The Lonely End of The Rink
Fully Completely
Twist My Arm
Gus
Poets
Lake Fever
Heaven is a Better Place Today
Ahead By A Century
Giftshop
Last Of The Unplucked Gems
Fly
New Orleans Is Sinking
Bobcaygeon
Fireworks
Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin’ Man
Grace, To
My Music At Work
——-
Lionized
Flamenco
Fire in The Hole
Tag Archives: News
A Summer Fling Full Of Gems
Thanks for the warm welcome Chris! I’m glad to be a part of it all. With this being my first post, I thought it would be a good chance to list some of the rarities The Boys have played so far through just seven of the scheduled 19 shows this summer.
- Vancouver – May 26 – We’ll Go Too
- Pittsburgh – June 16 – The Last Of The Unplucked Gems / Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin’ Man / Sherpa
- Lewiston – June 17 – Don’t Wake Daddy / Chagrin Falls / Putting Down / Something On / Greasy Jungle
- Guelph – June 18 – Lionized / Eldorado / The Rules
- Belleville – June 21 – Daredevil / Titanic Terrarium / Long Time Running
- Toronto – June 23 & 24 – Flamenco
On top of that, fans have been treated to previews of three stellar tracks from the forthcoming album due to be released in October. (Another new song debuted May 24 as part of a short acoustic set Das Hips put on when the ‘Royal Conservatory Of Music’ awarded them honourary fellowships.)
Some would include more cuts than I have – a degree of subjectivity does apply here. While the tracks listed are sure to appease the most experienced Hip concert-goers, the majority of fans still get to hear the staples they want, making for some of the most memorable experiences yet.
This weekend brings back-to-back gigs in Toronto, arguably the city that loves The Hip the most. That being said, those dynamics should produce even more rare live tunes from The Boys. Let’s hope so!
2006-06-21 – Belleville, ON
A great show at a cool venue with an awesome crowd (excusing the fact that most didn’t know the words to LTR)! The Empire Theatre is a classic old theatre with soft seats, and a simple decor. There is nothing in the venue to distract you from the action on stage – just the way it should be!
Gord was more talkative than I’ve seen; chatting with the crowd between songs in a different manner than his normally manic stage character. He told a couple of short “stories” about Belleville and Paul’s first show with the band, and that Titanic Terrarium was recorded durng the DFN Sessions at The River Mill in Kingston. I’ve been to the River Mill and it’s a place where the songs on DFN fit; especially on a cold and wet winter day… much like Gord described this evening.
It seemed like Gordie really enjoyed the intimate setting; on multiple occasions he came to the front of the stage and touched the fans in the front row… even posing for pictures with them… during the concert!
The band seemed really relaxed, and appeared to be having a great time on stage. I’ve never seen or heard Paul kick as much ass as he did last night. At various points he was sweating nealy as much as Gordie! Sinclair and Robby were grooving from start to finish.
New blogger for hipfans.com: TLB
That’s right fans, we’ve added another blogger to the fray! TLB joined us this morning and will start posting soon. His insight and west coast perspective will be a great addition to our site.
Setlist: 2006-06-17 – Lewiston, NY
First Set
Don’t Wake Daddy
Courage
The Lonely Side of the Rink
Summer’s Killing Us
Bobcaygeon
Chagrin Falls
Nautical Disaster
It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night
Fly
Putting Down
At The Hundreth Meridian
Springtime in Vienna
No Threat
Blow at High Dough
Something On
The Wherewithal
Encore
We’ll Go To
Greasy Jungle
Ahead By a Century
Hugh’s Review: 2006-06-16 – Pittsburgh, PA
This is the first of what I hope to be many “Hugh’s Review”‘s. Hugh is a dedicated fan from the Detroit area. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Wasaga Beach show in 2004, and then attending the Detriot and Cleveland shows with him later that year. Hugh’s reviews of past shows have always been detailed and interesting to read. So here is the first of Hugh’s Reviews for your enjoyment:
Point State Park is located in downtown Pittsburgh. It is small and can be found where the “Three Rivers” meet. This gives the greenspace its pointed shape. On Friday, the park was bustling with people viewing the different displays of art. Downtown Pittsburgh was alive with workers commuting home and baseball fans making their way to the Pirates game.
At the Hilton hotel, in an outdoor bar across from the park, a group of nine Hipbasers met. Along with our friends who were Hip fans too, our group numbered close to twenty people. We had fun socializing and talking about The Hip before heading over to the concert area. The stage was set in the back of the park near the river walk. It was a small area that made it intimate and cozy. The crowd was a diverse group of fans. Two fans in wheelchairs were front row center. Behind them were three young families all with young children ranging in ages from 1 to 6 years old. Surrounding these people were hundreds of hardcore Hip fans. I was worried the families would be pushed around during the show, but everyone was very respectful. I would estimate that 1000 people attended this free show.
