Hello all,

            Sorry for the delay...Luc & I met Todd at a little after 9.....and hit the road at 10:15 or so for Philly on Fri. morning. This would be Todds 12 & 13 show this Tour My 3 & 4...and lucky Luciano's 1ST...so honestly... I think Todd felt right at home in the drivers seat, I just wanted to get there...and Luc really had no idea what he was in for over the next 48hrs!
When we told the guy at the border where we were headed and why he asked for I.D.'s!.... He checked them all over & proceeded to lean in and asked "what do you all do for a living?"..... Todd says "I am a Funeral Director!"  he then looks at me.... and you???..."I sell Life Insurance"... I said ... the guy looked back at his partner and looked in at Luc and said what about you? " I sell Power Tools"...Luc said smiling... the border guy looks back in at Luc and says "I thought for sure you were the Undertaker!"...
So we made it through that deal and the rest of the trip....arriving in Philadelphia around 7pm. After driving through what I will call an interesting part of the city..(doors locked) we drove by the venue.. The Living Arts Centre.. saw the Hip's bus.. and
found some decent parking.We went over to the box office and grabbed our tickets and then proceeded to find a local pharmacy so Todd could load his camera with some film.This strip in Philly was packed.... looked like a mini-mardi-gras... bars,pubs,pizza joints and a large amount of people on the sidewalks... busy traffic directed by police e.t.c. .... so we find a store and walk in and the first thing we see isn't film... but Bobby B & Johnny F. at the cashier paying for some pre-show munchies it looked like... we all said "hello" and "have a great show".... Bobby nodded & smiled saying "thanks I hope you enjoy yourselves"...Johnny gave a nod also...and said "hi" not quite as friendly.... but hey none of us were a 'C' cup!
So we got are shit together and Todd loaded his recording equipment up and off to show. We walked up and they were just opening the doors... in we go...drinking wristbands thank-you and front stools we took just off the side of the stage 20ft or so..plus nicely elevated for some nice zoom in pictures. Sorry no $5 pitchers here $3.75u.s. for a cup of draft!.... Big deal...it was still cold! This old Theatre was small and minutes before the opening band "The Bogman" counted 80-90 people!Considering it could hold 700 I couldn't believe it! In short the opener lead singer wore a satin skirt & black fishnet
stalkings,had blond spiked hair and acted like Sid Vicious! The band was alright musically but this lead dude or whatever...could be replaced! They finished Todd came and got his jacket and took his usual front spot against the railing... which he has been taping his shows from...... and they come out great! Luc & I held our stools and the place was now filling
up more... the floor- very busy and our side area also packed!.... but no one yet up in the balcony area!  now 250-300 people tops listened as the local radio DJ anounces this show as a encore performance...2nd time to Philly this tour... a few HIP
chants lingering

...................."THE TRAGICALLY HIP"

FULLY COMPLETELY
FIREWORKS -------------------------------->light those fireworks..... do
you like the fireworks we set up for ya..?..   .(i new it as i looked up on the balcony Eric Lindros,Chirs Gratton,Luc Richardson
taking in the show with a few lady friends)

COURAGE
POETS------------------------------------------> don't bring your kid
there.... the pilot throws it up in a heap... she'll wriggle out of her pants upon melodious & sneak up the fire-escape ..... and it was there she was found

MEMBERSHIP-------------------------------->didn't look so great......
this song is about the weather condition......is it still coming down outside....?

ABAC --------------------------------------------> any zombies in the
house?? ..here's a song ...fer ..ah  you no anyone who can't wait for the millennium

DON'T WAKE DADDY!!-------------------->(great lead into this surprise!!!
Classic)

SOMETHING ON------------------------------>don't be so metetriptic ....
metetriptics of the lead vocalist...

BOB C -------------------------------------------->it's not in the song
writers handbook... but if you forget a lyric just say .."FUCK"

NAUTICAL DISASTER----------------------->is it still coming down outside
???,...... I mean weatherwise!..

LUXURY

GIFTSHOP---------------------------------------> we rode the burrows,
asses,donkeys.... whatever you want to call them...we got to the floor of the canyon around 5:30..... we sat around the fire ...&...the fire went out....so we gutted the burrows,the asses or the donkeys and pulled their innards out ...& JON
KRAKAUER made another million dollers and we ate sand....

CHAGRIN FALLS

100TH MERIDIAN------------------------------> where the real equator
begins...... the shadows pool and the chrome is cool.... and your anestesiologist is washing up and she's on her way... I see the line of your brasirre.... I can contemplate it from here, there is no need for breathlessness when were so far apart...  I see
us writhing in a  phone booth... or laid back in the dewy grass of your youth .... gathering   in our sweetnesses... and wishing on a never-star, happy days of electrical smiles.... love in the evening falling down in piles ... imagine a restlessness that could drive us apart  .. yeah..and if  I could sleep per chance I could dream... and conjure up these vivid scenes.... insomniacs of the world unite no more wishing on a never-star.... sing one song and he was gone....
1ST ENCORE

VAPOUR TRAILS-------------------------------->we've been travelling around this country for 5 or 6 months now...we made some money and we made some grist... and have some names to add to the list.... no ones name rhymes with this.... this is about a cul-de-sac...

