Great Show!
Sat at center ice 19 rows up from ice level. The sound was very
clear - I could hear almost every word of Gord's rants, and every note
of Baker's guitar. Thought that the sound system could have been
louder.Was disapointed to see people sit down for songs like "The Rules"
"Membership", and "Escape". I thought "50 mission cap" would have been
played later instead of 2nd!
Especially enjoyed "Cordelia" "Insomiacs" (during "100th"), and opener
"Something On". Would have liked to hear "Locked", "Bones", and "Penguin".
After driving from Oshawa to Vermont (twice '87/'88) and Boston ('86),
I look forward to doing it again for ARA 99! The best way to see
the das Hip is in small venues (a la USA). Had 2nd row tickets for
Hersey center but had to give them up because of my daughter's hockey schedule.
(D'oh!)
I was still great to experience Canada's greatest band on home turf!
Barilko Bart
Just got home from the first Hip show in Toronto, and I've gotta say
it was more than amazing!!! The setlist was great and the energy
in the building was unbelievable. So much momentum was built up to
the end of the show to bring the guys back out for a second encore.
I also saw the show in Mississauga at the Hershey centre. The Hershey
centre was much smaller, but I was not as impressed with the energy and
the atmosphere like I was tonight.
One little thing, the row behind me there was a guy who yelled at my
friends and myself for standing up and moving around! We couldn't
believe that he couldn't stand up and go crazy like everyone else.
He ended up leaving 20 minutes early anyways. It just bugs me because
I have so many friends who would have done almost anything to get tickets.
Any other reactions?
Lorne Kligerman
The first Toronto show began with the common opener, Something On,
and again, it was the perfect opener to get the crowd groovin'. Gordie
pretended to shoot some hoops and was very animated. He points at people
in the crowd yelling "you, you you!" What a performer. 50 Mission Cap rocked
the Air Canada Center, but it was a drag they played it while many people
had yet to reach their seats. You can't bring beer to your seat at the
ACC, so many people were stuck in the aisles finishing their beers for
this song. Great, nonetheless, but would've been an awesome closer. Gift
Shop was introduced as a song about gutting burrows. Interesting! The set
included Cordelia, which was a nice surprise. Beyond that, no real surprises.
Wanted to hear Emporer Penguin, but no such luck. The encore, once again
included Scared. This got the lighters flaring, and the crowd loved it.
However, people around me actually booed when they broke into the Rules
during the encore. C'mon guys, this is a great live song. Much better than
on the album. Gord sings it perfectly while waving little thoughts across.
100th included Insomniacs, and Lofty Pines, a much faster Lofty Pines than
I have heard. New Orleans got the crowd worked into a frenzy. Fire in the
Hole was another encore song that got the crowd worked up, with Gordie's
ramblings.
During Bobcaygeon in the main set, the crowd, as expected, erupted
at the mention of "that night in Toronto". That sent chills down my spine.
Man, it blows me away that anybody anywhere can work 22,000 people into
a frenzy with the mere mention of
their city, regardless of what it means. The sound in the ACC was great.
I know there was a kickass video shot from the fourth row at the side of
the stage. Don't know how to go about getting it though, unfortunately.
I'm sure there were other good recordings made as well, as the sound was
so great.
A nice surprise was Grace, Too thrown into the second encore. I don't
much like this song as an encore, because it gets everyone so worked up
and pumped, I think it should be reserved as an opener or early set song.
Oh well, nice to hear it nonetheless. Gord brought out the banana, and
of course his numerous shakers. Forgot a line in Springtime in Vienna.
This is about all I can remember from this show, as the 3 I saw begin to
blend together.
All in all, a great show.
James