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The Seattle P.I.-The Tragically Hip are on top of their game - NegPhil - 04-05-2007

By SHAWN TELFORD
SPECIAL TO THE P-I


MUSIC REVIEW

THE TRAGICALLY HIP with the Sadies

WHEN: Thursday night

WHERE: Moore Theatre

Twenty years in and The Tragically Hip are playing like they're just getting started. For the first 10 years, the Kingston, Ontario, five-piece played it cool as blues rockers. Gradually, the band edged toward country-rock before eventually settling into a straight-up rock persona that culminated in the seminal records "Day for Night" and "Fully Completely," from '94 and '92, respectively.

For the next 10 years, the Hip steadily released albums driven as much by their guitar work as Gordon Downie's maverick lyrics. Though he likes to focus on the Canadian experience, the singer's stories run the gamut of possibility. In fact, his microscope seems to know no bounds, a feat matched only by his ability to subsume big, polysyllabic words into songs (pendulum, biosphere, vaccination), many of which have never seen a song before and probably never will again.

Yet, for Hip-heads, and particularly the lesser-known American variety, this was a frustrating time. Each of the five albums from this era suffered a professional malaise that belabored the Hip. It seemed that Canada's Greatest Rock Band was going through the motions. The root of the problem was drummer Johnny Fay who, for nearly 10 years, would do little more than keep the beat; his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band, keeping their songs locked in 4/4 time.

Thank God for Bob Rock, the studio impresario best known for his work with Motley Crue ("Dr. Feelgood") and Metallica ("Load," "Reload" and "St. Anger"), not to mention David Lee Roth and Bon Jovi. Rock not only reawakened the Hip but he pushed them to new levels. The resulting "World Container" is the greatest Hip album ever recorded. The proof was seen in their concert Thursday night at the Moore, a spellbinding, energetic and triumphant display of prowess, expertise and most certainly, an absolute love of rock 'n' roll.

Quintessential entertainer and dynamic frontman Downie was soaked with perspiration by about the fifth song. By the 18th (an explosive rendition of the bluesy "Blow at High Dough"), he looked as if he had just stepped out of the shower. His aerobic interpretive dances have always made a Hip show into a spectacle, one to be seen as well as heard, but Thursday night Downie was on fire. Not even his microphone stands could handle his vivacity; he went through two and almost maimed a third.

Rarely do the Hip play songs by other bands; in fact, according to my sources, "Sweet Jane" has been the only exception, but add to the list "Jumping Jack Flash," an apropos encore song, if not a summation of the new era for the Hip: "It's a gas! Gas! Gas!"

Shawn Telford is a Seattle-based freelance writer who can be reached at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:eyeheartmusic@yahoo.com">eyeheartmusic@yahoo.com</a><!-- e -->.

- chris - 04-05-2007

Quote:The root of the problem was drummer Johnny Fay who, for nearly 10 years, would do little more than keep the beat; his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band, keeping their songs locked in 4/4 time.
Yikes.

- Daryl24 - 04-05-2007

Quote:Not even his microphone stands could handle his vivacity; he went through two and almost maimed a third.

I can picture that whole thing now lol
gord vs mr. mic stand

- skippy the wonder dog - 04-05-2007

chris Wrote:
Quote:The root of the problem was drummer Johnny Fay who, for nearly 10 years, would do little more than keep the beat; his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band, keeping their songs locked in 4/4 time.
Yikes.

That's actually a pretty ignorant comment, considering that the overwhelming majority of popular music is in 4/4 time, and that 4/4 is the basic time signature of rock n' roll.

Using oddball time signatures is not actually a hallmark of musical merit. The idea that it is goes along with the silly notion that you can't write songs in a major key; it's the territory of wankers who write from theory.

- sean.bonner - 04-05-2007

Quote:The root of the problem was drummer Johnny Fay who, for nearly 10 years, would do little more than keep the beat; his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band, keeping their songs locked in 4/4 time.
Someone should play for this guy any live version of Don't Wake Daddy.
Or play Toronto #4 for him.
Or show him Summer's Killing Us from That Night In Toronto.

- Daryl24 - 04-05-2007

sean.bonner Wrote:
Quote:The root of the problem was drummer Johnny Fay who, for nearly 10 years, would do little more than keep the beat; his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band, keeping their songs locked in 4/4 time.
Someone should play for this guy any live version of Don't Wake Daddy.
Or play Toronto #4 for him.
Or show him Summer's Killing Us from That Night In Toronto.

or lets stay engaged i love jonny on that one :thumb:

- The Horrible Esthete - 04-05-2007

skippy the wonder dog Wrote:That's actually a pretty ignorant comment, considering that the overwhelming majority of popular music is in 4/4 time, and that 4/4 is the basic time signature of rock n' roll.

Ignorant indeed.

I don't understand these potshots at Fay. I think his style suits the band & its material damn well.

Note to columnist: unpredictability, variation, and flamboyance in the rhythm section can often do more damage than good for an outfit with a "straight-up rock persona" -- an identity which you yourself acknowledged in your introductory paragraph. Fay's calculated restraint, precision, and knack for keen punctuation and dramatic emphasis are one of this band's many strengths.

Telford Wrote:his lack of excitement and general laziness haunted the band

That criticism is unfounded and flat-out sophomoric.

- skippy the wonder dog - 04-05-2007

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:Note to columnist: unpredictability, variation, and flamboyance in the rhythm section can often do more damage than good for an outfit with a "straight-up rock persona"....

Hmmm, yeah ... I think Job 1 for a drummer is to do, um, "little more than keep the beat."

That's kinda what the drums and bass are all about. And it's more challenging than certain critics might think. Johnny's drumming may be unspectacular, but at the same time one of the band's strengths is the rock-solid rhythm section. If they didn't have that, with the way Gord messes with his phrasing, they'd be all over the place.

A tip to critics: no one, outside of critics and musicians, isolates and listens to the drums. People listen to songs.

- spottrax - 04-05-2007

This should be turned into a Johnny Faye appreciation thread! I've drummed for over 30 years and can't say a bad thing about his style, abilities or selection of beats for songs. Joe Strummer said it best "a band is only as good as there drummer". There is a reason for the Hip's success and longevity. JF is one SOLID drummer! End of story.

- The Horrible Esthete - 04-05-2007

skippy the wonder dog Wrote:That's kinda what the drums and bass are all about. And it's more challenging than certain critics might think. Johnny's drumming may be unspectacular, but at the same time one of the band's strengths is the rock-solid rhythm section. If they didn't have that, with the way Gord messes with his phrasing, they'd be all over the place.

You're absolutely right.

- VioletLite - 04-05-2007

What's he meant to freakin do?? Stand on his head?????? He's a DRUMMER you moron!!! Someone please slap that journo. :mrgreen:

Re: The Seattle P.I.-The Tragically Hip are on top of their - Sohi - 04-05-2007

NegPhil Wrote:Rarely do the Hip play songs by other bands; in fact, according to my sources, "Sweet Jane" has been the only exception, but add to the list "Jumping Jack Flash," an apropos encore song, if not a summation of the new era for the Hip: "It's a gas! Gas! Gas!"

Shawn Telford is a Seattle-based freelance writer who can be reached at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:eyeheartmusic@yahoo.com">eyeheartmusic@yahoo.com</a><!-- e -->.

correct me if im wrong but haven't they done a lot more than that, with the cover everynight and they have played many more before this tour... i didn't agree with half the things this guy said, do you think he did any research on the point?

- direwolf74 - 04-05-2007

To quote the Rheostatics' Dave Bidini from his book, On a Cold Road:

"Johnny plays with an unflagging confidence and even touch, with propulsion rather than flair. His arrangements are spare, yet poignant, and while I could always hear more fills in most of the Hip's songs, there's obviously a reason for his teutonic approach. Since many of their songs veer off into exploratory jams, I supose it makes sense that someone steer."

- VioletlightHeron - 04-05-2007

I think the writer is a Keith Moon worshipper and doesn't appreciate the steady knack and precision needed for drumming without all the fills, rolls and other tricks that Keith was so well known for.

- Inch An Hour - 04-05-2007

Jonny is definately one my fav aspects of the band's talent as a whole. His drumming is just good, crisp and clean. But he can also break it down and add special somethings to live songs (i.e. springtime in vienna, grace too, vapour trails, poets, etc...(and there are many more)). Not to mention his drumming in "World Container" (I dare you to sit through "Family Band" and not involuntarily begin tapping a foot, especially after 2:30), which is top-notch.