50 MISSION CAP--------------------------------->(as gord jumped down off stage to receive a flower in a pot with an envelope attached..the envelope fell) the envelope contains the answer telling me what to do.....I want to open it....we're portaging and shifting the weight on your golden shoulders....drifting on the purple paint.. (Lindros was leaning against the rail here just rock'in and then came down the stairs to the main floor and lasted 10 seconds before some drunk 20yr old walked up and hugged him & kissed him on both cheeks..towards the end of this surprise tune...& then retreated back up top)

2ND ENCORE

ESCAPE IS AT HAND.....

NEW ORLEANS---------------------------------->we never got a franchise...never got a shake ...never got artificial ice I dreamed I kicked some dirt....  I  throw a rock and check my watch... then I catch my reflection.... and it leaves an impression on the never ending present.... no gossip from truth .... just like back in college....never lived a passion in the never ending present..... waiting here for a bus ... its almost better that it's coming every day... it always
does..steal yourself against the cold ... working from the inside out... this set into the easel... gonna run you into results .... then there's material and then you have to choose the shoes that go with the glasses.... love and hate are the same... like watching money drop every day ... it always does ....hey maybe there's a song in there.... though in fact there
never was.... just a little eensy, weensy expression in the never ending present..
 

WOW>>>.....Over all this show was solid...... and they played for approx. 100-110min. Todd says this may be one of his best recordings to date???.....which will fit nicely with the 70 pictures he rifled off!!....plus my 10 or so ...including a few of sir Eric during 50 nission... they did beat the Leafs that afternoon! We filed out and a few fans were yelling up to the Flyers for some shirt signitures!! Back at the car we unloaded and headed straight for a bite to eat some cheap pizza joint that wouldn't put anything on their slices except sauce & cheese....not great but did the job....now Todd grabbed a quick beer and we decided we'd hang for a bit...to see the guys since Todd had another book for Gord (i think he's Gord's librarian)....this one is a collector book he found in Ottawa for about $12...titled "I've Got To Be Me" a bio of Derek Sanderson....just a little paper back of this crazy Boston Bruin from 1972.... this will be like a little comic book for Gord.....since it deals with Sanderson
being one of the 1st to sign a big contract $1million I think.... & flying all his friends with him to Florida and drinking their faces off ....along with most of the money! Anyhow back out front of the venue Todd is chatting with Matty & Billy-Ray I believe about taping the shows and this is when they were saying I think the band is ok with it and we'll probably be setting up areas soon at the shows for you guys!!!
The Hip were now coming out of the theatre one at a time ....Bobby with his wife & their little girl...were the first to come out ....Rob signed a few with some smiles but with the family on hand.....he moved on to the Shuttle Van...Johnny came out also..
but we didn't see much of him..as he bolted into the Van......Mr. Downie presented himself next dawning a blue turtleneck, blue toque, and a blue Espirit kind of bag....while he was signing & smiling....we were all saying shit..should we get the camera or what....Todd turned into Carl Lewis....and was back with the camera and his book for Gord in hand.... as Todd approached ..Luc & I lingered off to the side waiting for his reaction,,,,,,... Todd said "Hey I've got another book here for ya" as he handed it to him....Gord looked at the front of it and said turning to the girl beside him "Look at the sweater on that guy" as he pointed to the front cover of Derek Sanderson ... "thanks man" Gord says quietly ,... tapping Todd.with the book....following up with a cool handshake & smile.....by now Paul had come out and Gord Sinclair.......everything was happening fast..'Bee'..she was
one of their roadmanagers was trying to hurry them all up......so we grabbed Gord Downie just as he was about to cross the street for the Van and asked for a quick picture...."OK we just have to make it one,,...ya no..." gordie says as Luc & I both move in for the Picture....now gordie starts to say just the 2 of us eh....as Luc is on one side & me....squeezing in on his left...and there it is.....Gord grabs Luc..and starts singing...~"JUST ...THE ....TWO OF US.....WE CAN MAKE IT........JUST THE TWO OF US ~" ....classic man.... freak'in beautiful ending.......Paul & Gord S...  both had there girls
with them so we didn't push for any more than a "nice show & see ya tomorrow night" to them and both looked right up when they heard tomorrow night!....."Yes see ya's & thanks" There was not much else needed after that little diddy............so off
to the car and out of Philly.....to find a cheap $ hotel for a little 'powersnooze'.....somewhere in between Philly and are next Destination......NEW YORK..... Slightly buzzzzzzing from the beer,,,& the whole experience we ended up 30 min. away in NEW JERSEY  ....at a HO''JO''s $65 not bad divided 3 ways......Checked in ...went
for a little 1am Diner burger and back  to the Hotel for the
Snoring~~~~~~ championships...
...aaahhhhh........TODD WON hands down!.....

PART 2 ----------> waking up & realizing we get to do it again...in NY......YYYYEEEEEEAAAAAHHHH

.......stay tuned........
                                                JEFFRO