05-25-2016, 02:46 PM
I think the reason this hit me is that The Hip have been a constant in my life for, now, 23 years - whether I didn't listen to them for a short while or had the latest album on repeat, they have always been a constant - something I know I can always go back to and enjoy, drop a couple of tracks on, listen or watch some live shows and they're there, making new music, touring, and I suppose when something becomes that, it never really occurs to you that constants too can end. When it becomes a possibility its hard to know what to do - so my thoughts are with all the other Hip fans.
I'd hoped they'd do the Fully Completely tour in London (UK) as that was the album that got me into them and is my favourite for both its studio and live versions. I kinda figured maybe they'd come back over here and Id get to feel the same feeling of euphoria I did when I saw them again in '09 in London. Looking at flights, costs, tickets etc I doubt I can afford the £1000 or so it would take to get to Vancouver for a 4 day round trip. Such a shame as the atmosphere would be beyond words.
One thing I've always loved about the hip is their attitude to live recordings and I take comfort in the fact there's such a good community (such as this one) that have archived so many of their shows, so whatever happens and I hope Gord beats this as much as the next guy, we will always have those live moments to relive over and over what the Hip have given us, which is excellent musicianship, lyrics with an intelligence and insight that is sorely lacking nowadays and most of all, Gord Downie, the best damn front man to have ever picked up a mic (and of course rode his mic stand like a horse!)
I'd hoped they'd do the Fully Completely tour in London (UK) as that was the album that got me into them and is my favourite for both its studio and live versions. I kinda figured maybe they'd come back over here and Id get to feel the same feeling of euphoria I did when I saw them again in '09 in London. Looking at flights, costs, tickets etc I doubt I can afford the £1000 or so it would take to get to Vancouver for a 4 day round trip. Such a shame as the atmosphere would be beyond words.
One thing I've always loved about the hip is their attitude to live recordings and I take comfort in the fact there's such a good community (such as this one) that have archived so many of their shows, so whatever happens and I hope Gord beats this as much as the next guy, we will always have those live moments to relive over and over what the Hip have given us, which is excellent musicianship, lyrics with an intelligence and insight that is sorely lacking nowadays and most of all, Gord Downie, the best damn front man to have ever picked up a mic (and of course rode his mic stand like a horse!)