PunBB

HandsInTheRiver41 Wrote:I'll give one example though, from my last Hip show:
Rob Baker was in the middle of having a fantastic solo that I was finding really engaging when Gord decided it would be a good moment to start ranting to the crowd about something (of course I have nothing against Gord rants, those are usually my favourite parts of the show). My point is, Bobby didn't even get a chance to finish his solo it seemed, it ended up going nowhere and anyone whose attention was directed towards him was instantly drawn back to the center-of-attention at a Hip show, Gord Downie. Maybe it's the just the way I was brought up (no interrupting someone when they're speaking!) or maybe it's the way I think of Bobby's guitar solos as his voice, but I found it 'unsportsmanlike' and for a split second there found myself wishing Gord would put a lid on it. :oops:

I'll give a counter example from Sept. 9/09 in Winnipeg:

Just before the rapid guitar riff in Queen of the Furrows, Gord turned his face away from the audience and pointed right at Baker, as to give him the entire spotlight during the solo. Throughout the duration of the solo, Gord did not look at the audience or do hanky tricks of any kind. He was completely humble, and let his band mate receive all of the attention he deserved. I suppose it depends on the show you see and the mood that Downie is in.

That does sound pretty cool, but out of the 7 Hip shows I've seen, the most Gord has interacted with the rest of the band is using Gord Sinclair as cover when under fire with his pistol.

Earlier this year in San Francisco during Locked in the Trunk of a Car, Gord walked over to Robby as he was playing the solo and used his hanky to wipe the sweat from Robby's brow. I thought that was cool. Yes, Gord is arguably the most animated frontman in the biz, but it's obvious the guy has the utmost respect for his fellow bandmates. After seeing 30+ Hip shows over the past 20 years, I've never got the impression that he was ever trying to steal the spotlight away from the other members.

Thatd be great to see Gord solo Id imagine itd be quite an intimate gig

Gord doesn't have to "steal the light", the spotlight is head over heels in love with him.