I've never been to a big festival like that, so I was chalking it up to experience. Because of the late night before (got to bed by 3a) and other friends' commitments, we left home at 11a. And we missed the exit 'cuz of the construction, and the parking lots were not all that clearly marked ... so we
walked in around 115 or so and had already missed 3 bands. We sorta wanted to hear them too. Oh, well. We found a decent spot where we could spread our blankets out and sit between bands. We watched Veruca Salt and then went on a food and beverage run before the Hip came on. They did a great set. Paul and I were singing every song while my brother and his friend (a first time
hip-ster)grooved behind us. All of the people around us were wondering who the band was and why we knew them. :) More than one person walking in front of me noticed I was singing and asked who the band was. Great set. Pretty typical for a large show -- they played mostly their "popular" and up-beat stuff. It was crowded up front, so I'm assuming some of those people were showing
enthusiasm too. Paul and I thought Tiger the Lion went over really well with this particular crowd!
And then they announce that at 330, the Hip would be signing autographs at the Sam Goody tent. Paul and I take a quick inventory of what it is that we have on us that is signing-worthy, get the nod of approval (not that we would have stayed if they would have protested!) to leave Kevin and Mia, and take off to find the tent. We groan when we see the line, and then find out that the long line is for Veruca Salt ... the Hip line is over there and only about 10 people deep!! We stand there for a good hour and talk to tons of cool Hip fans. The guys -- all of them -- are there and we get to have something signed and talk to them. Rob Baker (I think he recognizes me now?) is just the nicest, Paul listened in on conversations with Rob but didn't say anything, Johnny looked bored and tortured, Gord S. and Gordie were completely sincere and awesome. They were thanking me for listening and coming to the shows as profusely as I was thanking them for making their music. They all looked me right in the eye and really talked and listened intently. Just great guys.

http://members.home.net/sdudley01/tth/072200/072200.htm

That was worth it. We go back to the blanket and our friends and listen to the rest of the days bands while trying to protect ourselves and our stuff as it got more and more crowded. By the time we got back, the blankets were folded up and it was too full for sitting. I basically stood from 2p-1130. Back and feet were screaming by the time we left. Everything was good up to Kid Rock. Unimpressed. I guess he's talented, but he just does nothing for me. I was not amused. I was not entertained. I was not interested. Metallica was good ... I guess. I felt weird being one of the only ones there that didn't know all the words to all the songs. Personally, I think all their stuff sounds alike. I'm just not a fan and yesterday didn't change my mind. I like lots of different music ... just neither of those two. Oh, well. Worth the experience and a fun time with the people I was with.
As far as I know, my Hip Summer Tour has come to an end. As SiliRat knows, these things can change in a moments notice, but for now, I bid adieu and look forward to reading the reviews and stories from the eastcoast shows next week. Have fun, all!
Later,
Sharon
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Unfortunately, I can only remember a little part of this (Paul, know any more?) but during the into to Fully Completely, Gord goes into this rant that includes a bunch of antonyms for "fully" and "completely". Something to the effect of:
"... not partially, not a modicum, not a portion, not pieces, not ... etc., etc., but fully & compeletely..."

Also, during the equipment change-over after each band's set, the big-screens would show commercials for the sponsors and a video by the previous performer. What a surprise it was to see a live verion of My Music @ Work come on .. no wait .. it can't be .. it is .. it's New Year's Eve .. bigger than life!!!!! Look for us -- we were there!! Goosebumps. :)

Sharon
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Here are the Hip-related snippets from the two major papers in Chicago.  Both
slammed the event for it's blatant marketing ploys and uncomfortable
surroundings.  Supposedly 60,000 showed, while 130,000 was the aim.  But on to
the goods:

From the Chicago Sun Times:

<<As concertgoers filed in, security workers confiscated a long list of items
that were considered possible projectiles (cans, bottles, lawn chairs).
Ironically, they found themselves standing all day on a vast field of gravel.
Several attendees were ejected for throwing rocks at the stage, security
officials said. The Hard Rock Cafe, the festival's owner and one of its
co-sponsors, also distributed free circular mouse pads, and many concertgoers
threw them like Frisbees at the performers and fellow listeners....

