Last night was show #1 in SF at the Fillmore. We were right up at the front of the stage in front of Gord S and Rob. The Fillmore is one of the few places where you can actually hear the PA system instead of just the monitor bleed when you're
up front. I have to say that I really like the element that Chris and Kate add to the Hip sound. I totally dig Chris' Clavinet playing and some of the "funkier" songs get a whole new dimension.
The highlight (for me) had to be when they started playing Last of the Unplucked Gems. I thought it might the instrumental
jam that they use as a lead-in to Daredevil but I was pleasantly surprised when Gord stepped up to the mic and sang "Violins and tambourines...". One of my favorite Hip songs, for some reason.
The rest of the songs were all the usual suspects. I won't bore you with the details.
Funniest moment of SF #1 was right in the middle of Gord's introduction to the next song, some girl yelled out "You make me horny!!!!!" (Hey Sharyn - were you at the show?? :=)). Gord just stopped dead in his tracks and broke out in genuine laughter.
Second funniest moment of SF #1 was when Gord was doing his little thing with the mic stand....pushing it away and then stepping on the base to bring it back. He didn't quite make it one time and the mic stand (and mic) went crashing to the floor. He lunged at, picked it up off the floor, and started caressing the mic  as if to make sure it was still OK. Well....it seemed funny at the time. You had to be there :=)

Show #2 is tonite!!

Amit.
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Folks--

I was at both Fillmore shows and at the first of the two, there was a pretty extensive camera crew (probably 2 or 3 mobile cameramen on/about the stage and a fixed setup in the back) along with several signs posted about saying something to the effect of "your presence at this show gives us the right to reproduce your likeness etc. for future use in connection to this performance."  So is a live video tape in the works for the Hip? Who knows.

A few other comments from the combined shows:

- Kate and Chris were a nice addition, especially in the instances of Kate's backup harmonies during songs (each night she got to sing a few lines of one song, to much applause although, in my opinion, she was too warbly for my tastes).

- A live performance of "Long Time Running" was an absolute thrill for me, as that's one of the first songs of theirs I really got hooked on and one I'd never heard live.

- Gord D. actually broke a string on his acoustic guitar at one point during "Putting Down", and looked highly amused.  He barely plays loud enough to be heard, much less break a string!  I prefer Gord's onstage guitar-free antics, but I know he likes to play from time to time as well.

- First night was much more packed (as the second show was announced and added later), and had a much higher HJI - Hockey Jersey Index.  Both nights flag wavers were front and center, and both nights the Canadian anthem was sung with fervor.

- Other song highlights included "Nautical Disaster "(both nights!), "Last of the Unplucked Gems", "Boots and Hearts" (was SF the first crowd to hear this live in years?), "Sherpa", "Escape is at Hand...", and "Emperor Penguin"--all superb.

Chris
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Tues. Oct. 24th

Great night.  Very good lead off to the following night.  The whole idea that the Hip would play in a venue with such a small amount of people(compared to the usual in Canada), tells us that they're here for a good time.  Great night, worth the plane ticket.  Fully, Completely unbelievable time.  See you in Ottawa!

Jenn and Andre