[direwolf74]

I wrote this on October 17, 2017:

Can we all, can you all, just stay here for a bit, while I, while we, collect ourselves. There's too much to say, too much to write, too much to think, too much to feel. We passed through paroxysms of grief last year, heights of elation last year, introspection last year, gratitude, anticipation. We knew but didn't know what was coming. I can't process it fast enough and I don't want this place, this thread to ebb with some quick words that cannot express it enough. So please, let's just stay here for a bit. This place is only here. The whole of Canada and honourary Canadians that they, that he, made will celebrate him deeply and feel sorrow deeply, but this place is not that place. This place is the inner sanctum of that place. It's at the kernel of it, where whole songs are shorthands, all songs are one song and that song is don't forget.

I've been here for 14 years. Longer than grade school. Longer than high school. Longer than university, masters, and law school. Longer than my kids have been alive. There aren't many other things that have lasted that long. My wife beats you guys by 1 year.

Thanks for the ride.

ct

Beautifully said, Chris.

:thumb:

[hurls15]

Wayward ho! Away we go, It's a shame to leave this masterpiece...

This site is one of the very few sites that I have done a near daily check in for years now. A spot (no, THE spot) for the keenest (and for the most part, most articulate) of fans to gather, share and support the band, the music and even each other. It has been fun, fellow gallery gods. Whether you were a regular reader/occasional poster like myself, or a prolific poster like many of the familiar names and avatars we recognize here, thanks for the insights and opinions. Cheers to all, the best fans of the best damn band that this country has ever known. See you wherever we all end up.

[edgoffin]

Thanks to everyone for keeping this running -- I joined 14 years ago, and maybe a bit before that with a different user name. I think I stumbled across the forum from a bootleg burn and mail group....remember those....This has been a great place for civil discussion and respect for different viewpoints, a increasing rarity in the online world. Beyond the Hip, have also learned about a lot of other new music that I now count among my favorites.

Hopefully we'll stumble across each other at a show, or on another forum where we're extolling the virtues of this great band.

[Chris Tanz]

Re the gallery gods comment and the civility comment in the last two posts ... it really is amazing about the distinct lack of garbage bag trees and burning bags of shit around these parts.

Maybe it is because this forum is a throwback to days before twitter unleashed hell. Maybe it's why this gold thing can't stay. Maybe it's because there was no "like" button and if you wanted to tell someone you liked their thread or their comment you had to more directly and more intellectually engage with them. And if you wanted to disagree with them you had to do the same. And there was some humanity there and some recognition that We are the Same.

ct

[joshwayy]

Is it too late to get a t-shirt?

#savethehipbase

[Joe]

Is it too late to get a t-shirt?

#savethehipbase

I was thinking this the other day! Would definitely get one

[andrew sharpe]

What's a dischord?

#savethehipbase

[schaggs]

14 years. I'll miss this place. This band, the people on this forum, the music, and arguing little details of the music with total strangers on the internet sure got me through a lot of rough times.

Thanks mrlayance and everyone else involved with maintaining and moderating the content here. Thanks to everyone who posted their (mostly) polite, well reasoned, and captivating thoughts. It's been a pleasure doing business with you.

[Chris Tanz]

Did you know if you type “alt.music.tragically-hip” into google, you can relive your whole life?

I just read a post of mine about wanting to get an Ontario “TATH” licence plate, maybe sometime in 2011. That was in 2000. We’re still only on to the C’s now.

I read someone else posting about waiting for a studio version of Radio Show to come out on a box set collection. They only had to wait 14 or so years.

I read a bunch of Whorella posts. I read a post of mine saying I actually didn’t mind Whorella posts.

Damn,
Ct

[gratts99]

16 years for me on this site as of next month. Thank you Lance for creating the platform for us to talk about The Hip and THANK YOU to all the people that worked their ass off to give us audio/video of our favorite band. I can remember having friends over to watch the Wasaga Beach concert and others. When I first joined I got in contact with someone on this forum that wanted to get rid of his media of the hip. I received alot of cd's/dvd footage of the band and at that time it (bootlegs back then) and I will never forget it. We all lived through the Ticketmaster nightmares over the years and that's when most of us would come online , to see what others had, to hype up the next concert we were attending or to complain about our shitty TM experience. The Hip forever changed TM.