The early part of the day was dominated by thoroughly generic modern rockers
such as Nine Days, Guster, Vertical Horizon and Tonic. They offered little to
distinguish themselves sonically and were quickly swallowed up by the scope of
the event.

Some of the artists struggled valiantly to rise above the sterile, impersonal
surroundings and deliver heartfelt performances. Tragically Hip singer Gordon
Downie weathered a storm of mouse pads early in the set to win over a hostile
crowd with the band's rootsy Neil Young-inspired guitar rock.
>>

From the Chicago Tribune:

<<Now, what about the music?

Unfortunately, and also not surprisingly, Rockfest's talent roster exhibited
about as much edge and exhilaration as you'd expect from a boardroom-spawned
spectacle that cost $65 a ticket.  Headliners were tried-and-true arena vets
from Metallica to Kid Rock (a relative new-comer, but a born grandstander) to
Stone Temple Pilots to Third Eye Blind.  The most musically intriguing of the
lot, the poetic and quirky Canadian bar band the Tragically Hip, also raised
the question, "How'd they get into this lineup?"....

Chicago's Veruca Salt opened Rockfest's afternoon portion, though the less said
about these screeching, uninspired Midwest power poppers, the better.
Admittedly, it's tough to overcome the barrier of daylight and its myriad
distractions, but even so, Veruca Salt came off as posturing and tiresome.
They weren't well received either, but then neither were the Tragically Hip,
whose mature, highly idiosyncratic roots stylings made them appear as if they'd
stumbled into the wrong rock festival.  Shame, too, because from the sinuous,
snaking rhythms of hypnotic set opener "Grace, Too" to its Stonesy raveup of a
closer, the Hip and their eccentric, riveting front man Gord Downie offered
real nutrition in a menu of mostly empty calories--such as the overwhelmingly
bland Tonic, whose set irresistably recalled those tuneful '70s hacks Toto.
>>
 

Wow!  Great reviews of the Hip from both major newspapers!

-Greg
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Great review of Rockfest, Sharon!  But it sounds like you had a totally different perspective on the concert than we did.
We managed to get up closer for the Hip.  At least, in front of the light towers.  The crowd was solid, and it was almost impossible to negotiate (although, that didn't stop the multitude of people who tried to push right thru me as they tried to get even closer).
I found the crowd very apathetic.  There was a pack of about 8-10 of us who all happened to be Hip fans standing right next to each other (and I recognized one of them from the Taste of Chicago show... I think I'm spending too much time in Chicago!). But other than that, I couldn't see or hear anyone who showed any recognition of the band.
The Hip put on a good show, as always, but I found that the crowd really DOES make a difference.  Without so much rabid enthusiasm, the show wasn't as enjoyable.  It was still a Hip show, so I still had a grin on my face, but it wasn't a great as it could've/should've been.
I've read a couple of reviews of the show that mentioned the Hip winning over the crowd.  Granted, I did see a couple of people enjoying the groove by the end of the set, but by and large, the crowd was getting impatient.  The entire band had to weather a storm of round mousepads getting thrown at them (who's bright idea was it to give these away?), and by the end of the set, about half of the "mosh pit" area was very visibly giving the band the finger.
Actually, the band seemed to get off on that.  I saw more than one of them smiling at that.
The rest of the show?  Blah.  I was glad to finally see Stone Temple Pilots... I used to be a big fan.  I freely admit to being a Kid Rock fan, but his performance was exactly the same as his MuchMusic special, and as Sharon said, unimpressive.
But, it was an experience, and an exercise in commercialization to the nth degree.

"Escape is at hand for the cross-promotion man.... "
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