07-26-2007, 12:19 AM
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Concert Review: Tragically Hip At Bessborough Gardens, Saskatoon, SK, July 18, 2007
Written by JC Mosquito
Published July 21, 2007
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Canada's own Tragically Hip played a sold out outdoor show at the stately Bessborough Gardens in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on July 18 to an appreciative crowd of about 3500 people. I believe it was the last performance of the Canadian leg of their current tour before playing a couple of summer festivals, and then going Stateside in the middle of August to continue the tour in support of their current album World Container.
And that's the way it will go down in the record books in plain ol' black & white. What it actually was is something else entirely. There's a very good chance that on that night, the Hip could lay claim to the title of best Rock and Roll Band that ever came out of Canada.
Not that I'm saying that they are (the best Rock and Roll Band to ever come out of Canada, that is), or that they would even say so themselves. But they're right up there with the elder Canadian rock gods that are often named as worthy of the throne — The Guess Who, Rush, Brian Adams — and about a half dozen others that you probably only know if you're a Canuck yourself.
But the Hip's show last Wednesday was one of a kind, with beautiful outdoor weather, a nice venue, and a band ready to cut loose before a well earned break.
Opening act the Sadies warmed up the crowd with their indie cowpunk sound — played tight and twangy. As the sun went lower in the sky, and the somewhat uncomfortable heat came down to a manageable level, the Hip wandered in from the side of the Gardens. They opened their set with the big single from their current album World Container, "Yer Not the Ocean." A nice, bouncy, uptempo rocker, I thought — good idea, played well, and with enthusiasm.
Singer Gord Downie greeted his audience: "Saskatoon, Bessbourough Gardens - you're not the ocean...yet!"
Ironically, Bess Gardens used to be a swimming pool — go fig. Decent enough I thought, but with the second song, "Grace, Too," something turned right there and the lighthearted start got real intense. The whole band got that look on their faces that you only get when you're deep in the zone, if you take my meaning.
Downie didn't bother singing the first verse, it was more shouted — like no version of "Grace, Too" I've ever heard. I've even seen the YouTube footage of "Grace, Too" from GM Place last week. Sorry, Vancouver, we got the REAL thing.
Then he went through his "the sound of war" schtick, and shrieked like a banshee. What can I say? Downie spent the rest of the night dancing, prancing, and carrying on like no one I can remember in recent memory. Downie was part clown; part rock star; part put on; part poet, artist, and mime(?); part spastic, nutcase and political commentator.
What a show. And the rest of the band laid down the groove on top of that tight rhythm section.
What also struck me was how even the material I never liked before sounded just darn fine, thank you. Like the Guess Who or Rush, the Hip now have such a deep catalog they can play a whole night and miss what I thought were essential songs - but like those other bands, they just have so many to choose from, that they have to leave some out unless they're planning on a five hour long set.
Yeah, they were good. But good enough to be the best rock and roll band in Canada right now? Good enough to be the best band ever in Canada? I'm not saying. These things should never be stated in absolute terms for fear of breaking the charm.
But they were good enough to push aside the memory of the recent White Stripes concert I saw a few weeks back. And good enough to offer an olive branch to Mr. Rose here at BC, for the good-natured hassle I gave him about his dislike of the Stripes.
After seeing a classy act like the Hip, I think I can see a sliver of light into his way of thinking (but I still like Jack and Meg's little band and appreciate their back to the basics approach - they're pretty hip themselves!). But I was thinking about all the BC critics and whether they would've liked the Hip. Maybe, or maybe not. But at this show, I think it would've been hard for anyone to ignore the musicianship, depth, passion, and showmanship.
It was a watershed gig in many ways. Remember how Gord Downie said, "You're not the ocean - yet?"
By the end of the gig, I'll bet he saw an ocean full of happy faces (complete with the occasional body surfers), and I'm sure a whole bunch of non-believers got baptized that night into the sea to sea fandom of the Tragically Hip — who are true Canadian icons.
Catch their show if they ever come anywhere near your town. It'll be worth it.
JC Mosquito spends most of his day keeping the wolves from the door. When he's not occupied with this pasttime, he's interested in all things rock and roll, which may or may not have died back in the late '50's, the late '70's, or the early '90's depending on who you believe.
