[Sabina]

Hey all! I made it to the show! And what a show it was. The short Detroit show was certainly made up for last night as they played longer than they were supposed to. I'm not a great concert reviewer (Hugh "EXCELLENT!!" will help me out no doubt when he comes rolling back into town :thumb: ). The venue was amazing - House of Blues is a really good place to see a band. But again poor turnout - I would guess maybe 200 people attended. SO, ok, Gord was in his levis, white shirt and a white sweater-kinda thing and his white cowboyish-type hat. HE looked :thumb: to me *sigh*. I had a very good view as I was front row right about 8 seats over, right in front of Dale who gave another stellar performance. He returned my smile after the first song :thumb: . Before starting into Yer Obsessed Gord told the audience that the tune was about an argument that took place several years ago in Boston - an argument that is still not resolved, and he said the song didn't help (ya, no guff) and then added there were a lot of "fuck yous" said (teehee - I love hearing the stories behind the songs). The setlist was similar to others for the most part. The highlight of the show for me was Canada Geese - they fucking rawked the roof off the joint 8) - and by end Gord and Dale were raining sweat. It was SO sweet :mrgreen: I briefly considered trying to get some Gordie sweat to bottle and keep as a souvenir (just kidding :wink: !). Steeplechase was another particularly well done song of the night. They all had their funky sound effect instruments for the intro and it sounded really cool! Well Done :thumb: Near the end Gord started playing a song that he couldn't remember the words to (it looked like he was mouthing "FIVE" or something that rhymed with "five" to Dale...I dunno know) - and ended up abandoning it. That's when I think Gord said they were already going over (running late -after the encore). They played one more song and then they played Chancellor. I love Chancellor so it made my night that they played it. They played one or two more and that was it - the House of Blues had to shut them down but Gord wanted to keep playing (was that beer and whiskey he was drinking?). Near the end of the show a few of us were standing up and then when the show ended we went up to the stage and leaned over to try and get a handshake from Gord. He got all the guys to my left and missed me . I was bummed, but then he came back and shook my hand last before he left the stage *sigh* :thumb: I totally dig him *sigh* :mrgreen: So like IS he or ISN'T he married!?! cratch:
:wink:
Ok, so back to reality now. I'm so glad Joe and I went!
Hugh and gang, hope you all made it back safely. I can't wait to see your pictures! I wanna hear more about the gifts you gave the band too so make sure you post the details.
You guys should come over for beer sometime!
Sabina

[AmbitionlessHipster]

heh... he's married with 3 kids (10, 7 and 5 i think)
:wink:

[Hugh23]

Great show. We were able to get the front row again. The show was supposed to be general admission but the House of Blues had set up 100 seats on the hardwood dance floor in front of the elevated stage and made it general seating. There were two floors of opera boxes above that no one used. The seats were all full and approximately 100 people stood and sat around the rails surrounding the dance floor. It was an an unusual set up and made for an intimate show.

Sabina was in the front row. We met through the hipbase. She drove from Detroit, like us, with her boyfriend Joe. They were at the Detroit show last week but we didn't meet until Chicago. Two Canadian guys we met at the Detroit show, Robert from Brantford, Ontario and Chris from Windsor, Ontario were right behind us. Jim and Jane from Valparaiso, Indiana were in the front too. Mat from Chicago who was at the Detroit show, was there with a bunch of his friends who were Gord fans. When the concert ended they showed us some Chicago nightlife.

Gord came out wearing his white Panama hat, a gray shirt and blue jeans. Everyone cheered wildly for him. Throughout the show people were yelling at Gord and his band mates, ourselves included, and Gord was responding and interactting with the whole crowd. He was very cool.

During the show Gord made many Chicago references including speaking of Tony Esposito, the legendary Blackhawk goaltender, and his brother Phil who started out there and went on to Boston Bruin fame. He even sang 'Christmastime in Chicago'.

The band started out with an awesome version of 11th Fret. Dale Morningstar had this very small organ (?) which fit in both his hands and he played using his fingers. He held it up to the mike and it made very cool weird sounds. Then he would suddenly toss it to the floor and play some wild outburst on his guitar. Then he would pick it up and start playing it again, repeating what he did before.

Yer Possesed was very good. During the song Dr. P. began playing a silver plated washboard, Dave played some type of tuba and Julie played the trumpet. I liked it and thought it was unusual for a rock concert. Next came Canada Geese in which Dale and Dave went crazy. Dale had a great guitar solo that he was playing by Dave's drums. Dave became trance-like, staring at Dale's hands as he played, looking away from his drum kit which he was playing ferociously. Another cool site was Dale playing his guitar during Steeple Chase. He attached an extra guitar string or cable thruogh a pulley at the end of his guitar. Then he took a bow you might use on a traditional bass or cello. He attached the cable to the very end of the bow. So the cable ran from the end of the bow through the guitar and pulley and attached to a large crystal he used as a weight. When he played his guitar with the bow it tightened the tension on the cable and guitar strings making a " cruel crumplin' sound".

Gord played lead on his electric guitar a few times. He was really into it all night. Sweat was dripping from his face as he sang. His voice ranged from soft melodies to wild outbursts from the emotion he was feeling in his songs. When the show ended about 30 people went up to the end of the stage where Gord shook hands with some and left. Sabina and my wife Carolyn were lucky enough to shake Gord's hand. I really had fun at the show. I hope the Chicago bootleg turned out. It should be good. I have the Cleveland bootleg. It is great and I recommend it.

Sabina I will send you my pictures in a few days.

1. 11th Fret
2. Figment
3. Christmastime in Toronto
4. Trick Rider
5. Yer Possesed
6. Canada Geese
7. Willow Logic
8. Who by Rote
9. Memo to My Son
10. Steeple Chase
11. Vancouver Divorce
12. Into the Night
Encore
1. A Night Like This (?)
2. Chancellor
3. SF Song
4. I Wants to be Loved (?)

[Sabina]

Hi Hugh! You're very good at reviews - great memory too! I'm glad your wife got to shake Gord's hand (I didn't see that). I too have the Cleveland boot which is awesome and I'll be getting Chicago too. I'm off to the North Channel today for two weeks but I'll be anxious to get back and see your pictures! I noticed your flash going off quite a bit :thumb: :thumb:

[markslog]

I really like the setup for the Chicago show. The seated environment better suits Gord's shows than the standard GA club shows (which for most shows have been empty).

The show just seemed much more enjoyable to me than other shows which it seemed that the band was playing to very noticeablely empty rooms which the exception of the 25 - 200 people up close.

That being said for most shows I have seen on this tour (15) I actually am liking them better than Hip shows. You really get to appreciate Gord's talent as an artist when he's performing as a solo artist.

I kinda wish who ever booked Gord, booked him in places like the small (200 people) Village Underground in NYC than the 1500+ person House Of Blues in Chicago. Maybe there was assumption that the flocks of Hip fans that travel down to US cities would do so for Gord's solo shows.

On a side note, the stupid HOB house policy prevented me from video taping the whole show. They only allowed me to film the first three songs
despite HOB being told by Phil (Gord's sound guy) that video taping is OK.
At 7 previous Hip HOB shows (Chiacgo, LA, and Anaheim) I was able to film the full show with no problem. Oh well.

[kari]

Yes, he's married, wife's name is Laura. His three kids are all under 10 years old. His youngest was born in 2000.

Sorry Sabina, we must all admire this happily married man from afar (which makes my husband very happy as well, haha).

Kari

[Kim]

Hi Hugh! You're very good at reviews - great memory too!

I agree! They're always a pleasure to read ...

:thumb:

[Hugh23]

MARKSLOG,

Were you the guy video taping the Detroit show at St. Andrew's. I saw someone doing it there and thought it might be you. I am desperate to find a copy of that show since the bootleg did not turn out.

I would be willing to trade any of my Detroit or Chicago pictures and any of my Gord solo or TTH bootlegs that might interest you, besides covering the cost of making me a copy of the Detroit show if you have it. If anyone out there can help me, please do. Thanks.

[markslog]

Hi Hugh

I was the guy off to the left (in front of Josh / Julie). You're welcome to a copy of the video - I will need to sync the DAT audio to the video first though since the video audio came out a little distorted. I will be going to the Atlanta to Dallas shows this week so after the Dallas show I will work on this video.


Mark

[Sabina]

Kari: I've heard much conflicting information about the "personal" Gord. The band is all in that one bus too - no family on this tour according to Randy the bus driver with whom we chatted for quite a while about his job. In any case, my infatuation has subsided quite a bit :wink:.

Markslog: 15 shows! Holy cow. Do u have a crush on Gord too? :wink: I would also love a copy of the Detroit show if at all possible - just name your price (I have practically nothing to trade ).

Hugh: How about I get Chicago MP3s and give you copies for the pictures you're giving/have given me?

We had to delay our boat trip due to thunderstorms so I'll be around today.

[Hugh23]

Mark,

Thank you for your offer of the Detroit show! You don't know how much I appreciate it. Good luck on your road trip following Gord.

I agree with you about Gord being an awesome solo performer and his individual talent does shine through. TCOM is a good supporting cast for Gord to showcase the songwriting that didn't fit The Hip. Gord's band and their style does grow on you after more than one show. It is a change from The Hip's style and it must be a good creative release for Gord.

Let me stress that I hope none of The Hip's band members ever quit. Each one of them working together helps project an awesome wave of sound and ideas.

I will send my pictures of Gord to anyone who drops me an e-mail at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:hlarkin23@aol.com">hlarkin23@aol.com</a><!-- e -->. Sabina, we will work something out when Mark hooks me up.

Mark, thank you again! I look forward to hearing from you when you return.

[dyersbay]

Sounds like a good show!!! I wish I could have been there!
Hey Mark, how do you manage to go to so many shows???
Please give me some tips!