Dutch Hipfan “Laxe” has translated the article I posted into a more coherent version:

Sure, I think I can do better than babelfish…..

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In the street, near the entrance of Tivoli, groups of people hang around. Many Canadians with the flag of their country around the shoulders. Compatriots of the rockband Tragically hip who travel around the world to see their heroes at work in small European venues, instead of the enormous halls they fill at home. It promises a lot for what is about to come.

‘Taxi to the ocean’ open the show, just like a day before at the Paradiso, also sold out. They start strong and continue to rock hard in the twenty minutes playing time they have. The group of Canadians at the front rows didn’t escape their attention. Singer Just Posthumus: “This one’s for you mounties!” The songs and the musicians are solid and it shows that ‘Taxi to the ocean’, who will release a new cd soon, have grown since half a year before when they played at the 3VOOR12/Utrecht jubilee party in ‘de Helling’. On the stage of a sold out Tivoli the band fit in well. Posthumus: “We simply pretend you all came for us.”

The “mounties” shout with joy when their own heroes climb the stage. Although singer Gordon Downie already has sweat pouring down his body in streams halfway through the first song, the first two songs fall slightly flat. But when he straps on his own acoustic guitar, the band really picks up the pace. At the rear of the podium drummer Johnny Fay lets loose completely, at the side of front man Downie bass player Gord Sinclair jumps up and down with his bass guitar and on both ends of the stage the guitarists Robby Baker and Paul Langlois play their parts nearly motionlessly.

So the songs may not always be very special and frequently spun out a little too long, nobody in Tivoli cares. Seeing this band live is undergoing a special experience and the audience, in their thirties or forties, from all parts of the country, do that willingly. The audience clearly shows that the band has been around for some time; they have been working for some twenty years already and were at Pinkpop in 1994. From a band that imitated ‘Golden Earring’ repertoire, this group developed into genuine stadium act. That shows in the way Downie plays the audience: he focuses mainly on the people a few rows from the stage and hardly on the fans on the first rows.

Stage natural Downie attracts the attention not only with his hypnotising voice, which is reminiscent of REM’s Michael Stipe, but also with his facial expressions and moves. Dancing that often looks a bit clumsy, but then again seems to fit the music in a certain way, being (tragically) hip. The two guitarists may stand playing nearly motionlessly for an hour and a half, but in the same hour and a half they don’t miss a beat, whether playing hip pop songs, long solos in the style of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, or harder rock with a more electronic sound. That shows a lot of class.

A quartet of roadies is also busy during the concert. Packs of of strings are used up (especially Downie breaks a lot of them during playing), and also the microphone of the singer has to be replaced by a dry one from time to time (when he bends forward three streams of sweat pour from under his cap). After an hour and a half the band disappear behind the stage, leaving the now jumping crowd chanting Hip! Hip! Hip!, rightly wanting an encore. Downie takes the microphone: ‘Thank you for calling us back. We appreciate it.’ and ‘The Hip’ play another two songs. Then it’s really over. The Canadian film crew of the fanclub is satisfied, Dutch fans go home and the tour caravan can move on.

VPRO 3VOOR12 Utrecht JOURNALISM: Tragically Hip windt Tivoli om de vinger

It’s in Dutch, but there are some cool photos of the band. Any Dutch fans out there want to translate the review for us?