Finding the Hipbase was amazing. Reading the setlists as they happened, sharing ideas, memories, thoughts, and more importantly sharing the music we all love is something I won't forget.

See y'all in the Discord.

Glen

edit, Discord link is expired, can someone repost

[thehip11]

This has been the best hip Fan forum for well over a decade. I’ve met so many awesome friends through this forum and I’m so grateful for all the Hip memories. Thx lance and all of the moderators for giving fans access to each other and to write about the Hip sharing concert memories and many other topics. Going to miss it all.

Jamie

[spottrax]

I've been on here for a little over 14 years. Some wonderful (and at times wacky) interaction with others on Hipbase. I do regret not meeting anyone from here at any shows. I always wondered when I'd be rockin out at a Hip show... "Is that one of the folks from Hipbase next to me singing Don't Wake Daddy at full volume?" I was usually with a group of friends from my area (Detroit suburbs) and simply didn't want to bother anyone.

My final show count pales in comparison to many of you guys (27) but each and every one was special. The music, the culture, the tailgating, the road-tripping...all of it. Hipbase was always (from 2004 for me) a part of it too. From reading the reviews of shows, to dissecting the latest albums it was a way to interact, get info and even vent a bit! It seems so insignificant that we'd get on here and blast away at "same ole boring setlist" or "GD's voice is shredded" or "why in the love of god don't they release a B sides box set?" In lue of what took place from 2015 to 2017, none of it matters in the least. The band (and Downie) always delivered a terrific show....I never left a venue saying I didn't enjoy it!

On a personal note, being from the States (as with some others on here) definitely holds a different perspective regarding the Hip. They were a unique band in a few different ways. Musically, the band grew stronger and went places that were challenging and incredibly rewarding. Downies voice and persona was the most identifiable and unique in rock music...period. It's been so cool to share the excitement of this band with others on here (especially a few other states-side folks!)...and get the Canadian experience as well. It makes any trek I make into that country much more meaningful now.

Everything was put into perspective for me when I ventured to London ON to see the final tour. I took my daughter (who was 22 at the time and wasn't a super big fan but I wanted her to go). Pulling up to the venue, it was clear this was an experience of culture to behold! The downtown area was flooded with people....not just concert-goers...but people just there hanging out. Not one but TWO Hip cover bands playing in the immediate area (one under a tent in the market square and another on top of a roof of a bar). Everywhere was jammed with Hipfans....bars, parking lots...the entire night was magical.

Watching nearly every show from that tour (streaming on here...thanks to those who did it) was something I'd never consider doing (devoting that kind of time to a band....seriously?) But there I was with my laptop, a shot of favorite whiskey and a few Labbat's... rockin' out one last tour...and seeing all the posts on here from people at the shows! Wonderful experience.

I play music for my second job here in Michigan. I play nearly every weekend (I do shows with at least three different bands...and acoustic solo shows...and yes I play the Hip when I can). I've always understood the business side of things (and it's easier to answer all those above questions too from my perspective). No links or self promo here...I'm just a Hipfan. Although I play many different styles and genre's (of rock music), The Tragically Hip have influence my song-writing, my live performance and other aspects of my musical life.

I'm going to miss the threads, info and posts on Hipbase. Certainly and end of an era. Thank you for running and maintaining the site (Lance?) and all the fun stuff from everyone else! :thumb:

Scott

[andrew sharpe]

Did you know if you type “alt.music.tragically-hip” into google, you can relive your whole life?

I just read a post of mine about wanting to get an Ontario “TATH” licence plate, maybe sometime in 2011. That was in 2000. We’re still only on to the C’s now.

I read someone else posting about waiting for a studio version of Radio Show to come out on a box set collection. They only had to wait 14 or so years.

I read a bunch of Whorella posts. I read a post of mine saying I actually didn’t mind Whorella posts.

Damn,
Ct

You inspired me to look back and see what's saved of mine...there's stuff from 1995, wow, including a review I posted of my first Hip show, where I ask if anyone caught Gord mentioning Kurt Cobain...he must have been spitballing lyrics that made it into Don't Wake Daddy.

[senrab]

Very sad about this.

[ashtrayrock]

totally understandable and much love & thanks