[spottrax]

While we have another pause in the action from the Hip, I want to put this out for discussion...

I have a memory stick with about 30 different shows from various tours. I love to put it on shuffle and let'er rip on long trips. I have decided that 2 tours come to mind when it comes to bootleg appreiciation. 1. Evening with (MAW) 2000 and the Evening with (WATS) shows from 2009. Personal faves for me...

Anyone else want to chime in on their favorite tours for boots? Not just specific shows but entire tours....

I liked the fact Gord's best vocal work was on these tours IMO. Of course varied setlist and many more "mellower and moodier" songs on these tours....

[The Heron Outside]

Both of these tours offered the kind of variation within the band's sets that we love. But for me, the '96 tour showcased the band as they were really exploring how far they could push their traditional sound. Throughout the mid-90's, I felt like the band became confined to the gritty, crunchy sound which brought them fame. But in '96, they were exploring a certain "Groove" if you will, within their sound. 17 minute Meridians, quality rants and a band that sounded as if it could make magic happen rather easily.

[spottrax]

I only have a couple of 96's (henhouse) shows and I do like them. Yes, the band was rockin on all cylinder for sure (really, when havent they?) I Like the Phantom Power shows too. Some decent variety and the crowds, rants and over-all vibe was simply top-notch..

[sean.bonner]

I only have a couple of 96's (henhouse) shows and I do like them. Yes, the band was rockin on all cylinder for sure (really, when havent they?) I Like the Phantom Power shows too. Some decent variety and the crowds, rants and over-all vibe was simply top-notch..

I've said in the past that Phantom Power bootlegs are my favourite... I'm not really sure if I believe that statement myself anymore. I just wish more soundboards from the Phantom Power era existed. 1998-12-12 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the most amazing performances I've heard, and the sound quality is impeccable. There hasn't even been SOTDs from the Phantom Power tour yet, which I find unfortunate based on the performances available as audience recordings.

They should just release the Wetland's shows in New York in July '98 as a boxset. Those audience recordings tell the story of some very intimate and killer shows, when Phantom Power was freshly pressed and the songs and setlists were still developing for the rest of the 98/99 tour period.
Great stuff.

[direwolf74]

I only have a couple of 96's (henhouse) shows and I do like them. Yes, the band was rockin on all cylinder for sure (really, when havent they?) I Like the Phantom Power shows too. Some decent variety and the crowds, rants and over-all vibe was simply top-notch..

I've said in the past that Phantom Power bootlegs are my favourite... I'm not really sure if I believe that statement myself anymore. I just wish more soundboards from the Phantom Power era existed. 1998-12-12 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the most amazing performances I've heard, and the sound quality is impeccable. There hasn't even been SOTDs from the Phantom Power tour yet, which I find unfortunate based on the performances available as audience recordings.

They should just release the Wetland's shows in New York in July '98 as a boxset. Those audience recordings tell the story of some very intimate and killer shows, when Phantom Power was freshly pressed and the songs and setlists were still developing for the rest of the 98/99 tour period.
Great stuff.

I was lucky enough to see them four times on the PP tour. The back-to-back shows at the Saddledome in Calgary were awesome. This was at the height of the Hip's Canadian popularity, with both shows selling out in record time, and the crowds were absolutely insane. The setlists were excellent as well, with rarely played gems like On the Verge, Lionized, and Let's Stay Engaged making appearances. The show at the Opera House in Spokane was really cool too. But the crown jewel on that tour for me was their intimate, mind-blowing performance at the High Sierra Festival in Novato, California, just north of San Francisco on the other side of the Golden Gate. The show was in a really beautiful setting, out in the middle of nowhere with the stage set up right beside a small lake. The line-up featured a few local indie bands with the Hip headlining. By the time the boys hit the stage, there were maybe 400 or 500 people there, tops. My buddy and I ran into Paul and Gord S. earlier in the day just wandering around the grounds and chatted with them for a bit. During the Hip's set we stood right in front of Gord D. for the entire show. The crowd was really well behaved too. No drunken douchebaggery, no pushing, shoving, or crowd surfing. Just a bunch of people having a great time watching the greatest rock n' roll band on the planet. I remember lots of great rants and a killer 10-minute version of Meridian to close out the show. To this day it still stands as the greatest Hip show I've ever witnessed, with Sasquatch '06 coming in at a close 2nd.

[spottrax]

I also enjoy the PP shows. I seen them 3 times that tour and have 2 of those boots (never been able to find the Toledo Stranahan theater show). The two I have are STELLAR! Palace of Auburn Hills show Feb of 99 and Toledo Zoo Aug of 98. Both lots of great stuff. The band didn't go into the catalog as deep as the Evening With shows but there is plenty of entertaining moments (especially the zoo show). The Palace show had terrific versions of Pigeon Camera and Cordellia.

[MountainHip]

I've said in the past that Phantom Power bootlegs are my favourite... I'm not really sure if I believe that statement myself anymore. I just wish more soundboards from the Phantom Power era existed. 1998-12-12 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the most amazing performances I've heard, and the sound quality is impeccable. There hasn't even been SOTDs from the Phantom Power tour yet, which I find unfortunate based on the performances available as audience recordings.

They should just release the Wetland's shows in New York in July '98 as a boxset. Those audience recordings tell the story of some very intimate and killer shows, when Phantom Power was freshly pressed and the songs and setlists were still developing for the rest of the 98/99 tour period.
Great stuff.

Here, Here, the Wetlands show are really great. Gord's genuine interaction with the crowd, and comic relief moments should be heard by all. Not to mention a great story/rant where they climbed to an "incredible fucking height" just to find another band, making their movie. Now, who do I have to blow around here to get a ginger ale?

[direwolf74]

Here, Here, the Wetlands show are really great. Gord's genuine interaction with the crowd, and comic relief moments should be heard by all. Not to mention a great story/rant where they climbed to an "incredible fucking height" just to find another band, making their movie. Now, who do I have to blow around here to get a ginger ale?

Reminds me of a great Gord quote from that show in California I was mentioning. The show was put on by the local college/university and was being sponsored by a soda pop. Gord was drinking a can of it up on stage: "This is good stuff and it makes you burp a lot. Little saxophones rising from my belly. I don't believe in endorsements unless you're allowed to swear. Good fuckin' pop! That's a hell of a pop!"

[joshwayy]

I have a folder on an external that has about 50 boots from 1996-98...three of the wetlands shows are on there...while I was updating my iphone to the ios5 I surfed and found this funny but all together inaccurate review.

[spottrax]

Santa brought me the LP/Cassette to MP3 software, I'm going through all my Hip Boots and putting them on my computer (then cd). Listening to several I haven't heard in a Loooong time... enjoyable.

[sean.bonner]

Santa brought me the LP/Cassette to MP3 software, I'm going through all my Hip Boots and putting them on my computer (then cd). Listening to several I haven't heard in a Loooong time... enjoyable.

Anything rare and amazing? Would love to hear some new hip shows, as its been a while since anything old and rare has surfaced!

[spottrax]

Not sure how rare they are but the ones I transfered to mp3 so far were the Toledo Zoo show from aug 98, the Palace of Auburn Hills show from Feb 99 and the private show at Overture Studios (promoing songs from PP from winter 99 also).