The Heron Outside Wrote:NOW Toronto, the weekly here, allowed me to try to make sense of all of this today. Here's the link, if anyone's interested.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-tragically-hip-fans-gord-downie/">https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-t ... rd-downie/</a><!-- m -->
This is a fucking awful day. But we've got some responsibility now, as fans. Let's show Gord and the band how much they mean to us on this upcoming tour. Let's scream til our throats are sore, so he doesn't have to. And let's be thankful there's another tour around the corner.
I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said. I'm crushed. This is affecting me more than deaths of some of my relatives. Although I was too young to see the band in the early days, when apparently they were the much-hated house band at a bar in my small town, I felt like I grew up with them. I can't even remember when I got into them - they were just always there. And although Kingston's an hour away, I felt like they were 'my' band because they were local.
I know this tour isn't meant to be somber, but you can damn well bet I'll be crying. And I have a cold, black heart.
Across The Causeway '04 | Big Music Fest '08 | Kingston '09 | Bobcaygeon '11 | Cobourg '13 | Bluesfest '13 | Danforth Music Hall '15 | Kingston '15 | Bluesfest '15 | Toronto I '16 | Toronto II '16 | Toronto III '16 | Hamilton '16 | Ottawa '16 | Kingston '16
I was/still am devastated when I read the news -- seeing the email I figured it was a tour announcement, and then had to read it a few times to really understand what I was reading. Woke up my wife and we both sort of sat there teary eyed. Then I made the mistake of listening to The Hip on the drive to work, and arrived looking like I've been on a month long bender.
I've seen them so many times I've lost track (guessing pushing 100 -- I should add it up). First heard of them when they played my high school in the EP days. I did not see the show, but heard such accolades I picked up the EP. Since then, I've seen numerous shows per tour, lots of one-off shows, travelled down the US to see them in smaller venues. I've seen them in muddy fields, pouring rain verging on snow, small sweaty bars, football fields and speedways....first thing I did when I got my driving license was drive to the mall to buy Up To Here on cassette.
Past few years, when asked why I was going to see multiple shows, I always said one of these is going to be the last time I'll see the band and I don't want to miss it. I figured it would be the band running its course and moving on to new things, not news like this. It's going to be tough seeing a show on this tour and knowing this truly is the end.
The Heron Outside Wrote:NOW Toronto, the weekly here, allowed me to try to make sense of all of this today. Here's the link, if anyone's interested.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-tragically-hip-fans-gord-downie/">https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-t ... rd-downie/</a><!-- m -->
This is a fucking awful day. But we've got some responsibility now, as fans. Let's show Gord and the band how much they mean to us on this upcoming tour. Let's scream til our throats are sore, so he doesn't have to. And let's be thankful there's another tour around the corner.
Josh thanks for writing that! I wish it didn't need to be written but you have such a grace and elegance with words that only you could have said what you did. See you this summer!
The Heron Outside Wrote:NOW Toronto, the weekly here, allowed me to try to make sense of all of this today. Here's the link, if anyone's interested.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-tragically-hip-fans-gord-downie/">https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-t ... rd-downie/</a><!-- m -->
This is a fucking awful day. But we've got some responsibility now, as fans. Let's show Gord and the band how much they mean to us on this upcoming tour. Let's scream til our throats are sore, so he doesn't have to. And let's be thankful there's another tour around the corner.
Shed a few tears reading this. Excellent piece that pretty much sums up what everyone is feeling today. Thanks, man.
The Heron Outside Wrote:NOW Toronto, the weekly here, allowed me to try to make sense of all of this today. Here's the link, if anyone's interested.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-tragically-hip-fans-gord-downie/">https://nowtoronto.com/music/stand-up-t ... rd-downie/</a><!-- m -->
This is a fucking awful day. But we've got some responsibility now, as fans. Let's show Gord and the band how much they mean to us on this upcoming tour. Let's scream til our throats are sore, so he doesn't have to. And let's be thankful there's another tour around the corner.
Beautiful words Josh. Thank you. It's exactly how I feel.
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It's not nearly on the level of Josh's (and sorry for piggybacking on your post!). I needed to say some stuff, somehow, and I know people here might sort of get it.
Related: the Hip's music sounds really fucking good today.
I am so saddened by this. I usually do not get emotional over people I have never met, but this one is different. My dad died of GBM in 2002 and this news is bringing up shit for me. He only lasted 8 months. Unfortunately it is as bad a tumor as Gord's oncologist described in his press conference this morning. Even if they remove most of it, it will always come back. However - I am encouraged when they said that Gord has the genetic marker that shows a greater chance of resilience to the disease, and that he actually rallied after the chemotherapy. The chemo left my dad incapacitated. I do know of a man (who my aunt knows) who has been living on borrowed time with GBM for 7 years now. There is always a chance, even if it looks insurmountable.
Incidentally, my father's middle name happened to be Gordon, and his father's first name was Gordon. I wish I had been able to see them live more often. I remember listening to them on the radio all the time when I was growing up in Buffalo, but I think I was really won over after seeing his performance at that War Child Benefit concert (the one shortly after 9/11) as well as hearing It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken the next year. I live about 8-9 hours from southern Ontario so I don't think I will be able to make this last go-round, and I refuse to pay a scalper for something like this. So I'll just keep the Fully Completely show I saw last April in my mind forever.
Other Hip memories:
- waiting for the World Container import album to arrive at the Record Theatre stores in Buffalo because the 2006 "October Surprise" storm delayed their arrival
- screaming at the top of his lungs during Grace Too for no reason
- a lovely joint session/conversation with him and Gordon Lightfoot in 2010 (?)
- the Buffalo show in 2011 when Gord was obsessed with the Skyway, and the Chinese sky lanterns "OH my God!!!!!!! It's a breakaway firework! He doesn't wanna be in the show any MO!"
- the 2013 rainout Buffalo show where they valiantly pressed on for 1/4 of it before Gord announced, "apparently there can be problems with lots of electrical equipment and large quantities of water! Who knew??"
- spotting people at shows in DC wearing Sabres jerseys
Here's a pic I took at the show in NYC in Terminal 5 in 2012. I think it illustrates his spirit & energy on stage, especially with the massive lights shining down on him. My thoughts are with him, his family, and the band.
10.26.07 Washington DC
10.19.09 Washington DC
7.30.11 Buffalo
11.10.12 NYC
7.19.13 Buffalo
4.18.15 Buffalo
8.12.16 TO
wish I had seen more
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://snjohns.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/courage/">https://snjohns.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/courage/</a><!-- m -->
It's not nearly on the level of Josh's (and sorry for piggybacking on your post!). I needed to say some stuff, somehow, and I know people here might sort of get it.
Related: the Hip's music sounds really fucking good today.
I don't know what to say that hasn't been said already. About the worst possible news to get this morning. My sister called to tell me, couldn't believe it. Gord and The Hip have been the soundtrack for my life, and will continue to be.
NWOntario Wrote:Related: the Hip's music sounds really fucking good today.
Agreed 100%
I listened to The Depression Suite in the car and wept today.
Jeff
June 21, 2003 Toronto, ON: SkyDome
July 1, 2004 Toronto, ON: Molson Amphitheatre
November 26, 2004 Toronto, ON: Air Canada Centre
June 24, 2006 Toronto, ON: Historic Fort York
May 10, 2007 Indianapolis, IN: The Vogue
July 14, 2011 Edmonton, AB: Northlands Festival Site
June 30, 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: The Commons at Butler's Barracks
January 23, 2013 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
July 28, 2016 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
