Sound wasn't bad, though Gord's voice sounded at little rough at times. But he seemed in very good spirits.

I don't have the setlist... but to my mind the only real surprises were that they played "Let's Stay Engaged" (song #1 of encore #2), and "Boots and Hearts" (yeah!) (song #2 or encore #2). And I guess I wasn't expecting them to play "So Hard Done By" but it was very good.

They played 100th and NOIS is sinking of course, with songs in the middle of both. "Insomniacs" in the middle of 100th (and a very fine performance of that whole thing in general) and some song I didn't recognize in NOIS. Yes, 100th was done very, very well.

Another highlight was the closing song, Little Bones. Near the end of the song, instead of singing the last line of "nothing's dead down here, we're just a little tired..." he just sang, "nothing's dead down here..." then turned his mic stand upside down, so that the mic was by his feet, and then he did about a two-minute tap dance (with the rest of the band silent), before they launched back into the song. That was cool.

Fragments of stuff he said:
"This is a song about indebtedness. As we approach the new Millenium all previous debts will be erased. Retroactively." - before Grace Too, I think

[ramble, ramble, ramble]... "I was just talking about when I was young and had a paper route. I would dispose of my papers instead of delivering them. The only things that save me was the tree, and you. That tree and you." [Then, looking out at the crowd:] "You be her. You be her."

"This song is about a river called the Susquehana. Actually, it is about any river you want, it doesn't really matter, I just like the sound of the name Susquehana."
- before Membership

"This song is called 'Even when you're not working, your're working."

"This song is called 'When something's just not working out." (something like that before NOIS).

"This song is called, "Living in an Apartment in Etobicoke.""
- before Boots&Hs

Anyway, good show. I guess my only other comment is that I find that, almost always, Rob Baker's guitar isn't really loud enough. I am guessing that the problem is that in the concert atmosphere (high volume) the higher frequencies don't carry as well, so we hear the drums and bass mostly. Anyway, I wish they would crank up the lead guitar.

FINE PERFORMANCE! I can't wait for Seattle!
- Mike
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    Just got home from Vancouver - it was a spectacular show.  Anyways, I get to Vancouver at around 2:30, and hang around the back entrance to GM Place.  10 minutes later, Gord D., Rob, and Johnny get driven in to do the soundcheck.  There was about ten of us there.  Johnny signed a couple autographs and then quickly fled the scene, but GD and Rob stayed a little while longer to sign a few more.  By Divine Right performed a nice set - they were all dressed up in really colourful clothes.  The Hip's setlist was perfect.  It was awesome to here Greasy Jungle, Cordelia, and Boots.  There was a bit of "Elaborate" in NOIS - I think. As well, "Insomniacs" perpetrated nicely out of Meridian.  At the end of Vapour Trails, Gord said "that song was about throwing away the papers rather than delivering them".  The crowd was really rabid and fired up, and it transcended into the Hip.  Gord had some really slicks moves happening.  At one point, Gord put his hand on his ass like it was a tail, and he wagged his ass for the crowd - it made me chuckle.

It was the first roadtrip of the year and it was awesome.  Simple as that. Had the weather on our side on Thursday and we headed the bike north to beautiful BC.  Made it to GM Place, missing only the first song of BDR. Settled into our 14th row seats on the Paul side of the world and proceeded to take it all in.

I must say that I enjoyed BDR.  But, then again, I'm a big fan of going out in public in my pajamas.  It looked like they were having the time of their lives.  Just watching their faces made me feel good to be there. The music was pretty good-- but how do you say you like a band or not just from hearing them once?  Especially when you aren't there to see THEM? Bottom line, I'm buying some BDR to give them a fair listen.  The Hip see something in them, and maybe I can too.

I was a little surprised at how empty the place was.  I guess a lot of people were in the bar but it was three or four songs into T-Hip's set before all the seats around me were occupied.  And there were A LOT of people walking around during the show.  Lots of people walking into and out of the gated area surrounding the first 10 rows.  And people filed out early, too.  This is a phemonemon that I simply don't understand.  Whether you're at a concert or a sporting event or whatever, ever notice the
exodus of people filing out with two minutes left in the game?  Or halfway through the encore?  I mean, what up with that?  I just don't get it. But I digress.

(sound of Gina stepping quietly off of soapbox)

With the smell of Willy in the air-- and isn't that a beautiful thing-- The Hip saluted the masses.  We were treated to a number of oldies and the band was solid, for the most part.  I thought Dr.Baker could have been set a little louder in the mix (was that just me??) and I lost my voice about halfway through the set.  I was lucky enough to have an aisle seat (well, Honey actually had it but he was sweet enough to swap with me) and I danced hard all night.  The security guy finally gave up trying to make me stay in front of my seat as long as I didn't venture too far out in the path.

Hearing FC was a real treat.  We went to the show with a Montreal Boy that had never seen The Hip in the Motherland.  Right before they went on, he said his favourite song is FC.  Then, BOOM!  There it was, seemingly just for him.  Next time we go to a show together, I'm going to make him say that his favourite song is Inch.  I would LOVE to hear that, especially on a roadtrip.  I have my fingers crossed for Spokane.

There's a ton of stuff that I'm forgetting to mention.  But it was a great trip.  Until the ride home, that is.  Stupidest thing we have ever done was trying to get back home for work on Friday.  Not only did we miss Vancouver #2, but we couldn't make it home anyway (too much wind and rain conspiring against us).  Doesn't matter, though.  The Hip were awesome.

There's so much more.

15 days until Seattle....

Peace
Gina

It was an amazing show. Toronto's By Divine Right opened at 7:30, and they were fairly decent, although probably the most noticeable thing about them was that they were wearing pj's.

The Hip came on at about 8:45, and were terrific. Gord Downie was dancing like a freak (my friend Pam compared him to Elaine on Seinfeld, and yeah, that's pretty accurate) and it was great. He threw in tons of little stories into the middle of songs, introduced a banana to the crowd, and dedicated a song to Stanley Kubrick.

          A few quotes from Gord:
          "This next one's called "I'm as wasted as a neat freak in a hurricane."
          (which is also a line in an Odds song.. don't know where it's from originally)
          "This one's called "I have an apartment in Etobicoke."
          "Can I just say one more thing... can I just say one more thing... can I just say one more thing... can I just thank Bruce       Allen for making
          us famous!" (screaming - but sarcastically)
          "And my voice will tinkle like a chandelier, until God or some reasonable facsimile appears.."
 

And I've never felt so Canadian as when they were singing "100th Meridian", as the crowd screamed along and people with flags raced up and down the aisles.. it was great {g}.