10-01-2009, 01:28 PM
All right - let's see what we can do here.
We've developed a new rule following last night: if you're at a licensed establishment with an acoustic guitar player when you're having pre-show beverages, the worse the acoustic fellow is, the better the show will be. The experience in Boston back in May got me thinking about it and last night cemented it. Shane, from Windsor, was providing entertainment at the Honest Lawyer before hand with his unique selection of campfire/bar rock standards spanning the past four decades. Bonus points for "I'm On Fire" - you lost me with "I'm a Believer." He played New O and Wheat Kings though for the faithful in his second set.
Highlight though was the drunk from the bar who called out the request for "Takin' Care of Business" and followed it up immediately with "Get to the part about working overtime!" If you are a Hipbaser sir, I want to shake your hand.
First time at Hamilton Place last night. Last show in that part of the complex I was at was a Jimmy Eat World gig in 2002, so it had been a while. As soon as I walked in, memories of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium or any other local arts theatre built between 1975 and 1990 in Ontario flooded the mind. Those who've been to the TBCA know its acoustics are nearly unparalleled in the province, if not the country. Bands know it and frequently shout it from the stage; outside of the Persians, the cheap beer and the Black Pirates Pub, it's really the only thing to really enjoy in Thunder Bay these days.
So once I realized what kind of a venue I was getting myself into, I started getting excited. Then I saw the setlists that had returned for the multi-night stands throughout the past month. That got me going a little more. Then I realized there would be no better way to spend my birthday than to see my favourite band (and e-bay then was once again my friend). And all of a sudden I'm there, in my seat, 18 rows up, dead centre stage. You knew it the minute the band hit the stage, this would be a night. Full of smiles, ready to go, they were on fire. The tapes of this will show multiple teases before songs, of different covers, bass lines, etc. Barely enough to be recognizable, but enough to add that little extra flair to songs we've heard over and over again.
A lot of people (myself included) have talked about the horse riding, the crowd interaction, etc. There's not much more to add, except for how much it says for the evolution of the band. Never have I Gord as animated and mobile as he was last night. His crowd interaction is so phenomenally different than it was when I first started seeing this band in concert 10 years ago. The wall that separates the fans from the stage has been completely destroyed and their a better live band for it.
The one thing Downie's entry to the crowd does is allow the remaining band members play out the songs in new and exciting ways while he's busy with the fans. The three significant jams of last night, during Meridian, Music and Blow were incredible. It's amazing how this band gets tighter and tighter with every gig played. I've seen them four times this year and every time, musically, it's gotten better.
Which got me thinking as we walked out; this was it. This was by far the best Tragically Hip concert I have ever been to. From the way the set flowed, to the songs played, to the way they were played. Add into the fact that the city was told in no uncertain terms it won't be getting an NHL damn near ever yesterday and you had the ingredients for that "magical moment" to happen which would make any show great. In fact, this might be the best concert going experience I've ever enjoyed. What a night, what a show, what a crowd, right?
Absolutely right.
Enjoy the rest of the tour folks. I think I'm just about done for this year, knowing I can't top what I was a part of yesterday.
Cheers,
Pat
We've developed a new rule following last night: if you're at a licensed establishment with an acoustic guitar player when you're having pre-show beverages, the worse the acoustic fellow is, the better the show will be. The experience in Boston back in May got me thinking about it and last night cemented it. Shane, from Windsor, was providing entertainment at the Honest Lawyer before hand with his unique selection of campfire/bar rock standards spanning the past four decades. Bonus points for "I'm On Fire" - you lost me with "I'm a Believer." He played New O and Wheat Kings though for the faithful in his second set.
Highlight though was the drunk from the bar who called out the request for "Takin' Care of Business" and followed it up immediately with "Get to the part about working overtime!" If you are a Hipbaser sir, I want to shake your hand.
First time at Hamilton Place last night. Last show in that part of the complex I was at was a Jimmy Eat World gig in 2002, so it had been a while. As soon as I walked in, memories of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium or any other local arts theatre built between 1975 and 1990 in Ontario flooded the mind. Those who've been to the TBCA know its acoustics are nearly unparalleled in the province, if not the country. Bands know it and frequently shout it from the stage; outside of the Persians, the cheap beer and the Black Pirates Pub, it's really the only thing to really enjoy in Thunder Bay these days.
So once I realized what kind of a venue I was getting myself into, I started getting excited. Then I saw the setlists that had returned for the multi-night stands throughout the past month. That got me going a little more. Then I realized there would be no better way to spend my birthday than to see my favourite band (and e-bay then was once again my friend). And all of a sudden I'm there, in my seat, 18 rows up, dead centre stage. You knew it the minute the band hit the stage, this would be a night. Full of smiles, ready to go, they were on fire. The tapes of this will show multiple teases before songs, of different covers, bass lines, etc. Barely enough to be recognizable, but enough to add that little extra flair to songs we've heard over and over again.
A lot of people (myself included) have talked about the horse riding, the crowd interaction, etc. There's not much more to add, except for how much it says for the evolution of the band. Never have I Gord as animated and mobile as he was last night. His crowd interaction is so phenomenally different than it was when I first started seeing this band in concert 10 years ago. The wall that separates the fans from the stage has been completely destroyed and their a better live band for it.
The one thing Downie's entry to the crowd does is allow the remaining band members play out the songs in new and exciting ways while he's busy with the fans. The three significant jams of last night, during Meridian, Music and Blow were incredible. It's amazing how this band gets tighter and tighter with every gig played. I've seen them four times this year and every time, musically, it's gotten better.
Which got me thinking as we walked out; this was it. This was by far the best Tragically Hip concert I have ever been to. From the way the set flowed, to the songs played, to the way they were played. Add into the fact that the city was told in no uncertain terms it won't be getting an NHL damn near ever yesterday and you had the ingredients for that "magical moment" to happen which would make any show great. In fact, this might be the best concert going experience I've ever enjoyed. What a night, what a show, what a crowd, right?
Absolutely right.
Enjoy the rest of the tour folks. I think I'm just about done for this year, knowing I can't top what I was a part of yesterday.
Cheers,
Pat