[Tthip]

I got this quote from Gord Sinclair from the old Hip.com when LBU came out.
My how times have changed...

"We have never played the same set twice, mostly for our own sake. Boredom is death for music and the more routine a live performance gets, the more boring it can become for the band and the audience. We have always guarded against this. You have to believe that every night is special, so you make it so." GS

[Killer Whale Tank]

Geez, I hate all this grumbling about set lists and Gord's lack of rants. They're probably still exploring the new songs and, in Gord's case, working on making sure he's got the lyrics straight. This being so, it's not surprising they keep the set-lists relatively static. Once they do a full-blown tour, we'll probably see them playing with the new stuff a bit more.

Also, can I ask---how can people afford to follow the band around to multiple concerts anyway? Is there some secret 'Hip Fan Fund' of which I'm unaware? cratch:

[direwolf74]

Like I stated in an earlier post, I'm quite sure the summer festival gigs were simply a warm-up for the upcoming fall/winter tour of North America. Just a tune-up to rehearse the new songs in front of an audience. Because they were only playing 1 gig every couple of weeks, they probably didn't feel the need to change it up that much. On the other hand, whenever they've done an extensive tour where they're playing every other night, the setlists are always different and they never do the same show twice. For the IVL tour, Robby said they had rehearsed about 65 songs and that they'd be changing it up nightly, which they did. I expect the same for the fall tour, and there's no doubt in my mind that they'll deliver the goods.

[Andre Cardinal]

I have found the setlists to be quite good for these summer gigs. These new songs are incredible. I'm sure more will be done when the real tour actually starts. There's been a couple surprises at nearly every show. Have to crawl before you walk. In other words, they have to get used to playing live again. They're just warming up.

I was listening to Darien Lake 2002, and I thought to myself, damn they sound good. The whole jam they played for "Life is Forgetting", and extended version of Locked, and you could hear the words for Meanstreak during one of the rants in one of the songs. Evolution takes time. This tour will rock, don't think otherwise.

[direwolf74]

Geez, I hate all this grumbling about set lists and Gord's lack of rants. They're probably still exploring the new songs and, in Gord's case, working on making sure he's got the lyrics straight. This being so, it's not surprising they keep the set-lists relatively static. Once they do a full-blown tour, we'll probably see them playing with the new stuff a bit more.

Also, can I ask---how can people afford to follow the band around to multiple concerts anyway? Is there some secret 'Hip Fan Fund' of which I'm unaware? cratch:

Ha! No kidding, eh. If there is one, I wish I had access to it. I've managed to follow them for a couple of shows in the U.S. here and there, but after 2 or 3 shows the money completely runs out and I'm charging everything on my Visa, which isn't good. In the spring of '99 I saw the Hip 3 times in one month (twice in Calgary, once in Spokane), including buying a bunch of merch, and that put me in the hole for at least 4 months. It seemed like an eternity before I had the old bank account back to normal.

[cheney50mc]

There will be plenty of surprises when the tour starts I'm sure, especially if they plan on realeasing the shows on-line.

I saw them 3 nights in a row in 3 different states once (Burlington, Hartford, Long Island) on the PP tour. Each night was fairly different, the highlight being Cordelia at the Long Island show.

The best ever though was seeing them on babk to back night during the 'evening with' tour, Ottawa/Mtl. I don't think it will ever get better than that. So awesome.

[Stephen Dame]

I don't think a single setlist has been identical to any other this tour. The three I've seen had repeats, but were diverse enough to keep everybody happy.

Frankly, they could play Banjo songs and four straight extended versions of New O. I come to see the band, what they choose to play is a bonus.

Now, if we could choose (website poll or somethin') those four or five variations... that'd be heaven, but I'm happy as is.

[Hugh23]

Also, can I ask---how can people afford to follow the band around to multiple concerts anyway? Is there some secret 'Hip Fan Fund' of which I'm unaware? cratch:

Ha! No kidding, eh. If there is one, I wish I had access to it. I've managed to follow them for a couple of shows in the U.S. here and there, but after 2 or 3 shows the money completely runs out and I'm charging everything on my Visa, which isn't good.