Here’s what babelfish had to say:

On the street, for the entrance of Tivoli, groups people hang around. Many Canadians with the flag of their country around the shoulders. Compatriots of the rockband Tragically hip the that complete world travels around to see their heroes to the work in small European rooms, instead of the enormous our that link at home does fill up. It promises what kind of what will come. Taxi to the ocean open the show, just like a day rather in the Paradiso also sold off. Immediately strong and continues against go there in wide the twenty minutes speeltijd starts the link which they have. And also them are the group Canadians who range the first do not populate escape. Zanger Just Posthumus: “This one’s for you mounties!” The songs and the muzikanten stand if a house and to this is see that taxi to the ocean that a new cd brings out soon, clearly has grown with respect to a half year has been suffered at 3VOOR12/Utrecht the jubileumfeest in the slope. On the podium for sold off Tivoli the link is entirely in its element. mail humus: “we do simply net or you all for us come be.” The “mounties” shout with joy if their own heroes the podium rises. Although at zanger Gordon Downie already halfway the first number the sweat with straaltjes of its body flows, come the first two songs still what measure. When he afterwards however himself puts on an acoustic jet ear, the link really comes on pace. Behind on the podium drummer Johnny Fay entirely goes loose, beside front man Downie leaps bass player girds Sinclair and with its bass jet ear and on sides on the podium the gitaristen play Robby nurse and Paul Langlois hurry themselves motionless. That the songs are not complete particular and frequently what is possible too long spun out, nobody in Tivoli deren. These link live visit undergoing a special experience is and public, dertigers and veertigers from several parts of the country, do that willingly. Publicly characterises immediately how long the link goes along already; the link is already about twenty years busy and stood in 1994, on Pinkpop. Of a link which it applied earring earring-repertoire played the gezelschap developed into stadionband pur sang. That is see to the way plays on Downie publicly: he does that especially at people who cede to a couple meter of the podium, and hardly at the fans on the first range. podium animal Downie attracts not only the attention with its hypnotising voice, which most does think still of REM’s Michael Stipe, but also by its mimicry and movements. Dances which frequently what is houterig, but at music are appropriate and on a certain manner nevertheless (tragically) hip. the two gitaristen stand largely play an hour and a half nearly motionless, but sat there in the same an hour and a half a time beside. If the now hippe concerned headstock songs, long solos in the style of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, or harder rock with more electronic sounded. That testifies nevertheless of class. Also a quartet travelled with roadies is busy during the concert. Not only there a package snaren becomes doorheen nervous (particularly Downie break them always during playing), also the microphone of the zanger is from time to time replaced by a dry land. (If he bends forward itself, the sweat with three jets of its cap runs.) After an hour and a half the link disappears to behind, the meanwhile jumping public in the room chants hip! Hip! Hip! and rightly a toegift wants. Downie take the word: Thank you for calling US back. We appreciate it. And ‘ The hip ‘ play songs still two. Then it has been really done. The Canadian film plough of the supporter club is satisfied, Dutch fans turn homeward and the tourkaravaan can travel further. Tragically hip and taxi to the ocean seen: Tivoli, Wednesday 12 July 2006

Last nights show in Utrecht was the final̩ of the tour and the boys did not disappoint. The venue is very cool in atmosphere but was WAY too hot during the show. Gord was nearly outsweated (?) by many members of the crowd. Gord went through nearly a dozen strings on his two guitars and by the end of the show, he looked to be in a very bad mood Рslamming the microphone stand down and stomping around the stage.

Utrecht is about 40 minutes outside of Amsterdam and to get there and back we took the train. Here’s a picture of our little group as we’re waiting for the train home:

We’ve been here a week and it just keeps getting better. The show last night was awesome. It’s refreshing to be at a show where the fans are so into it! From the minute we arrived at the venue, more than an hour before the doors opened, until we left, we knew that this was going to be a hot show. They opened with Springtime and closed with an incredible version of Blow that included the crowd singing the first verse before Gord took over. The only downer of the night was during the closer (Blow) when some dork started to crowd surf and ended up on stage. Security and Billy Ray were immediately on him, so he took a lean towards the crowd and fell into them, landing awkwardly on a young woman. Gord nearly stopped the show at this point, wanting to ensure that she was OK. I’ve got a picture of the setlist, but my camera needs charging – I’ll post it later. For now, enjoy the goodness of these three pictures that Josh (The Heron Outside on hipbase.com) took:

for the same price as a crappy motel. This is what happened to us on Day Four when we arrived in Eindhoven. The very friendly reception team told us that they gave our rooms to another group…. but they could move us to a 4 Star resort in Barlo for the same rate of 71 Euros a night. (We’ll post pics when we get some more time.)