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Concert Review: Tragically Hip At Bessborough Gardens, Saskatoon, SK, July 18, 2007
Written by JC Mosquito
Published July 21, 2007
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/21/012435.php">http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/21/012435.php</a><!-- m -->
Canada's own Tragically Hip played a sold out outdoor show at the stately Bessborough Gardens in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on July 18 to an appreciative crowd of about 3500 people. I believe it was the last performance of the Canadian leg of their current tour before playing a couple of summer festivals, and then going Stateside in the middle of August to continue the tour in support of their current album World Container.
And that's the way it will go down in the record books in plain ol' black & white. What it actually was is something else entirely. There's a very good chance that on that night, the Hip could lay claim to the title of best Rock and Roll Band that ever came out of Canada.
Not that I'm saying that they are (the best Rock and Roll Band to ever come out of Canada, that is), or that they would even say so themselves. But they're right up there with the elder Canadian rock gods that are often named as worthy of the throne — The Guess Who, Rush, Brian Adams — and about a half dozen others that you probably only know if you're a Canuck yourself.
But the Hip's show last Wednesday was one of a kind, with beautiful outdoor weather, a nice venue, and a band ready to cut loose before a well earned break.
Opening act the Sadies warmed up the crowd with their indie cowpunk sound — played tight and twangy. As the sun went lower in the sky, and the somewhat uncomfortable heat came down to a manageable level, the Hip wandered in from the side of the Gardens. They opened their set with the big single from their current album World Container, "Yer Not the Ocean." A nice, bouncy, uptempo rocker, I thought — good idea, played well, and with enthusiasm.
Singer Gord Downie greeted his audience: "Saskatoon, Bessbourough Gardens - you're not the ocean...yet!"
Ironically, Bess Gardens used to be a swimming pool — go fig. Decent enough I thought, but with the second song, "Grace, Too," something turned right there and the lighthearted start got real intense. The whole band got that look on their faces that you only get when you're deep in the zone, if you take my meaning.
Downie didn't bother singing the first verse, it was more shouted — like no version of "Grace, Too" I've ever heard. I've even seen the YouTube footage of "Grace, Too" from GM Place last week. Sorry, Vancouver, we got the REAL thing.
Then he went through his "the sound of war" schtick, and shrieked like a banshee. What can I say? Downie spent the rest of the night dancing, prancing, and carrying on like no one I can remember in recent memory. Downie was part clown; part rock star; part put on; part poet, artist, and mime(?); part spastic, nutcase and political commentator.
What a show. And the rest of the band laid down the groove on top of that tight rhythm section.
What also struck me was how even the material I never liked before sounded just darn fine, thank you. Like the Guess Who or Rush, the Hip now have such a deep catalog they can play a whole night and miss what I thought were essential songs - but like those other bands, they just have so many to choose from, that they have to leave some out unless they're planning on a five hour long set.
Yeah, they were good. But good enough to be the best rock and roll band in Canada right now? Good enough to be the best band ever in Canada? I'm not saying. These things should never be stated in absolute terms for fear of breaking the charm.
But they were good enough to push aside the memory of the recent White Stripes concert I saw a few weeks back. And good enough to offer an olive branch to Mr. Rose here at BC, for the good-natured hassle I gave him about his dislike of the Stripes.
After seeing a classy act like the Hip, I think I can see a sliver of light into his way of thinking (but I still like Jack and Meg's little band and appreciate their back to the basics approach - they're pretty hip themselves!). But I was thinking about all the BC critics and whether they would've liked the Hip. Maybe, or maybe not. But at this show, I think it would've been hard for anyone to ignore the musicianship, depth, passion, and showmanship.
It was a watershed gig in many ways. Remember how Gord Downie said, "You're not the ocean - yet?"
By the end of the gig, I'll bet he saw an ocean full of happy faces (complete with the occasional body surfers), and I'm sure a whole bunch of non-believers got baptized that night into the sea to sea fandom of the Tragically Hip — who are true Canadian icons.
Catch their show if they ever come anywhere near your town. It'll be worth it.
JC Mosquito spends most of his day keeping the wolves from the door. When he's not occupied with this pasttime, he's interested in all things rock and roll, which may or may not have died back in the late '50's, the late '70's, or the early '90's depending on who you believe.
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!