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I realize that Grace, Too is THE opener, but if I had to pick something else, I would say:
Tiger The Lion
On the M@W tour, it was killer whenever they opened with that. And for a finish,
Blow.
2004-12-03 - Saint John/2005-09-03 - Moncton/2006-06-30 - Charlottetown/2006-11-09/10 - Montreal/2007-09-11 - Fredericton/2007-09-13 - Halifax/2007-09-14 - Sydney/2007-09-15 - Charlottetown/2008-06-30 - Charlottetown/2009-05-01/02 - Montreal/2011-06-28 - Moncton/2011-06-30 - Charlottetown/2012-06-30 - Niagara-on-the-Lake/2013-02-01 - Moncton/2013-02-02 - Halifax/2015-01-10 - Toronto/2015-02-20 - Montreal/2015-07-17 - Ottawa/2016-08-18 - Ottawa/2016-08-20 - Kingston
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Opener - Grace, Too
Closer - On The Verge.
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Grace Two is fine and all as an opener, well, it's an excellent opener. However, it's become a bit of an obvious opener for a while now and I don't think it really needs to open shows anymore. Besides, I think it's also a great to have in the bag for the encores. It may be even better at that time since there's more anticipation, and a better feel for the show as people are pretty much locked in for the ride at that point.
In contrast, the first song of a Hip show sometimes feels like a scramble to get one's seats or spot in the venue (beer in hand or not). I've found the first song in the set to be more like an "All aboard!" call... then they break out Grace Two or similar attention grabber.
In that sense, I'd love to see One Night in Copenhagen start off a set, leading right into Grace Two. Such a quirky little half-tune, and with the line "When the drugs hit you...", it would be a pretty funny "okay, here we go..." moment, I think.
btw, sex over gambling. Hands down. That whole "not really gambling" argument can easily be flipped around.
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Vaccination Scar was fulfilling the "scramble to yer seats" role on the last tour, and I thought it was doing a pretty good job -- made me feel like I hadn't missed anything when the "real" concert then started with Grace Too. (Don't mind me; I think VS is something of a half-hearted song).
Anyway, Grace is the best opener. The Tom-Henke of closers is Three Pistols, Blow at High Dough, and 50 MC in Toronto.
I always hope for Three Pistols instead of Little Bones at a concert. I've been rewarded thrice, I believe.
ct
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I'd have to agree with Spycouple here, I think Grace, Too has become almost cliche. It's a great song, but I like to see them mix it up more and not have the concert so predictable. I don't even have a preference for the opener, just something rip-roaring.
For a closer though, I would rather have something toned- down like Escape is at the Hand... then you wouldn't get that ringing in your ears of "it's over" when the music stops, you're more ready for the long drive home.
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Silver Jet
Springtime In Vienna or Blow
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[quote="Chris Tanz"]Vaccination Scar was fulfilling the "scramble to yer seats" role on the last tour, and I thought it was doing a pretty good job -- made me feel like I hadn't missed anything when the "real" concert then started with Grace Too.quote]
I agree with Chris 100%. Start with VS, then onto Grace Too.
As far as closers, I really enjoy Three Pistols.
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I'd have to say anything but Grace to start, and anything but Blow to finish. While Poets, Music@Work, Hundredth Meridian, and Little Bones have all grown into manic, unpredictable songs that seem like mini-concerts on their own, I've found Grace, Blow, and NOIS very tired over the last two years or so, with Gord at his most gravel-voiced. So much so that I skip them on the LiveDownloads. Clearly, I'm in the minority. But that's how I feel.
Cheers,
John
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Open: Music
Close: Escape
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I would love to hear Blow At High Dough as an opener - with that opening riff, it would just rock.
Another cool one is what someone from another board told me.
Walk out on stage, start jamming for a couple minutes (Hiccups) and then break into Daredevil.
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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Opener: Grace too
Closer: last encore definatly Little Bones!
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Open - Tiger the Lion
Close - On the Verge
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grace too as an opener (out of my six shows it's opened four of them!!)
i really liked nautical disaster as a closing song in halifax
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Opener: "Grace, Too" (which hasn't become cliched for me--I've seen the Hip ten times and it only opened two of those shows, and both of them were festival-type appearances), although "Vaccination Scar" owned as an opener on the last tour. Also, someone mentioned "Blow" as an opener. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but at the Ottawa Bluefest in 2002 it was third from the top (following "MM@W") and worked fabulously...actually, the "Use it Up" / "Music" / "Blow" opening trio was phenomenal.
Closer: "On the Verge" for sure, although I'd love to hear "Nautical Disaster" as well...I should probably go about acquiring the Hamilton show.
Steve
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Saw a number of shows where Giftshop was the opener, and I always enjoy it every bit as much as Grace in that role.
I really like Fifty Mission Cap as a closer
