Saw Gordie and the gang at Hillside yesterday. Didn't get much vid because we were there with the kids, but did manage to get the first performance of "Yellow Days" during the "workshop" in the tent!
[youtube]A6p2eEFfVWY[/youtube]
Gord and TCOM put on essentially two shows at Hillside. At 4pm there was supposed to be a workshop with Gord and Julie that turned into a full on band performance/jam session.
Later that evening on the main stage it was a full on TCOM show.
If you get the chance to attend Hillside - do it.
I did't catch too much of either performance but what I saw was solid.
I was thoroughly impressed with Hillside. Without doubt the "greenest" festival we've ever been to: Free water, excellent foods from all over the world, reusable beer and wine cups, recycling stations for your dishes, easy and quick access to porta wc, and "modern hippies" everywhere. We saw both performances with GD & TCOM although I have to say the afternoon improv show was amazing. Each band member chose a song (or two) from their catalogue and essentially gave everyone else on stage the chord changes on the go. I thought Gord was a little challenged with this format which just may be because he has not been playing instruments his entire life like the other members of TCOM. None the less the spontaneity of the jams was something well worth experiencing! Julie's two song's were fantastic specially the first one which had the same chord structure as "House of the Rising Sun" but a slightly different tempo and melody. The main stage show was also good but IMO the crowd did not seem into it that much. The previous two acts were Reggae and Hip Hop respectively, and I didn't think Gord's stylings were a natural progression for the crowd. Both shows were taped.
Again, hats off to Hillside and as mentioned earlier if you get a chance to go, do it! I cant think of a better festival to support.
I was going to post the same thing about all the impressive "green" initiatives at Hillside. I think at one point they made an announcement that they had saved over 26,000 water bottles from the landfill.
The other thing we liked was the fact it was family-friendly and kid-friendly. We'll definitely go again.
At some point, I'll post some pics, too.
GordsGal Wrote:Saw Gordie and the gang at Hillside yesterday. Didn't get much vid because we were there with the kids, but did manage to get the first performance of "Yellow Days" during the "workshop" in the tent!
[youtube]A6p2eEFfVWY[/youtube]
That is some great footage. Thanks. :thumb:
Stood front row for Gord during his show in the Island tent. It was incredible, especially the song yellow days. I could literally stare into his mouth the whole time lol. After the show I was walking around when I ran into Gord himself! I got a picture with him and he signed my copy of The Grand Bounce... had an awesome experience and it was just overall a great day and performance by Gord and TCOM
star painters
canada geese
who by rote
(this requires both eyes)
the dance
moon over
yellow days
(cosmic note)
vancouver divorce
(its a family affair)
trick rider
(6andhalf seconds of empathy)
christmastime
the drowning machine
gone
the east
figment
the brackets are notable interludes to open songs. the dance, moon over, yellow days, vancouver, and figment were jammingly extended. Gone played awesome live with Gord on acoustic and Dale on some kind of antenna, one-hand free, other knobbed, instrument?
I think i heard it was the 27th hillside festival, that was my first,i was blown, and i will surely attendd again. Greeen setup :mrgreen:
tigerthelion88 Wrote:Gone played awesome live with Gord on acoustic and Dale on some kind of antenna, one-hand free, other knobbed, instrument?
It's a theremin.
thebends Wrote:I was thoroughly impressed with Hillside. Without doubt the "greenest" festival we've ever been to: Free water, excellent foods from all over the world, reusable beer and wine cups, recycling stations for your dishes, easy and quick access to porta wc, and "modern hippies" everywhere. We saw both performances with GD & TCOM although I have to say the afternoon improv show was amazing. Each band member chose a song (or two) from their catalogue and essentially gave everyone else on stage the chord changes on the go. I thought Gord was a little challenged with this format which just may be because he has not been playing instruments his entire life like the other members of TCOM. None the less the spontaneity of the jams was something well worth experiencing! Julie's two song's were fantastic specially the first one which had the same chord structure as "House of the Rising Sun" but a slightly different tempo and melody. The main stage show was also good but IMO the crowd did not seem into it that much. The previous two acts were Reggae and Hip Hop respectively, and I didn't think Gord's stylings were a natural progression for the crowd. Both shows were taped.
Again, hats off to Hillside and as mentioned earlier if you get a chance to go, do it! I cant think of a better festival to support.
Aside from the official festival archivist I didn't see anyone taping. Do you know otherwise?
The archivist had gear and people at each stage, for all shows, all weekend but that was the only gear that I saw (some of it was mine...).
chris Wrote:thebends Wrote:I was thoroughly impressed with Hillside. Without doubt the "greenest" festival we've ever been to: Free water, excellent foods from all over the world, reusable beer and wine cups, recycling stations for your dishes, easy and quick access to porta wc, and "modern hippies" everywhere. We saw both performances with GD & TCOM although I have to say the afternoon improv show was amazing. Each band member chose a song (or two) from their catalogue and essentially gave everyone else on stage the chord changes on the go. I thought Gord was a little challenged with this format which just may be because he has not been playing instruments his entire life like the other members of TCOM. None the less the spontaneity of the jams was something well worth experiencing! Julie's two song's were fantastic specially the first one which had the same chord structure as "House of the Rising Sun" but a slightly different tempo and melody. The main stage show was also good but IMO the crowd did not seem into it that much. The previous two acts were Reggae and Hip Hop respectively, and I didn't think Gord's stylings were a natural progression for the crowd. Both shows were taped.
Again, hats off to Hillside and as mentioned earlier if you get a chance to go, do it! I cant think of a better festival to support.
Aside from the official festival archivist I didn't see anyone taping. Do you know otherwise?
The archivist had gear and people at each stage, for all shows, all weekend but that was the only gear that I saw (some of it was mine...).
For the Island Tent show there was gear mid stage right where the picnic tables started (right beside one of the tent poles), and for the Main Stage there was gear right in front of the sound board at the back. May have been the archivist's stuff.
hey chris,
I was posted front dead center for the 2nd show, my friend was right behind me and amateurly recorded nearly the whole thing in HD, hes sitting on the tapes now. I personally felt we were way to close to try and capture, but he persisted.--which might of led to Gords rant about 'squandering acts, to captur moments, to relive it later'; which seems to be cited more and more in present shows. -Its a bittersweet affect on live performance. .. ...it all depends ... i guess.
Also, I have been procrastanatingly sitting on alot of HD footage from the 09 hip tour. I have a nasty impactful exam on the 11th and am boycotting all other activites. AFter it, I will make large efforts to get you ALL mine and my friends footage..Peace, love, and grace, too.
GORD DOWNIE AND THE COUNTRY OF MIRACLES AT HILLSIDE - AUX WEEKLY
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.aux.tv/video/AUX-Weekly-144-Gord-Downie/">http://www.aux.tv/video/AUX-Weekly-144-Gord-Downie/</a><!-- m -->