I was expecting a short set since this was a free Festival show. Instead I was pleasantly suprised with a full 19 song set from the hard working Hip. The set was an excellent mix of new songs, fan favorites and three rarities. The band appeared relaxed and in control. Gord D. was very enjoyable to watch as he flailed about the stage singing, dancing and acting out. Paul’s smile beamed frequently as he played. Gord S. was bouncing to the beat of his bass in his own unique style. He was jamming with Johnnie who has streamlined his drum set. Johnnie played fiercely throughout the show. Robbie wore a pair of aviator glasses with a brown tint for the first half of the show. His solos were full of flair as he occasionally threw his long hair back and jammed out.
As I mentioned, Gord D. was very energetic and playful with the gathered fans. During Fully, Completely he pretended to drive a car while shifting gears. He screamed, “I’m too emotinal to drive”. During Poets he had a good dorsal fin/swimming rant as he paddled the stage with his mikestand. Before Lake Fever Gord spoke of a tall ship anchored in the harbor flying a yellow flag. He said it meant stay away, quarantined — as the band launched into the song. During the middle of the show Gord shouted, “This is a night like no other”! Everyone cheered in agreement. Near the end of the show Gord told the story of his fifth grade teacher who drove to school each day with the red canoe christened “Grace Too” lashed to the roof of his car. To end Grace Too, Gord made an emotional political statement. He ranted, “I’m your man! You man’s coming home! Bring them home! END THE WAR! He grabbed his mikestand and held it to his shoulder like a rifle. He became a soldier dodging bullets and shooting back. The final minutes of the encore Gord was in the zone. He walked along the stage monitors as if balancing on a perilous ledge. He jumped down and had a battle with his mikestand. Then Gord danced in his crazy way until the song ended with him struting like a peacock/rooster across the stage.
Soon after the show ended, an excellent fireworks display took place from a barge in the river behind the stage. We gathered near The Hip’s tour bus with quite a few other fans. All the band members came by and said hello to those who were there. Robbie and Gord D. signed autographs and took pictures with the fans. Gord was extremely patient and slightly overwhemled by the fans seeking to speak with him. He made sure to speak with the young fans who were in the front row during the show. Even though he appeared slightly tired, Gord did not leave until everyone got a minute with him.
I enjoyed this show for a number of reasons. First, because it was free. Second, because our Hipbase group watched the show together from the second row in front of Robbie. Finally, the set list was a great mixture of songs showing The Hip’s diverse ability and talent. I couldn’t have had a more enjoyable evening with my friends and The Hip.
Setlist (from thehip.com)
1: The Lonely End Of The Rink
2: Fully Completely
3: Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park
4: Poets
5: Lake Fever
6: Heaven Is A Better Place Today
7: Ahead By A Century
8: Gift Shop
9: The Last Of The Unplucked Gems
10: Fly
11: At The Hundredth Meridian
12: Bobcaygeon
13: Fireworks
14: Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin’ Man
15: Grace, Too
16: My Music At Work
Encore
17: The Drop Off
18: Sherpa
19: Fire In The Hole
Sympatico / MSN Mobile : Hip Ringtones
Sympatico / MSN Mobile have posted a bunch of Tragically Hip ringtones to their site. Has anyone downloaded a Hip ringtone? How do they sound? I just got a new phone (Samsung a920) and it has the option to add my own ringtones… so of course I want to get a Hip one!
guelphmercury.com | INSIDER | Tragically Hip ready to rock Guelph Lake
guelphmercury.com | INSIDER | Tragically Hip ready to rock Guelph Lake
Here’s an article about the upcoming Hip show in Guelph… and it even quotes a Hipbase member!
Tragically Hip ready to rock Guelph Lake
GREG MERCER
Tragically Hip
GUELPH (Jun 16, 2006)
The last time the Tragically Hip were in town, they were just a bunch of unknown lads from Kingston led by a Gord Downey with a full head of hair.
It was some time in the late 1980s, and the iconic Canadian rock band was making the rounds of the indie college music circuit.
Sam Baijal, then a student who worked part time for the University of Guelph, recalls them playing 45 or 50 minutes inside Peter Clarke Hall on campus. He remembers the university planned to offer the band as a free noon-hour show in the courtyard of the University Centre, but that was booked.
Wayne Hepburn, who booked shows for the university between 1969 and 2000, said the band sold about 400 tickets for a venue that was licensed for 600.
What a difference 20 years makes.
