[bstrauss24]

So since the idea of the FC tour was a mixed bag, I'm wondering now that it's over, what do we think?

Did you like it or not?

Would we want to see this again with a different album?

Could it have been done a different way?

What do we think about the ticket prices and venues (especially in Canada?)

What did we think of the set lists?

For me, the two shows I saw the band sounded great, which was important, but I didn't love the concept as a whole. I hated knowing what was coming next, and while the set lists had a good variety to start, they quickly fell into a pretty steady rotation. I hope the ticket costs aren't a sign of things to come, and I look forward to a traditional tour!

[Escape@Hand]

I loved it; while not knowing what's coming next can be blessing, it can also be a curse if you end up with a greatest hits setlist. I liked going into the concert that I was going to hear some rare songs for the first time. They did an ok job of mixing up the rest of the setlist, although it would be nice if they threw in a few more songs overall. I wouldn't want it every time, but I enjoyed it as a one-off deal.

[sean.bonner]

I loved it, but I think the tour went on a little longer than I expected.

When they came back with a third leg into the fall I was surprised.

Only being a Hip Head since IBE, there were several songs I never thought I would get to see that I finally got to tick off of my list.

Believe it or not, before the tour I had been to 17 Hip shows and never got Fifty-Mission Cap...

Got to three on this tour: Danforth in January, Bell Centre in Feb, Bluesfest in July.

Looking For A Place To Happen is one of my top 10 Hip tunes, so hearing that always pumped me up.

I love having a vinyl of Fully Completely now, and I hope they continue to release their back catalogue on wax reissues. They don't have to tour or make a big deal out of it... just quietly reissue like Up To Here and Road Apples were. I mean, I would love to see any of their other albums front-to-back live, but if their future setlists were a little more diverse it wouldn't be necessary.

Can't wait for a new album! Is this the longest gap ever between Hip albums? (And wasn't the longest prior to that between WATS and NFPA?)

[spottrax]

I only got to see one show on the FC/Reboot tour, in Cleveland at the HOB on the first leg. I thought it was absolutely terrific. No complaints whatsoever. I think some serious thought went into the production and rehearsals. Many songs from FC the band hasn't played regularly (or even played) in years. It was nice to hear them and scratch them off our lists (27 shows for me...first time for Looking For A Place To Happen). If I shelled out more $$ in Canada to see them in a large venue, I might've been a bit picky on things (setlists, jack-assery in the crowd-sound) but I don't have anything but the one show to compare. At the show I was at, the sound was outstanding....possibly among the best Hip sound I've heard. Crystal clear and an attempt to really play the songs well (especially the FC set). Downie was decent enough, animated but more subdued, his singing was better than the past year or two but still a bit of screaming to hit notes and get sound out of that voice.

As for the future. It looks like brand new Hip....what could be better? I have personal predictions and ideas but we'll have to wait until spring apparently.

I'm simply glad the band still has the fire and the passion to carry on...for themselves and for us.....the fans. :thumb:

[direwolf74]

I didn't see any shows on this tour, mostly because I didn't want to fork over that much money to see a band that I've already seen 30+ times. But I liked what I heard from the many youtube clips I watched. From all indications, Gord's singing was much better on this tour, with less screaming/shouting, and he actually used his natural range for the most part. I think that's very encouraging for this band going forward as a live act.

I was also surprised at the length of the tour, and I agree the setlists started to get pretty stagnant as the tour progressed. The Hip are still great songwriters though, and I'm excited for the new album. I've mentioned before that I'm done seeing these guys live in Canada, mostly due to the insane ticket prices. I'm staying true to my word on that one. But I'd still like to catch them in the U.S. in a small club or theater on the next tour if I can. I'm living in Vancouver now, so it would be an easy 2 hour drive to see them play in Seattle.