The concert last night was incredible! We managed to get AAA passes. At the time we didn’t know what AAA mean, but we learned very quickly that it meant All Area Access. This included all of the backstage areas, the press pit in front of the stage, on the side stage, the catering tent, etc.

After figuring out our access, we made a beeline for the backstage area. We saw Gord playing acoustic guitar off on his own, and we spoke with a member of The Hip’s management team about our trip so far.

“The Tragical Hip were Marvelous, Marvelous, Marvelous!” Or at least that is what the Festival MC said as soon as their set was finished.

I concur. Here’s the setlist:

Daddy
Courage
Rink * Fantastic!
Gus
ABAC
Gift Shop
Summer
Bobcaygeon
Nautical
Springtime
Ocean
Meridian
Goodlife
Blow
Music

Gord was on fire tonight! We bumped into Paul just after their set and he even mentioned how “on” Gord was. The crowd was really into it, and I am sure that they made a lot of new fans tonight. Their set was limited by time because there were three more bands to play afterwards.
We met an incredible number of Dutch fans who are as fanatical as we are.

After their set we made our way backstage to get some food and drinks. The World Cup final was on in the backstage bar so we hung around there and watched the game. Five feet to our right were The Hip… They were watching the game and then hitting the road as soon as it was over.

Following the Italian win, we spoke briefly with Gord D and then made our way back to our Chateau. (Chateau de Raay in Barlo). That’s where we are now, and are just about to depart for Amsterdam. Pictures and more details will be posted when we get there.

We made the drive from Amsterdam to Brugge in about 4 hours (I think that’s how long it took, but as we had been up since 8am the previous day my memory is somewhat muddy!) We pulled into Brugge and then found our way out of town to continue on to Oostende. (google map). Oostende is an amazing beach town with an enormous beach. We wandered around town and felt like we were in Daytona!

Checked in to our hotel, changed clothes and headed for Brugge – about 20 minutes away. We toured around town following the signs that lead us to the festival site. Parking was free, and we found two spots about 100 steps from the entrance.

After getting our passes, we headed inside and instantly realized that the vibe at a European festival is much different and better than at a Canadian show. People were very relaxed and having fun in and out of the blue tent.

The venue for the show was a strange area with poor sitelines for those in the back. Trees and banners blocked your direct view of the stage, however large video screens provided a close-up view of the action. I was pressed against the railing 3 feet from Paul, so this wasn’t an issue for me. The other really great thing was that there was next to no pushing, shoving or jerks trying to make their way to the front of the stage.

The show itself was fantastic, although the details escape me right now. I’ll review my videos and post the setlist later. There weren’t any gems/surprises but it was a really kickin’ set and a short encore. (Rink was supposed to be played but got cut due to time issues…)

We’re in Amsterdam now, and food is calling our names. More later.

We woke up at about 8am London time on Friday, July 7. The doors opened at 7pm that evening. After the show we scrounged some food (KFC…) and then packed up our stuff and boarded a bus for the train station. After a 40 minute ride, we arrived at Victoria Station. Next up, was a train ride to Gatwick… another 40 minutes after a 30 minute wait at the station. For those trying to keep up with our time travels… it is now 4:30 am on Saturday morning and we’re at Gatwick. Check in at 4:30,and board a plane at 6:30am. A 45 minute flight after 25 minutes of delays, and a one hour time change and we’re in The Netherlands at Shiopol Airport. We had some issues with the van we’d reserved… it only had 5 seats and we needed 8! They were able to change us to two fancy hatchbacks and we hit the road for Brugge; well actually Oostende. The festival is in Brugge but we’re staying in the oceanside town about 15 km west.