I was in the third row center. A really transcendent show. It seemed like
the band was more at ease because it was a theater with seats instead of a
general admission free-for-all. "Put It Off" was really intense, built up
into a major din. They played a lot of new stuff in the jam sections in
"100th Meridian" and "New Orleans."

Gord's shaved his head now. It was Paul Langlois' birthday, which Gord
noted before one of the songs. Paul bore an ever-so-slight resemblence to
Myles Goodwin of April Wine, sorta, kinda, if you squinted. But don't
worry, they didn't play "Just Between You and Me" or anything. Or even "I
Like to Rock."

They just get better and better. One last thing: I noticed several people
in the audience with seemingly homemade white T-shirts with an old photo
of Gord on the front and on the back was: "Looked up to the GORD above and
said, 'Hey man, thanks." Pretty cool.

--Jay Kumar


what i have to say is WOW!!!
if i had bigger letters i would use them.
We were about 10 feet from the stage, second row. the place only held
about 1000 people!
I don't have to tell you how amazing Gordie is...
they played a lot of Henhouse stuff...I was hoping for some more stuff
from Up to Here or Road Apples, but I guess they are probably sick of
playing that.
again...WOW!!!!!
dawn:=}

If you get a chance to see anything at in the Music Hall of Portsmouth, do
it.  This place is great!  The staff there are excellent, the place is
comfortable and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Now, as for the band that played there last Friday night ..... it doesn't
get any better.  I've been going to shows for a long time now and this was
by all means the best show I've seen.  Every song was done TIGHT.  Gordon
was in a great mood and the band seemed happy to be there.  I don't have a
set list ...... I was lost in amusement and forgot to take note :-)
Here are a few details as I remember them.

Clarissa opened, again.  They did a good job but they must hate playing
shows closer to Canada ...... they were a non-event in the eyes of the Hip
hungry fans.

Gordon was in an extremely good mood.  When he came on stage and saw all
the fans beaming in joy, filling the Victorian concert hall ..... he just
smiled and nodded.  I think that all of us in the first two or three rows
must have made eye contact with the band, they were really checking things
out.

100th Meridian was done beyond perfection.  The song was split up with a
cool 'folk-blues' circle song from the South.  It was a repetitive little
riff, "I don't care what the poets write, Don't care what they say bout
the Music Hall .... I don't care what the poets write, don't think they
say nothin at all".  The rhyming went on for about five minutes and it got
really witty and off the cuff.  At the end of 100th meridian, Gord rode
the mic stand around the stage yelling "Hengelo ..... what does that mean?
What does that mean!!!? What does it have to do with anything?".  It was
very neat ...... you could barely hear him.

Bobby was in top form.  He played a really cool guitar that sounded a lot
like sitar .... kind of beetlish.  Very long grooves and and lots of jams.

Of course, New Orleans was unreal.  Half way through, they switched songs
HARD.  No slow transition, no easy mix ...... a hard, immediate switch
almost like bumping the needle on a turntable.  It was hard to comprehend.
They switched back into NOIS almost the same way.  The band are getting
very, very tight.  The Canadian tour shouldn't be missed.

There were a couple new tunes, don't remember details except that they
were along the same lines as the Hen House-ish style.  They played a real
oldy too, Radio Show.  This was a suprising treat.

Song were dedicated to Steffi Graff and to the crew of the Music Hall.
Natical Disaster was said to be about someone stranded in a cup of coffee.

All the Gord-moves were present (basketball, typewriter, canoe, wrestle
mic, ride the mic, monkey dance, lots of pulling on his pockets, speaker
balance).
 

Sean