[robbroncs]

same. didn't want to shelve out for over priced tickets to gamble on hearing someone scream for an hour.

that being said, the tour was too long. we need new material. and then i'l head out to see them

[Rye]

The show I saw (Winnipeg) was fine but the ticket prices are stupid in Canada. I had tickets to Minneapolis and sold them (Pearl Jam in NYC took precedent) and have no regrets about only seeing one show. It seems like the tour was FC and then the picked other songs out of a pool of about 20 they rehearsed.


I still like each record but the band is just so lazy with their live shows and charges too much for tickets. It's weird for me seeing them now, it's almost like a cover band. It doesn't feel like the same band I first saw 20 years ago. I hate the screaming through the hits. If Gord is disinterested in a song, then don't play it.

[BakersBrew]

I had good seats in Kingston. Way over priced. The show seemed very short. But, it seems to be a trend in the music business. Not just the Hip. I thought the band sounded amazing. Fully is likely not my favourite album, but, had a blast seeing them at Massey Hall and ARA back in the early 90's. In a sense it is unfair to them, because nothing the band does now will ever take me back there. I like most, just want to see something truly rare. I would have rather heard them open with Fully and then play out the concert with a mixed list. However, if I were to be really greedy, I would like to hear 2 albums together at a time. With maybe a three song encore. For spending 300 dollars for a show, I don't think that is going over the top to expect about 27 or 28 songs.
The other complaint I have is not really band related, just related to security at concerts these days. At Massey Hall in 92, we were about 20 at the time. We smoked pot, drank beers and had a blast. This time around at the show in Kingston it was like Robocop security. I don't smoke pot anymore, but, I think it should be allowed at shows. Everything is just so anal nowadays. This isn't rock n roll. It's how do we control a crowd and squeeze them for every last cent.
One more thing that us elder people get annoyed with...and I'm way off topic, is the effing cell phones. Can't a show just be about a moment in time. Yes, I love listening to live music in my spare time. And I realize some people go to a lot of efforts to tape shows. That is great. But, there is like 5 thousand pictures going off during a given song. I think security has it all wrong. Ban cell phones and bring back a moderated ability to smoke dope and drink a few beers. I'm lucky I got to see the in their prime. And they still sound pretty darn good....Gord is just different.

[bstrauss24]

Funny that the length of the shows got brought up, because I said it after the first show at Danforth but figured it was a warm up show, so maybe it was shorter. My actual prediction was the length of a show we got plus a 3 song encore, so 25. People kind of chewed my head off a bit and said it's unreasonable to expect that. But, I replied that for the money spent and past Hip history I didn't think it was the case. I know we won't get the 30 song M@W sets again, but the last evening with tour with the three acoustic songs doesn't seem too long ago. I have been doing this thing on my Facebook this year called "This Day In Hipstory" where I'm using TheHip.com to pull up old shows and I'm sharing the set lists and my memories. To the surprise of no one, things used to be much more diverse.

Not for nothing, but having Paul McCartney just come through town and play 3 plus hours and 41 songs, I left feeling a little cheated by many of my favorite bands living in the 20-25 song world for the prices we pay.

[SRK]

It was definitely nice as a change of pace from the admittedly not very good stuff we've been getting since the last 'evening with...' shows (6 years ago? really? Damn.) and I'm glad they did it, but I concur on the ticket prices...$160 or whatever it was to be 10 rows back in kingston was absurd. And for the love of all that is holy, PLEASE do a normal show in Ottawa and stop with the bluesfest nonsense. Getting well sick of that.

Still and all, they were the best shows I've seen since 2009. Which is something.

[redhill]

caught two shows and enjoyed both of them

With this format ...I'd still like to have seen them really change up the 5 songs before and after the FC set. Great opportunity to play some less radio friendly songs. Following their set lists throughout the tour....there is still lot of repetition.

[sherpa]

I liked the show - Toronto so pretty much greatest hits on either end of the show which is pretty much par for the course here for the past 10 or 15 tours. I would personally really like to see Phantom Power, Music @ Work or In Between Evolution being my favourite hip albums along with Now For Plan A