[The Horrible Esthete]

Neil's a legendary musician, but as a consummate songwriter? I don't think he has that kind of reputation.

Wow....I'd be inclined to say the exact opposite is true. Being a guitarist and HUGE Neil Yong fan, I think that he is a rather pedestrian musician, despite the fact that he is admittedly versatile...if you disagree, take a listen to the guitar lead in "Southern Man", and see if you don't change your tune a little bit (and by the way, playing harmonica while strumming along on the axe is not as difficult as you might think). On the other hand, Neils songwriting is absoloutely top-notch, IMO.

[akoso]

But what you people have been saying that around your areas nobody has heard of the Hip, i could say the same about up here in Canada. Tons of my friends have never heard of the Hip and the few that have, don't listen to them...

I'd say Canadians not knowing who the Hip are might be pushing it (from my experience), but not being able to name more than 3 songs by the Hip is definitely quite accurate. The biggest reason I think is just the lack of air time.

I mean, so many people here consider IBE to be one of the Hip's top 3 albums of all time, yet Vaccination Scar hasn't cracked the top 3 yet and really doesn't get as much radio time as some of the bigger songs right now (i.e. Franz Ferdinand, Dashboard Confessional, The Killers). Heck, I even hear Billy Talent more than the Hip on the radio.

My summary of the Hip's success is if you've ever really gotten into the Hip, you're in for life. You rarely meet people who used to love them, but have since changed their minds. I find people that love the Hip (the most die-hard fans ever) and people that don't care for them. Rarely do I find the middle ground where people say "they're okay, I like a couple songs".

[Wennox]

I live in Philadelphia and to date, have never heard the Hip get any airplay. Last June – when Gord was on his solo tour, I emailed a request to play something from Gord and/or the Hip:

Sent: Fri 6/27/2003 2:21 PM
To: Andre Gardner
Cc:
Subject: Gord Downie

How about playing something from Gord Downie or the Tragically Hip?

Thanks!


His response:

From: "Andre Gardner
To: "Wendy"
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 2:59 PM
Subject: RE: Gord Downie

Hey there -

I'm not sure I am familiar with Gord Downie or the Tragically Hip...how about the Stones???

Andre

Andre Gardner has been playing rock and roll on the Philly airwaves for many years. I find it hard to believe he is “unfamiliar” with the Hip. Makes me wonder if, in the past, something was said or done to piss someone off and that’s why they get little to no airplay. :roll:

[NMAS]

I don't love the hip as much as I used to. My music taste have changed. I was a huge fan from the beginning and have seen them 23 (possible more) times live since 1988. I am turning much more to the Blues as I get older. Still love the Hip and love IBE so far ( I think it will remain one of there best as I listen more). But even in Canada there popularity has fallen way down. Look at the Album sales for IBE, it was in the top ten for only 3 weeks I think, didn't even make number 1. I think Phantom Power was the last to go to number 1. So even here it is falling off considerably.

Sometimes you here the Hip at strange times in the states. I remember hearing Courage as a lead in to a NFL football game on CBS once.

[lord brazle]

But what you people have been saying that around your areas nobody has heard of the Hip, i could say the same about up here in Canada. Tons of my friends have never heard of the Hip and the few that have, don't listen to them...

Seriously?? I can't tell you how many times I've heard that the Hip are "the most popular active band in Canada"? If this is even remotely true, why don't more people at least recognize the name and identify what type of stuff they play? Curious.....

It's entirely true... it may be based on age-group (late teens, early twenties) but the majority have never heard of them, EVER, and it's a serious piss-off. The occasional friend will recognize the song but not know who sang it OR will know the name "TTH" but couldn't name a single song. The rest just flat-out don't have a clue... :x

[mcwslc]

I've lived in LA since '94 and have never heard the Hip on the radio one single time, although LA has about the worst radio stations in the nation. 2 classic rock stations, 2 alternative stations, and a ton of rap and pop. There have been a few stations over the years that have popped up that play Widespread Panic, Phish, Bob Marley, etc...but every single one is bought and turned into a Spanish station.

However, the last two tours the Hip have sold out the HOB two nights in a row (but that is maybe 1,000 people). I know they get radio play in SF and sell out the Fillmore two nights in a row as well up there.

But I lived in Tucson, AZ for four years and they are huge down there. They have played there every tour since 1990, starting with a club called Mudbugs in 1990 that holds about 200 people, to playng a theater in 2002 that held 2,000 - 2,500.

When I was there they were played on the radio 5 times a day, and the rock station in town broadcast the 1991 show from Coyotes live on the radio. Their reputation has slowly made its way 120 miles north to Phoenix, AZ and they got a little air play with Poets back in 1998.

I can't believe that with such a great album being released there isn't a huge marketing push in the states. Its pathetic, and too see only a 6 week US tour three months after the album was released is moronic.

Am I the only one who remembers them touring the states for 6 months, playing 20 shows in a month, then taking a few weeks off, then assulting another section of the country? For a band that prides its self on their live performance, how can they stand to only play 40 - 50 shows between the end of the IVL Tour and the end of IBE tour. That is 2.5+ years...

[NMAS]

mcwsic- I assume it is not financially viable anymore. The band realizes that it just isn't going to happen in the states.

I've always thought the band did a bad job picking singles of albums especially for the states. I think the only song off of IBE that could have any success in the U.S. is Are we Family? or possibly Josephine

[Locked]

Having never even set foot in Canada, I tend to agree with most of the American responses..

The closest the Hip came to making it big in Boston was "Courage" and "Hundrth Meridian" (airplay wise)

WBOS (92.9) which is Adult rock oriented , seemed to keep "Poets" on their playlist for a while and (if you check the FM collection) the Hip always play a few songs on-air in their radio station everytime they come to town.

Other than that, The Hip are nearly invisible in this town. While all the Boston shows always sell out, its hard to tell true US numbers in the audience because you Canucks smartly sneak down to these smaller venues (I would too!)

I got into the Hip through a record rep. from MCA, otherwise I would have never known them.

I think many of the posts fail to identify what really hooks people to the Hip-their live show!

Some music critic in Boston wrote a couple of years agai that the eneregy of the Hip's live shows are on par with the legendary Springsteen shows of the70"s...
I agree with that sentiment...
The visual of Gordie's rants and raves..pantomime and the overall "Hip-pocket" groove of the band in its entirety make each show a magical experience.

My final point...
Both Pearl Jam and DMB share similar praise for their live shows and give fans access to hundreds of live CD's and DVD's yet the Hip
have but one live CD (which has an AWFUL version of Grace by the way... ) an NO DVD...
(except that horribly cut up one from the Road apples tour... I almost shot my TV out when they kept cutting away from FC, Pigeon Camera and Wheat Kings (ARRRRRG!) and no Locked even though that was the opening song of that show!!!!

Bottom line...
The Hip need to go the live boot CD / DVD root if they want to:
1) Make money
2) Gain some ground in the US
3) make me and the rest of you bootleg weary Hipsters happy beyound all our dreams!!!!

Scott in Boston :thumb:

[NMAS]

I totally agree with you, the Hip need to become taper friendly. If you ever go to Sharing the groove.com the hip sometimes show up there and the recordings are crap, all the americans say is that they have heard great things about the band but, boots all sound like crap there for they won't bother listening. If they let quality tapers into show then they might grow a following through that.

[boot]

My summary of the Hip's success is if you've ever really gotten into the Hip, you're in for life. You rarely meet people who used to love them, but have since changed their minds. I find people that love the Hip (the most die-hard fans ever) and people that don't care for them. Rarely do I find the middle ground where people say "they're okay, I like a couple songs".

Unfortunately, I think this is definitely NOT true. Look at the dwindling sales for the last 4 or 5 albums. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get different answers on when the fans dropped off, but there's obviously a huge contingent of people who used to love the hip, but just don't anymore...

I have a friend who says they've been going downhill since FC, and probably hasn't bought an album since DFN.... My girlfriend says she completely lost interest when TATH came out, but that they've finally redeemed themselves with IBE... but that's after I've all but forced the album on her...

[tigerthelion]

My summary of the Hip's success is if you've ever really gotten into the Hip, you're in for life. You rarely meet people who used to love them, but have since changed their minds. I find people that love the Hip (the most die-hard fans ever) and people that don't care for them. Rarely do I find the middle ground where people say "they're okay, I like a couple songs".

Unfortunately, I think this is definitely NOT true. Look at the dwindling sales for the last 4 or 5 albums. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get different answers on when the fans dropped off, but there's obviously a huge contingent of people who used to love the hip, but just don't anymore...

I have a friend who says they've been going downhill since FC, and probably hasn't bought an album since DFN.... My girlfriend says she completely lost interest when TATH came out, but that they've finally redeemed themselves with IBE... but that's after I've all but forced the album on her...

I agree. Pretty much everyone I talk to about the Hip says they like the old stuff like UTH, RA, and FC. I know maybe one person who is remotely interested in their last three or four albums.

So I guess I'm saying that I have no real Hip fans as friends. That's why it makes it difficult to see shows. I'd rather go to a show with someone but if I can't get anyone I'll probably go myself, which I have done before. The Hip are one of only a few bands I'd see myself though. Most other bands just aren't worth it to me. I'd go alone to The Hip, Pearl Jam, U2, Neil Young, and maybe a few more.

[tigerthelion]

Neil's a legendary musician, but as a consummate songwriter? I don't think he has that kind of reputation.

Wow....I'd be inclined to say the exact opposite is true. Being a guitarist and HUGE Neil Yong fan, I think that he is a rather pedestrian musician, despite the fact that he is admittedly versatile...if you disagree, take a listen to the guitar lead in "Southern Man", and see if you don't change your tune a little bit (and by the way, playing harmonica while strumming along on the axe is not as difficult as you might think). On the other hand, Neils songwriting is absoloutely top-notch, IMO.

Neil Young is a living legend. He is one of the greats of all time in my books. He is an amazingly good songwriter, and a very unique musician. His guitar playing may not sound great when first hearing it but I think other musicians would attest to his masterful guitar work. He makes sounds with the guitar others don't even try. He's got his own style, he does things his way, and he is simply an icon. I'd rank him up there with Lightfoot as Canada's two top musical products. BTW, I love "Southern Man". Just look at how many current musicians were influenced by Young. Pretty much every rock act in Canada has been influenced by him.

[Locked]

getting back to the hip...
:mrgreen:

For the record, I don't think the Hip could be anymore taper friendly..
Christ, they even let you videotape!

I was suggesting some official live CD and DVD releases like PJ
does after each show...

anyone think those wouldn't sell off the charts??????

someone wake this band up!!!!!!! :thumb:

[robert goulet]

Back in 1998 I had the priviledge of spending a summer working at a gorgeous golf resort in the mountains of Virginia (read Deliverance country) and met a great deal of people from VA who were in College and during that summer I took great pride in turning EACH AND EVERY one (roughly 12) into die hard Hip fans. Damn Phantom Power was great!!! I still keep in touch with some of them and they are now all lifelong hip fans, and they have told me through their grassroots efforts they have turned a number of their friends onto the band as well.

I think this is all that we can strive for, if each of us can turn 1 or 2 of our friends on to this incredible band, that will make all the difference. Unfortunately TTH will never hit it huge in the States. But be happy that we have the chance to travel Stateside and catch them at a small club and watch them up close with 300-400 FANS!!!

I am planning a trip to the Fillmore in SF in Oct, as my friend is a pilot with Air Canada and a HipHead like myself, I am wondering what the Fillmore is like? Can I expect it to be filled? What is the capacity?

Keep spreading the word and buying the albums...that is the absolute LEAST that we can do for them.

GOULET!!!!

[Stephen Dame]

Look at the Album sales for IBE, it was in the top ten for only 3 weeks I think, didn't even make number 1. I think Phantom Power was the last to go to number 1. So even here it is falling off considerably.

Both M@W and IBE debuted at #1 in Canada. They're still incredibly well liked here.