LOL! That is so true. It does cost a bit to follow the band for a few shows, but I do enjoy it. I've always felt it was worth the extra six months of higher payments to Visa/MC to see my favorite band a few extra times every two years when they tour.

[Foxfires]

I've always viewed his rants as a complete and total bonus. I shudder to think how it would kill the spontaneity over the years to know people were now expecting you to serve it up night after night. The inspiration would be lost under the demand after awhile.

That being said, I think it's true to say they're just warming up. I would be thrilled beyond belief to get to see them again, even if Gord never belted out a single solitary rant. But....I know that when the time is right, and he's feeling the groove... he will let loose the torrent. Then that bonus will be like finding a rare rookie card in the deck that you wanted with all your heart anyway.

[]V[ANTIS]

Geez, I hate all this grumbling about set lists and Gord's lack of rants. They're probably still exploring the new songs and, in Gord's case, working on making sure he's got the lyrics straight. This being so, it's not surprising they keep the set-lists relatively static. Once they do a full-blown tour, we'll probably see them playing with the new stuff a bit more.

Also, can I ask---how can people afford to follow the band around to multiple concerts anyway? Is there some secret 'Hip Fan Fund' of which I'm unaware? cratch:

At 75 bucks a show, and alot of travelling and beer money, its kinda dissapointing to see the same setlist 3 times in a row. I mean, when you can call the firs 4-5 songs they will play...its just plain routine and lazyness. As for how it can be afforded...ummm a job maybe!

[Stephen Dame]

I find if you split the costs with some other Hip heads, and are willing to rack up some credit card debt, Hip trips to two or three cities on consecutive nights are pretty reasonable. If you eat cheap and stay cheap (Hostels, run down motel's) gas becomes your only real financial concern.

And once you've done it, you'll be itching to do it again.

[Foxfires]

when you can call the firs 4-5 songs they will play...its just plain routine and lazyness. As for how it can be afforded...ummm a job maybe!

Bands can't totally cater to the people who have the luxury of following them around everywhere. I would wager that the bulk of the audience are one shot concert attenders, and then *they* would be miffed that they didn't get to hear the songs they wanted to hear... (which are, no doubt...repeats in many, many concerts).

I guess I just view repetition as the risk you take when you make the choice to follow a band to numerous concerts.... especially when they are getting familiar with a new album's worth of material to play in front of a live audience.

[direwolf74]

I find if you split the costs with some other Hip heads, and are willing to rack up some credit card debt, Hip trips to two or three cities on consecutive nights are pretty reasonable. If you eat cheap and stay cheap (Hostels, run down motel's) gas becomes your only real financial concern.

And once you've done it, you'll be itching to do it again.

Sooooo true. It's extremely addicting, especially if you're seeing them multiple nights at small venues in the U.S.

[tigerthelion]

Geez, I hate all this grumbling about set lists and Gord's lack of rants. They're probably still exploring the new songs and, in Gord's case, working on making sure he's got the lyrics straight. This being so, it's not surprising they keep the set-lists relatively static. Once they do a full-blown tour, we'll probably see them playing with the new stuff a bit more.

Also, can I ask---how can people afford to follow the band around to multiple concerts anyway? Is there some secret 'Hip Fan Fund' of which I'm unaware? cratch:

At 75 bucks a show, and alot of travelling and beer money, its kinda dissapointing to see the same setlist 3 times in a row. I mean, when you can call the firs 4-5 songs they will play...its just plain routine and lazyness. As for how it can be afforded...ummm a job maybe!

At the risk of sounding facetious:

If you know the setlists will be the same and you are bitching about it, why do you go to multiple shows?

[grooveless touque]

Foxfires nailed it...95% of people at a show will be attending their only show of the tour. They want to hear the same great setlist you heard on your first night seeing the band. I have never seen a band more than once on a single tour, and given the reviews and setlists I've seen from nearby shows, I'm happier with the money in the bank. I wouldn't go see The Hip several times in a row unless I was prepared to accept most of the songs would be the same (why do we collect concert bootlegs? Most of the songs are repetitions!) and just sit back and enjoy the progressive live explorations of the new material.