[potsie]

I think our best chance of seeing Gord on stage again in the near future is in solo form. If we assume (and admittedly it's a big assumption) that Gord is healthy and willing and able to put together a small tour for this album, what would this look like?

1. How much of the excitement and demand from the MMP Tour would carry over to a solo tour and how would this impact ticket demand? I think due to the current heightened interest he could fill 2500 seat venues across the country and in some of the large markets (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) he could probably come close to filling an arena (not that I think he would have any interest in playing a venue that large).

2. How many casual Hip fans would buy tickets on the hope he would play some Hip songs?

3. How many Hip songs would make a setlist appearance? Past setlists have included BobC, Thompson Girl, and Morning Moon.

3. What band would he most likely tour with? The Country of Miracles/Dinner is Ruined? The Sadies? A new band with Kevin Drew and/or Dave Hamelin? Would he, himself, play guitar?

Thoughts?

[direwolf74]

As much as I'd love to see him live again, I really don't see him doing a full tour for this record. It seemed like the Hip tour took a lot out of him. If he does play some shows, it'll likely be just a few Ontario dates so that he can stay close to home. They'd probably be pretty low key with maybe Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin in tow.

[sonichka11]

I can picture one or two special event performances with the visuals from the book/movie on a screen behind. More like a charity event type thing at a nice theatre venue. To raise money/support. Or is that way too over the top and sappy for Gord? Lol Can't imagine an actual tour.

[Moof_Milker]

The Wenjack Theatre at Trent University in Peterborough was named after Chanie Wenjack. Wouldn't get much more fitting than that. And selfishly, it's only 10 minutes from my house.

[senrab]

I can't imagine him doing a tour

[cochise]

When the tour first started, I bought into the idea that Kingston would NOT be the last we would see The Hip or Gord on stage. But I have to admit, after seeing him for the final night in Toronto, and then watching the final show in Kingston on tv..........I sadly have changed my mind.

I hate to admit it, but I even noticed a physical difference between the first show and the Kingston show. I think this little 10 show run took a lot out of him.

I would love to be wrong, but my gut is telling me I don't think we will be seeing Gord on stage again. He does not appear to be doing any media yet for the solo stuff, and I don't think you will. Yes he did visit the rez up north, but that was without fanfare, obviously just a personal thing he felt compelled to do.

IMHO, Gord's focus is going to be on family from here on out, I don't think you will be seeing him or reading much about how he is doing anywhere. They kept the original diagnosis so secret, I think that's where it will be going back to now.

Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong though.

[senrab]

When the tour first started, I bought into the idea that Kingston would NOT be the last we would see The Hip or Gord on stage. But I have to admit, after seeing him for the final night in Toronto, and then watching the final show in Kingston on tv..........I sadly have changed my mind.

I hate to admit it, but I even noticed a physical difference between the first show and the Kingston show. I think this little 10 show run took a lot out of him.

I would love to be wrong, but my gut is telling me I don't think we will be seeing Gord on stage again. He does not appear to be doing any media yet for the solo stuff, and I don't think you will. Yes he did visit the rez up north, but that was without fanfare, obviously just a personal thing he felt compelled to do.

IMHO, Gord's focus is going to be on family from here on out, I don't think you will be seeing him or reading much about how he is doing anywhere. They kept the original diagnosis so secret, I think that's where it will be going back to now.

Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong though.

I saw a short video of him on YouTube getting off the plane last week in Ogoki. His hands were shaking quite a bit. I noticed a difference between the first and last shows too.

[potsie]

If I was betting man in Vegas I would put money on him never stepping foot on stage again. However, there are two things that made me think there might be a chance. One was the fact that he was off on a trip to James Bay mere days after the Kingston show (during which he did look more tired and worse for the wear). I thought after a full month of touring that he would want/need to spend weeks at home recovering. I was encouraged by the fact that he was off doing something. And he has seemed relatively busy with all the sightings up north so I thought maybe he's doing better than I would have imagined.

The second thing that made me think he might play some shows (I agree that mounting a full scale tour is highly unlikely) was that it would bring more attention to the issues of the Residential School system that seem so close to his heart right now. The CD, book and animated show are going to be very helpful in this regard but shows would draw further attention.

Your observation about his hands is tremendously sad and kinda hit me like a gut punch. I'm just so damn thankful that he's going down swinging on this and is still out there on the road doing important work.

[senrab]

Your observation about his hands is tremendously sad and kinda hit me like a gut punch. I'm just so damn thankful that he's going down swinging on this and is still out there on the road doing important work.

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. I acknowledge that I have a personal bias that's coloring this and it's hard to separate it from GD. I'm not very hopeful about his situation because my dad died from the same tumor, so it's hard not to think of each person's case as a "unique" situation. You know what though - I bet he's going to head right back up there during the actual launch of the album etc. Maybe the constant travel of the past 7 weeks or so is just wearing him down (tour + fishing trip + reservation visits).

[swm]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD3BNhswRQE[/youtube]

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[sonichka11]

I wonder if the immediate activity.after the tour was to keep the guys minds off of it actually ending. If Kingston was the final show they ever do together I can't imagine how emotional that would be. Might explain their need to stay occupied. Just a random guess anyway.

[mark]

anyone who watches that video and think he will ever step on stage again is crazy.

[Rye]

anyone who watches that video and think he will ever step on stage again is crazy.

Gord's a tall dude and was just getting off a tiny airplane, who knows how long the flight was. I walk slow after being on a hour long flight and my health is fine. I don't think it's fair that people (a bit on here and a lot on The Hip Facebook group) are making assumptions and comments about his future based on a 30 second YouTube clip.

[mark]

anyone who watches that video and think he will ever step on stage again is crazy.

Gord's a tall dude and was just getting off a tiny airplane, who knows how long the flight was. I walk slow after being on a hour long flight and my health is fine. I don't think it's fair that people (a bit on here and a lot on The Hip Facebook group) are making assumptions and comments about his future based on a 30 second YouTube clip.

it isn't that he is walking slow. he just looks sick. you know what i mean?

[senrab]

I was wrong! Admitting my mistake.

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