On March 31, fans across Canada and the U.S. lapped up 5,000 tickets for this Sunday’s concert at Guelph Lake in under 30 minutes. Now if you want to get in, you can fork over as much as $200 for a pair of tickets on EBay.
“We didn’t know who they were at the time,” said Baijal, one of the organizers with the Hillside Festival who brought the Hip back to Guelph for Sunday night’s concert. “I met these guys and I said ‘where did you come up with that crazy name?’ That was the first thing I said to them.”
Baijal said he particularly remembers Downey, the band’s charismatic and eccentric lead singer. The bald, neat look Downie is now known for was years off.
“He was wearing a suede-type cowboy-style hat with long hair. He looked like a hippie,” Baijal recalls.
Hepburn said the Hip found commercial success not long after their performance in Guelph and became too expensive to bring back.
Considering over the years he had booked other unknowns, including a 19-year-old Jim Carrey and a band called the Barenaked Ladies, he was used to it. “After that, they were too big to book,” Hepburn said.
Though the rest of the band won’t be familiar with the surroundings Sunday night, the lead singer will. Downie performed there during the Hillside Festival in 2003 as part of small tour he did that summer to promote his solo work.
The band should be warmed up and well travelled, having played in Pittsburgh on Friday night and Lewiston, N. Y., tomorrow. Fans can expect a good range of songs from their 11 studio albums, plus a few new ones from the as-yet unnamed album to be released this fall.
Although it’s been two years since the release of their last album and the Hip have never had been a platinum-selling act, Sunday’s sellout is a testament to the band’s core of loyal fans.
Count among them Mike McIntyre, a 26-year-old Guelph insurance broker who has been listening to the Hip since he was 12 years old.
On Sunday, you’ll find him at the lake, getting started good and early. Even his sister — flying in from Victoria to see the band — is volunteering in the beer tent because it was the only way she could get into the concert.
“This is huge. Fans around here think they’ve died and gone to heaven,” McIntyre said. “As far as I’m concerned, my summer kicks off this Sunday.”
McIntyre belongs to an online community of Hip fans (Hipbase.com), and said people have been buzzing for weeks about the chance to see the band in what for them is considered a small venue. No matter what you think about their music, you’ve got to respect the group for their staying power, he said.
“Gord Downie just puts his heart and soul into every performance, and the rest of the guys feed off him. They’ve got more energy on stage than bands half their age,” he said.
Maybe it’s the food. Just ask Appetizingly Yours Catering and Events, the Guelph company that will provide three meals to the Hip and their staff Sunday. According to owner Ingrid von Cube, the band has requested “normal food,” simple, fresh snacks and meals with an emphasis on healthy eating. There will be vegetarian options as part of the buffet and a chicken dish grilled on site.
The band hasn’t requested any alcohol, she said.
The only problem is deciding who works that day, von Cube said.
“We’ve been fighting over who gets to go. We had to draw straws,” she said. “All the chefs were like ‘I’ll go! I’ll go!’ ”
“Who isn’t a fan of the Tragically Hip? They’re a Canadian institution, like hockey,” adds one of von Cube’s employees, Julie Watt.
The band’s lack of demands on the caterers seems to fit their down-to-earth reputation. They’ll dine casually, using Styrofoam plates and they’ll eat with their stage crew.
While the concert will maintain the grassroots feel Hillside — which runs July 28-30 — has become known for, organizers have to contend with some of the headaches associated with big draws like the Hip.
Baijal said organizers are frustrated by scalpers who are using the Internet to turn around tickets for a quick profit. He said anyone caught selling tickets near the site on Sunday will be handed over to police.
“If there’s scalpers out there trying to sell tickets, we’ll have them removed,” he said.
And don’t think about swimming or paddling over. The shoreline will be watched by security, Baijal said.
gmercer@guelphmercury.com
HIP FACTS
Details:
Parking: $10 per vehicle (expect a 10-minute walk to stage)
Gates open at 4 p.m.
No coolers, cans or bottles. (Except sealed water bottles)
No lawn chairs or folding chairs
Food, beer and wine can be bought on site
Sunday’s Performers
Buck 65: 6-6:30 p.m.
Weakerthans: 6:45-7:30 p.m.
Tragically Hip: 8-10 p.m.
Belleville here we come!
Tickets for the Belleville show sold out very quickly this morning. Here’s a seating chart for the show, and we’ve highlighted the seats for the fans we know.
Contact us to get yourself added to the chart!
The Tragically Hip – Unreleased Songs Information Page
The Hip Museum has been updated with info regarding the new songs that the band have performed at shows this summer. Be sure to check it out, and let Stephen Dame know what you think!