumbling throughout the entire show. But then again, when doesn't he? Paul, on the other hand, looked very tired. Not moving too much. Johnnny was a man possessed on his drums, which goes along with what I've heard about him so far on the tour. Gord S. looked like he was having a great time, stepping back to
chat with Johnny a few times during songs. Robby was a little bit out of sight from where we were, but he looked cool in his leopard print jacket.
For those interested, I did record the show, and it came out beautifully, save for missing the first 2 or 3 seconds of Blow while changing discs (you're right, Alan! It's tough!). Anyhow, I don't have the setlist written down, but they played the usual, with Cordelia, Blow, Wheat Kings, Chagrin, and closing with Fire in the Hole. Heard a bit of "Elaborate" and "Insomniacs". I'll post the setlist as soon as I finish listening to the show again. They opened with Something On, ended the first set with 100th, and played:
1st encore:
50 MC ("won the Jets the cup..."
Thompson Girl
NOIS

2nd encore:
Chagrin
Wheat
Fire in the Hole

The crowd was great, everyone got along great in the Zone, and it certainly looked like the band appreciated it...

Anyhow, I'll post more after I get back from Saskatoon!

Rory
Winnipeg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, folks...

Finished listening to the tape of the Winnipeg show. Here's the setlist:

Something On
Fully Completely
Grace, Too
Fireworks
Giftshop
Springtime in Vienna
Poets
Courage
Vapour Trails
Cordelia
ABAC
Bobcaygeon
Nautical
Membership
Blow at High Dough
Escape...
At the Hundredth Meridian

E1:
50 MC
Thompson Girl
NOIS

E2:
Chagrin Falls
Wheat Kings
Fire in the Hole

Later!

I'm back to work, But still buzzing over the Friday night Hip performance.

First of all A *BIG* THANKS to the Hip's media relations people in allowing me and my travel friend 15 minutes to interview Rob Baker and take in the Hip soundcheck. And a thanks to the Hip's tour manager Bea for her professionalism in setting up the schedule. Rob B. is a delight to talk to, not afraid to honestly answer a question, or to add a touch of levity when the conversation went too deep. ;-)

I already sense this is gonna get lengthy.

Our day started by tuning in CITI - FM as far south as Grand Forks, only to catch Bob Caygeon... the spell was cast... 92 continued to crank it out through the day.. Cordelia, Greasy Jungle, etc.  Good Job CITI! No wonder I grew up on ye.

After the interview with Baker, We had to clear the back stage area, but not before getting a quick snap shot with Paul L. ... and then, with security approaching, encountered Mr. Downie in the hallway... A quick HI by us and a "How's it going guys?" from him and we vacated. The Hip security know their job, and we were glad to oblige STAYING the heck outta their way. ;-)

(FLASHFORWARD) The stage is set, we're at our floor seats, section 9, row 30...  Rob will be in our direct line of sight as long as the Winnipeg Cyclone players don't decide to show up and stand in our way. Along comes Rory Young of NG fame, *CONGRATS RORY!!* Phantom zone winner.
*A note to NG and Traders. Rory is a swell egg! The only fault we could find is that he didn't get his mom tickets for the 'Peg show. *grin*

BDR - After song one, welll... we quickly labled then as being Pixies/Breeders influenced. (thought there's nothing wring in that.) But by the third song in their set they had won us over. Very good band! I'd really like to see them again as headliners someplace. 45 minutes is not enough.

And then... *sigh* from the opening rant of "something's on... we're onto something... it's something, something that's on... it's SOMETHING ON." we knew we were in for the ride of a lifetime. At age 33, I have NEVER heard the Winnipeg arena, or any arena show EVER where the volume of the fans rivaled the sound system. Fans in Winnipeg - Pat yourselves on the back - YOU ROCK! From all the pogoing people on the floor to the people dancing around on the highest of rows in the balcony. INCREDIBLE. But the excitement of the fans, could only reflect what was going on with the group. Two days of rest after ACC #2... chomping at the bit.

Downside... (sorry but I have to do this) singing by fans... I think it is so coool, but to have three teen-age girls behind us screaming the lyrics, flatly all night...   WOULD YOU BEER PEOPLE QUIT! When the more mellow and/or current songs (membership/vapour trails) would hit you would see the same people shuffling in and out getting more beer. Hey, I know it's not NOIS, or BLOW or 100th, but do the rest of us a favour and STAY BY YOUR F-'in SEATS!!!

The JAM page has encore #1 listed as PENGUIN, SCARED and NEW O... and while I really would have liked to see SCARED, the band shifted things around so 50MC and THOMPSON GIRL were performed instead... Overall, I guess it was fitting for TG to be played in Friendly Manitoba. (That and I hadn't seen 50MC before.) But Gord did some very disjointed lyrics on 50-MC, along with the crowd noise it was hard to get the timing down from where I was.

After reading complaints of Gord being tethered by the guitar... NOT SO! The Winnipeg show saw Gord shuffling, posing, and doing his thang. He was two degrees away from outright SLAMMING on FIRE IN THE HOLE... I, by this point, was a puddle of IDIOT GLEE!

OVERALL... It was everything I anticipated, and BEYOND what I could have imagined. Incredible.

Well, back to werk... I've sent out my review to the national wires... now I get the joy of cutting up the Baker interview to feed to some affiliates along the radio dial.

Cheers!
T.

PS- Rory: Hope yer caught up on sleep!

Cheers

Dave

I've seen the Hip 5 times before, but never, NEVER, have I heard them sound so good!!!
They were quite energized, and the crowd simple erupted when they hit the stage, and didn't stop until Fire In the Hole was finished, and yet still didn't want to leave. For a moment I thought they were actually going to do a 3rd encore....oh well.
The boys simply rocked, everything was fast and furious, and Gord was his theatrical best through the whole show, and the most energized I've ever seen him. They looked like they were having incredible fun, and happy to be in their home away from home.
I'm so glad I had floor seats, as the crowd was dancing, jumping, singing, and grooving to ever song through the entire set. What a set it was too.
I'm having a great difficulty putting into words what this show was like, but for myself, it was the best show I've ever seen, heard, or experienced. I think the Hip felt it too. You know, that intangible feeling that connects the crowd with the band, and sort of brings them together, as if 15 thousand people were actually creating the music together. It was in us all.

Winnipeg embraced the Hip, and they embraced us right back...

It was an energetic love in, with an artistic, grooving flavour.

These guys just seem to get better and better...I'm missing them already!!!

ponch