Hey folks...

Sorry that this is so late, but it's been a whirlwind couple days. Just got back from Winnipeg #2, but let me give you a review of the first Winnipeg show. Sitting in the first balcony, dead center, I taped my mics to the front of the balcony itself, and the recordings of both nights turned out fantastic with them in that spot!

USE IT UP: Gord's voice sounds rough at the very beginning, and his mix is kind of low, but by the third song, it was turned up.
MY MUSIC AT WORK: A particularly rocking version... one of my mom's favorites on the night.
NEW ORLEANS: Fans sounded quite surprised when this one started...
GRACE, TOO: A huge fan favorite. KWT member Ryan Z. mentioned to me tonight that this was is favorite song performed over the two nights
DARKEST ONE: Lacklustre... seemed better and more polished at the Halifax show in June...
LAKE FEVER: Got thee first glimpse of the fantastic light show and backdrop...
SILVER JET: In the middle of the song, Gord pulls out his imaginary gun, points it at someone in the front row, turns to Paul and says, "Should I do it, Paul?"
COURAGE: Great rants about his friend Courage
DAREDEVIL: Easily one of my favorites spanning the two shows. Johnny pounded the drums for this song...
GOOD LIFE: Great use of the lighting here, and a beautiful rendition of this crowd-pleaser...
POETS: Tons of rants in this version. I'll have to listen to the recording again to get another taste...
BEAUTIFUL THING: Ws expecting this for the second show, so it was a nice surprise
MERIDIAN: Life is forgetting... or is life just for getting?
ABAC
DIRE WOLF: A great Gems lead-in... always reminds me of the Maritimes...
GIFTSHOP
BONES

Encore:
READY: Gord for the crowd going: "Are you ready?.... ARE YOU READY?... for the third time!... ARE... YOU.. READY???"
WHEAT KINGS: Gord got into the whole Milgaard/ DNA/ compensation thing at the end...
BLOW: Great ending to a great show.

The band had tonnes of energy on stage. Gord S in particular seemed to be really enjoying himself.
I waited outside for thee band and t took them roughly an hour to find their way outside. There were only about a dozen people waiting for them, so they moved quick through everyone. Gord S and Robby were particularly chatty, asking us if we all enjoyed the show. I presented Gord S with the letter from the internet fans, and he said he would take the letter and the song requests "into
consideration". Paul was his usual quiet self, unless asked a question or something. No Johnny... no surprise. Gord D. was very nice to everyone, but looked very tired. He signed everything, and was then escorted to the van by Ricky. I planned on waiting for them again the following night, so I left a bit early...
A fantastic show, but I had no idea what I was in for the next night!

Cheers all!

R


Great show!

The idea of a show at the concert hall in Winnipeg intrigued me so much that I just had to make the trip in (from Waterloo) to see the Hip play at a venue generally reserved for the ballet and the symphony (I grew up in Winnipeg). Unfortunately due to school circumstances I was only able to catch the show tonight.. But it was still one great show.

Our seats were 2nd row on the left side which is the side to be on because Gord always seems to favor the left (or I guess it'd be stage right?). I was really wondering if we'd spend the show sitting but Sam Roberts was able to get the crowd on our feet twice so of course almost everyone stood for the whole Hip show. And while I'm always glad to see a diverse crowd it pained me to see so many older people sitting (i.e. not standing) in the centre of the first 2 rows for the majority of the songs. But what can you do (I of course wonder how they got the best seats in the house.. )(but of course them sitting meant a better view so I'm not really complaining :) )

The ranting tonight was very audible or maybe that's because we were pressed up against the speaker. Gord seemed to be on the ball, more so during the first half than the second half.. He did lots of pre-song talking. At one point he had to get Mr.Cowboy hat out (what's his name?) to remove some gum? from the stage.

No surprises in the song department.. But I really enjoy the Unplucked gems lead into Dire Wolf.. And I have a feeling we'll be hearing a 'life is just forgetting' song on the next album.

Notes:

- I think Johnny heard you guys about the glove because I saw no sign of a glove tonight.
- During one of the first three songs Gord turns to Paul and starts singing 'touch me Paul' and of course Paul doesn't even break a smile

Setlist:

1. Use
2. Music
3. New O (a little laminar flow)
4. Grace
5. Darkest
6. Fever
7. Jet
8. Courage (lots of ranting about his friend courage)
9. DD
10. Good Life
11. Poets (good extended ranting here)
12. Beauty
13. Meridian (w/life is forgetting bit)
14. ABAC
15. Wolf (w/Unplucked Gems lead in)
16. Gift
17. Bones

Ready
Wheat (w/ranting at the end about compensation and DNA)
Blow (was Fire on the setlist)

Matt


Use It Up- Great opener. Gord's voice sounded pretty clear from where I was, but as R said, it sounded low in the mix from where he was.
My Music @ Work- Really upbeat and rockin'. Extended outro w/rant at the end that I can't remember.
NOIS- I'm glad they got it out of the way early. The best version I've ever seen of this song is from the Winnipeg show in 1999 with the "Elaborate" and "Insomniacs" in the middle. Pretty plain version, but a huge crowd pleaser.
Grace, Too- Unbelievable. Everyone in the building was singing along. Gord had a huge smile on his face and ranted his ass off.Ý I'm pretty sure that it was in "Grace" where he did a rant about "Just kinda traipsing around...everyone loves a good traipse".Ý This was my favourite song of the two nights.
Darkest One- Not as powerful as I thought it would be. Something just seemed to be missing on this one. I was a bit dissapointed since it's one of my faves on IVL.
Lake Fever- Nice lighting, a really good version of the song. I'm pretty sure Gord stuck to the album lyrics and didn't do the "Jack up your rent" part at the end. He added in the "That's alot of hearts".
Silver Jet- Hilarious exchange with Gord and Paul as R mentioned. A highlight of the show.
Courage- My 2nd fave of the night. Gord ranted about Courage being his best friend before the song.
Daredevil- Another excellent song. I hoped they would to "Hiccups" before it though.
Good Life- Cool lighting on this song. I couldn't believe it when the guys beside me sat down during this one!
Poets- I don't think Gord stopped ranting the whole song. "Bring out the dead" and "writers who get laid" version.
Beautiful Thing- A surprise highlight for me. The boys nailed this one.
Meridian- LOVED the Life is forgetting part. It's an awesome follow up to "I remember every single fucking thing I know."
ABAC- Pink Moon tag. Crowd favourite.
Gems/Dire Wolf- First time hearing Gems for me, so that was a huge highlight. Wolf was great too.
Giftshop- Pretty standard version. I've heard it every time I've seen The Hip so I could have done without it.
Bones- Big crowd pleaser.
Ý
ENCORE
Are You Ready- Gord said "Are You Ready!?" three times in this hilarious 80's metal voice. This song has really grown on me.
Wheat Kings- Huge sing along.Ý
Blow- Gord yelled "stop fucking hitting me!" after the "into that boxing ring" line.

Excellent show. I really liked the new songs other than "Darkest One". Gord was so animated! The boys looked like they had a blast.

- Ryan Zajac


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