Don Cameron
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Now last night was one KICK ASS show.
I guess it was special (for me) because they played so many of the songs I was really hoping to hear...Thugs, Scared, and 50MC were all played. Kate sang a verse of Thugs which worked alot better than I might've thought it would. There was also a brand new song (not played as part of a jam) that I didn't recognize.
Did I mention that the waitress kept coming up in front of the railing and serving drinks to the people in front? Sweet!!
Gord seemed a little subdued compared to SF #1.
Anyhow, the two SF shows were wonderful. (Did I mention the waitress the kept serving drinks at the railing??? Sweet!!!!). Can't wait for Portland!!
Amit.
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I was in a great spot, about 12 feet from Paul and Gord D. Sound
was excellent. Chris and Kate opened with a few songs, during one
of which they were accompanied by Gord D, which was cool. I was way
off on my call of Tiger the Lion as the opener, because it was Something
On that took the honours last night. Highlights:
- Tiger was great
- Springtime was much appreciated by the crowd, and the lighting was
spectacular during the song
- Toronto 4 started out kinda flat, and I thought it wouldn't be a
good live tune, but then as soon as the drums kicked in a little bit (during
the "Alone..." part), the song really took flight. Incredible.
- The Bastard sounds MUCH better live...a definite highlight for me
- Thugs! Sherpa!
- Chagrin Falls, for some reason, was simply amazing. Everyone
around me was dancing and singing like crazy and they went into an extended
jam session at the end. Very cool.
- Gord was quite happy, althogh he wasn't dancing around all that much.
During 50 Mission Cap he turned the microphone stand upside-down and used
it as a metal detector, complete with beeping sounds.
- Gord dedicated the show to the deceased Bill Graham, since yesterday
was the anniversary of his death.
- Chris and Kate seemed less prominent last night than on other shows.
Kate sang a few verses but not that much, and Chris was barely audible
except on Tiger and Long Time Running.
- Paul was sucking back the Heinekens like there was no tomorrow.
- During Something On, right after the bridge ("show me the moon..."),
Gord made eye contact with me and said "I love it when you show it to me!"
in a semi-seductive voice. I don't know what to think about this.
- I really love the beginning of Wild Mountain Honey, and it was really
cool when they turned off all the lights except for a single spotlight
on Bobby as he strummed the opening chords.
- The drunk guy next to me kept preaching to me about how hot Kate
is
- Johnny was really smokin' the drums...he was great
All in all, an excellent show. Crowd was fairly well behaved except for some drunken fools and some flag-wavers in the front (to whom Gord gave a "pfft" look when they waved their flag at him). Only disappointments for me were no Meridian, no Sharks, no Freak Turbulence, and still no Bear sightings...
Also, Gord flubbed a lot of lyrics, but nothing too serious. He almost messed up the word "Lion" during the opening sequence of TtL. Heh.
Did I miss anything?
Nick
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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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The Fillmore, Oct. 25th
San Fran #2 was incredible. Fifty Mission Cap was a real treat. Blow really woke up the crowd. This is how the Hip should be seen...small venue, very interactive, and playing music that reaches out to people. Great performance.