PunBB

Rob Baker's third encore

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For more than two hours Saturday night, Tragically Hip guitarist Rob Baker rocked the new K-Rock Centre with his four bandmates.

The Kingston band played not one but two encores.

It was a show that would have been physically and emotionally exhausting for the beloved Canadian band.

They tore through fan favourites such as Courage, Ahead By a Century, Little Bones and Fiddler's Green.

Baker admits playing shows in Kingston is more nerve-wracking than playing anywhere else. When he looks into the audience, he sees friends, family and the diehard fans who have great expectations.

So, one might expect that Baker would be recuperating at home on Sunday, resting with his family, soaking up the praise Kingstonians would be bestowing on him for a job well done.

But, no.

On Sunday, just 15 hours after the show, Baker was at the K-Rock Centre to see the Kingston Frontenacs beat the Peterborough Petes 7-4.

Although the game was just the third event to be held at the new arena, following the opening night hockey game and the Hip concert, there were blocks of empty seats. Just 2,283 people turned out to fill the 5,700 seats.

Baker was there, not in a private box but sitting in the stands, near the Fronts bench, chewing on golden concession stand popcorn and chatting with fans who came up to shake his hand and pat him on the back for a good show.

Baker has been a vocal and longtime supporter of Kingston's new arena.

Rob Baker, the rock star, played two encores on Saturday night.

Rob Baker, the proud and supportive Kingstonian, showed up for a third on Sunday afternoon.

Now that's truly a job well done.

cool!

Yeah, they really don't need to make Rob Baker out to be a "man of the people or anything" though. He's a pretty chill guy. If you go downtown, chances are you'll see him just walking around, or chilling at Indigo or something. None o' that rockstar superiority that this article seems to assume that he'd have

thesellout Wrote:cool!

Yeah, they really don't need to make Rob Baker out to be a "man of the people or anything" though. He's a pretty chill guy. If you go downtown, chances are you'll see him just walking around, or chilling at Indigo or something. None o' that rockstar superiority that this article seems to assume that he'd have

He is as "chill" and down-to-earth as a lead guitarist of a big-name band could ever be, I'm guessing.

When I in L.A. to catch the TTH show at the House of Blues in 2002, I was milling around Sunset Blvd in the late afternoon and saw Paul at a streetside cafe, and later bumped into Rob on the street, standing outside the Whiskey-a-Gogo, and then later I even ran into Johnny right outside the venue.

All were polite, of course....I just said a quick hello to Johnny, as he was escorting a older lady into the HoB (maybe his mother?) and I didn't want to meddle. My encounter with Paul was quick, and was nothing more than a greeting and well-wishes; he was by himself with a newspaper, and I got the impression that his attention was for the sole purpose of being polite to a fan.

Rob, on the other hand, was ambling about with a brimmed hat and walking stick, and when I approached him, he treated me just as any congenial person would. He looked me in the eye when either of us was speaking, and seemed genuinely interested in why I, some dude from Ohio, would be in Hollywood for the express purpose of seeing a Canadian band. He was extremely cool to me - above and beyond anything I expect from anyone who was approached by a complete stranger. The convo lasted several minutes, and I was the one who actually broke it off, figuring I'd wasted enough of his pre-show free time.

I'll never forget that.

Cool story.. I met Gord S, Johnny and Rob in CBC studios after the taping of their Hour special, and all of them were really nice and receptive to the fans. It almost seemed like they were embarrassed by the attention.

You should have seen the pimpin purple shoes Rob had on at the first Frontenacs game Friday. He was looking sharp.

And a walking stick?

All class.

I've met Rob a few times, but one thing he said sticks out for me and likely always will.

"Good luck with the rest of the tour Robbie. We've got a few shows left together."

"Oh, we've got a million more Josh."

Righteous.

The Heron Outside Wrote:"Oh, we've got a million more Josh."

Righteous.

That is so great to hear!! :jump

It is similar to what he said in Brockville regarding my question about being ready to go into the studio this coming summer, and, he said "Yeah, We have many songs to record and will have lots left over."


Cheers

I met Rob and the rest of Stripper's Union here at the Bear in Ottawa thanks to a friend winning a contest. Me and the only other guy who bothered to show up watched them play on air, outside, in the sunshine from a picnic table.

After they were done the radio bit, we got our CDs signed, and stood around talking to "the boys" for about 20 minutes or more. No air of pretentiousness at all... we talked about Strippers (i didn't want to ask any Hip stuff as I thought it would be rude given they were promoting the Stripper's!) and hockey and assorted other topics.... they were all very cool and down to earth guys.

In fact, they had to drag Pat Steward away in the end, as according to Craig, "he'll talk to anybody for hours and hours, we can't shut him up!"


I've had a similar experience meeting Sam Roberts and band backstage in Pembroke a year or so ago. Very very nice guy, treated me cordially even tho he didn't know me from Adam.....

doesn't surprise me at all :thumb: