10-31-2006, 03:32 PM
Here is my view of the night...
Three people back from the barrier on the left side... and I saw Gordie take the mic in the face too...Good stuff
Mic stand-4 Gordie - 0
Monday October 30, 2006
The more I listen to the new album the clearer the message becomes. World Container is a protest album about the current state of the world ranging from environmental issues to politics. I have always found it tough to decipher lyrical metaphors but this time the message in the bottle is clear. The band wrote an album out of passion and it is clearly their best since Day for Night and it remarkably stand outs on stage. That fire burning within the heart of this group of men has given them the ability to deliver such a powerful performance showcasing the gritty soul of the new disc.
The rusty growl of front man Gord Downie enveloped the room on tracks like “Drop Off” and “Love Sic”. “The Kids Don’t Get It” was astounding once again as Downie stomped and paced while belting out the lyrics. During the chorus he would stop and crouch over in an attempt to use all available energy to express his message. That savage emotion packed into the new album has granted them a license to re visit the very songs that got them to that stage in the first place. “Don’t Wake Daddy” was spectacular, displayed in a way that would not be possible when it was released in the mid-nineties. The same goes for the shows closer “Fire in the Hole”.
The show wasn’t all grit however. “Lake Fever” and “Sherpa” showed the melodic side of their repertoire. “The Last of the Unplucked Gems” helped to solidify this as a show bound for the books as being one filled with songs I never expected to hear live. A long drawn out intro which built as Downie slowly re-enacted the evolution from monkey to man before dropping into the few lyrics that the round out The Road Apples album. “Escape is Hand for the Travellin’ Man” needs to be mentioned just because it was the song I wanted to hear most.
An unfortunate loss was “Bobcaygeon”. I am sure it was good, but I don’t remember because I was sent reeling by the mid-set power bomb of “Grace, Too”. This was the crowning achievement of the October 30th show at the MacEwan Ballroom. Never before have I seen a crowd anticipate a song so much in my life. It all started with a small rhythmic tap on the symbols, followed by the distinctive baseline and the instantaneous roar of recognition from the assembly. The extended intro allowed time for the concert fog to thicken and subsequently transformed the audience into a frothing mob just waiting for the chance to sing along with the bands most self-defining lyric. Downie finally slid to the mic and exploded with a luxurious growl “We’re Tragically Hip!” It was an outstanding resource for goose bumps. The entire song was put forth with that newly acquired license and I have never seen anything better. If you plan on attending any of these club dates, wish with everything that you have that Grace, Too is written on that small piece of paper taped to the floor of the stage.
I really feel that the band has walked through a brand new door before doing these club dates. These shows will go down in Rock and Roll history as some of the best productions from a band that is clearly in their prime. If you have a ticket to any of these intimate shows feel privileged and be excited. Seventy dollars buys you a ticket to a life long memory. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Dion J. Brake
Concert Goer
Family
Courage
View
Lake Fever
Drop Off
Don't Wake Daddy
Puttin Down
Luv (Sic)
Grace Too
Bobc
World
Fully
Fly
Gems
Kids
Sherpa
Ocean
Locked
Rink
Pretend
Escape
Fire
Three people back from the barrier on the left side... and I saw Gordie take the mic in the face too...Good stuff
Mic stand-4 Gordie - 0
Monday October 30, 2006
The more I listen to the new album the clearer the message becomes. World Container is a protest album about the current state of the world ranging from environmental issues to politics. I have always found it tough to decipher lyrical metaphors but this time the message in the bottle is clear. The band wrote an album out of passion and it is clearly their best since Day for Night and it remarkably stand outs on stage. That fire burning within the heart of this group of men has given them the ability to deliver such a powerful performance showcasing the gritty soul of the new disc.
The rusty growl of front man Gord Downie enveloped the room on tracks like “Drop Off” and “Love Sic”. “The Kids Don’t Get It” was astounding once again as Downie stomped and paced while belting out the lyrics. During the chorus he would stop and crouch over in an attempt to use all available energy to express his message. That savage emotion packed into the new album has granted them a license to re visit the very songs that got them to that stage in the first place. “Don’t Wake Daddy” was spectacular, displayed in a way that would not be possible when it was released in the mid-nineties. The same goes for the shows closer “Fire in the Hole”.
The show wasn’t all grit however. “Lake Fever” and “Sherpa” showed the melodic side of their repertoire. “The Last of the Unplucked Gems” helped to solidify this as a show bound for the books as being one filled with songs I never expected to hear live. A long drawn out intro which built as Downie slowly re-enacted the evolution from monkey to man before dropping into the few lyrics that the round out The Road Apples album. “Escape is Hand for the Travellin’ Man” needs to be mentioned just because it was the song I wanted to hear most.
An unfortunate loss was “Bobcaygeon”. I am sure it was good, but I don’t remember because I was sent reeling by the mid-set power bomb of “Grace, Too”. This was the crowning achievement of the October 30th show at the MacEwan Ballroom. Never before have I seen a crowd anticipate a song so much in my life. It all started with a small rhythmic tap on the symbols, followed by the distinctive baseline and the instantaneous roar of recognition from the assembly. The extended intro allowed time for the concert fog to thicken and subsequently transformed the audience into a frothing mob just waiting for the chance to sing along with the bands most self-defining lyric. Downie finally slid to the mic and exploded with a luxurious growl “We’re Tragically Hip!” It was an outstanding resource for goose bumps. The entire song was put forth with that newly acquired license and I have never seen anything better. If you plan on attending any of these club dates, wish with everything that you have that Grace, Too is written on that small piece of paper taped to the floor of the stage.
I really feel that the band has walked through a brand new door before doing these club dates. These shows will go down in Rock and Roll history as some of the best productions from a band that is clearly in their prime. If you have a ticket to any of these intimate shows feel privileged and be excited. Seventy dollars buys you a ticket to a life long memory. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Dion J. Brake
Concert Goer
Family
Courage
View
Lake Fever
Drop Off
Don't Wake Daddy
Puttin Down
Luv (Sic)
Grace Too
Bobc
World
Fully
Fly
Gems
Kids
Sherpa
Ocean
Locked
Rink
Pretend
Escape
Fire
I love Gord's monkey dance! :lol:
