05-25-2009, 08:56 PM
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Disciples of the Hip
Canadian musicians cite band's huge influence
Ryan Bolton, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, May 25, 2009
'I don't know music without the Tragically Hip," says City and Colour's Dallas Green. "Since my relationship with music began, the Hip has been making records."
The Tragically Hip are the epitome of Canada's soundscape, according to Green and other leading Canadian musicians. They're our nation's equivalent to Iceland's Bjork, America's Bruce Springsteen and Jamaica's Bob Marley.
In light of the long-reigning Canadian rock heroes' latest album, We Are the Same, and their current tour, we chatted with some Canadian music icons about the Hip's influence on the nation's music scene.
Green, Buck 65 (a.k.a. Richard Terfry), and The Constantines' Steve Lambke offered their perspectives on the musicians from Kingston, Ont., who have accumulated 14 Junos, released 12 full-length albums over 25 years, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and picked up the Governor General's Performing Arts Award last year. But even these musicians, who have each shared the stage and been deeply influenced by Gord Downie and co., had trouble articulating the Tragically Hip's influence.
"I don't know, man; it's hard to put into words," said Green. "It's something that, if you haven't seen and wonder what it's all about, then you need to experience it. You need to get a record. You need to get Phantom Power and listen to Bobcaygeon. "
The Constantines' vocalist/guitarist Lambke also found it difficult to eloquently sum up the Hip's influence.
"It's hard to sort of pick them apart and say (they're successful) because of this or that," he said. "I don't know if I can sum it up. They're just part of the country and have contributed a lot to the songbook of Canada."
Gord Downie's ability to immerse himself in the music in a completely uncontrived manner leaves Buck 65, a longtime performer himself, in awe. He's especially taken with the singer's dance moves and creative use of mic stands.
"Some other force that's beyond me, him or anybody else, just takes over," Buck 65 said of Downie's always changing, un-choreographed performances. "It's a new experience for him every night. It's some measure of surrender to the music. He can be quite nimble, that Gord, especially from the waist down."
Buck 65 remembers opening for the Tragically Hip at Toronto's Air Canada Centre in 2007, where Downie presided over the crowd like a televangelist. With his head titled back and his arms spread "like an exorcism," Downie captivated the "beyond ravenous" fans with his "mesmerizing" performance, casting a spell of camaraderie over the stadium.
"Everyone is bonded together through this shared experience," said Buck 65, likening a Hip concert to a religious experience.
Having recently shared the stage with Downie at the 2009 Juno Awards, performing Sleeping Sickness, Green is also full of praise for the Hip's "unmatched" live shows.
"It's amazing to watch," Green said. "You can say, 'When the Hip play, Gord does this really crazy stuff where he goes on these really long rants and this really weird dance thing.' And people will say, 'What do you mean? That doesn't sound very interesting.' But when you see it, you're completely captivated by it."
It was actually Downie's thought-provoking lyrics that helped Green write Sleeping Sickness, a song he originally penned back in high school, but couldn't finish. "I was listening to the Tragically Hip one day and it dawned on me how to finish that song," he said, explaining why he asked Downie to sing the track's second verse.
"I'm really honoured to not only have him on my record, but to also call him my friend."
And although Green has been friends with the members of the Tragically Hip for four years now, it still feels weird for him to be in Downie's presence.
BE HIP AND BE THERE
Win tickets to see the Tragically Hip perform at the Fillmore in Detroit on May 29 or 30 by e-mailing your name, address and phone number to <!-- e --><a href="mailto:contests@thestar.canwest.com">contests@thestar.canwest.com</a><!-- e --> using "The Hip" as the subject line in the memo field. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. today. Winners will be notified by phone no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Disciples of the Hip
Canadian musicians cite band's huge influence
Ryan Bolton, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, May 25, 2009
'I don't know music without the Tragically Hip," says City and Colour's Dallas Green. "Since my relationship with music began, the Hip has been making records."
The Tragically Hip are the epitome of Canada's soundscape, according to Green and other leading Canadian musicians. They're our nation's equivalent to Iceland's Bjork, America's Bruce Springsteen and Jamaica's Bob Marley.
In light of the long-reigning Canadian rock heroes' latest album, We Are the Same, and their current tour, we chatted with some Canadian music icons about the Hip's influence on the nation's music scene.
Green, Buck 65 (a.k.a. Richard Terfry), and The Constantines' Steve Lambke offered their perspectives on the musicians from Kingston, Ont., who have accumulated 14 Junos, released 12 full-length albums over 25 years, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and picked up the Governor General's Performing Arts Award last year. But even these musicians, who have each shared the stage and been deeply influenced by Gord Downie and co., had trouble articulating the Tragically Hip's influence.
"I don't know, man; it's hard to put into words," said Green. "It's something that, if you haven't seen and wonder what it's all about, then you need to experience it. You need to get a record. You need to get Phantom Power and listen to Bobcaygeon. "
The Constantines' vocalist/guitarist Lambke also found it difficult to eloquently sum up the Hip's influence.
"It's hard to sort of pick them apart and say (they're successful) because of this or that," he said. "I don't know if I can sum it up. They're just part of the country and have contributed a lot to the songbook of Canada."
Gord Downie's ability to immerse himself in the music in a completely uncontrived manner leaves Buck 65, a longtime performer himself, in awe. He's especially taken with the singer's dance moves and creative use of mic stands.
"Some other force that's beyond me, him or anybody else, just takes over," Buck 65 said of Downie's always changing, un-choreographed performances. "It's a new experience for him every night. It's some measure of surrender to the music. He can be quite nimble, that Gord, especially from the waist down."
Buck 65 remembers opening for the Tragically Hip at Toronto's Air Canada Centre in 2007, where Downie presided over the crowd like a televangelist. With his head titled back and his arms spread "like an exorcism," Downie captivated the "beyond ravenous" fans with his "mesmerizing" performance, casting a spell of camaraderie over the stadium.
"Everyone is bonded together through this shared experience," said Buck 65, likening a Hip concert to a religious experience.
Having recently shared the stage with Downie at the 2009 Juno Awards, performing Sleeping Sickness, Green is also full of praise for the Hip's "unmatched" live shows.
"It's amazing to watch," Green said. "You can say, 'When the Hip play, Gord does this really crazy stuff where he goes on these really long rants and this really weird dance thing.' And people will say, 'What do you mean? That doesn't sound very interesting.' But when you see it, you're completely captivated by it."
It was actually Downie's thought-provoking lyrics that helped Green write Sleeping Sickness, a song he originally penned back in high school, but couldn't finish. "I was listening to the Tragically Hip one day and it dawned on me how to finish that song," he said, explaining why he asked Downie to sing the track's second verse.
"I'm really honoured to not only have him on my record, but to also call him my friend."
And although Green has been friends with the members of the Tragically Hip for four years now, it still feels weird for him to be in Downie's presence.
BE HIP AND BE THERE
Win tickets to see the Tragically Hip perform at the Fillmore in Detroit on May 29 or 30 by e-mailing your name, address and phone number to <!-- e --><a href="mailto:contests@thestar.canwest.com">contests@thestar.canwest.com</a><!-- e --> using "The Hip" as the subject line in the memo field. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. today. Winners will be notified by phone no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday.
"we've only got three hundred feet to go ..."
