[catechism]

The husband of a friend of mine is deep into all things Nirvana, and we were talking (well, online, but that counts, right?) and I said, "hey, I think they sort of opened for the Hip one time," and related the fuzzy details I read... somewhere (almost certainly some combination of old hipbase threads, hipmuseum, and Have Not Been the Same). Said fuzzy details were that O'Cayz Corral in Madison had double-booked the two bands, and so it was decided that Nirvana would play first and then the Hip would go on. Gord tried to talk to Kurt, but he was passed out on a pool table or something, and most of the audience left after Nirvana's set. At any rate, he then sent me a link to this:



Which isn't ground-breaking or anything, but it's interesting, and maybe indicates that it wasn't some kind of double-booking accident after all. Or at least that someone knew about it far enough in advance to get it in the paper.

[edited to change the image link; it kept disappearing, so I put it on my own server.]

[Tthip]

$4.00 is a hell of a price for seeing those two bands.

[catechism]

$4.00 is a hell of a price for seeing those two bands.

God, no kidding. I need a time machine.

[spottrax]

The idea of the Hip and Nirvana sharing a bill is quite interesting. Obviously we know what happend to both bands. How tragedy struck one and how one has evolved/matured two decades later. It would be really interesting to see where Nirvana would be right now if Cobain hadn't taken his life. My guess is they would've packed it in and would no longer be a band. However, if they had stuck it out and evolved (ala the Hip), maybe they would be mellower and more Beatle-esk.

For everyone who bashes Robbie Rock or wishes the Hip would return to a more "bar rock" sound... I for one am glad they have stuck it out and endured....giving us so so much great music since those early days...

Cheers to both bands! :thumb:

[Mooseheadbeer]

According to wikipedia which is generally accurate, this would be a few months before they had real success around 1990

[direwolf74]

According to wikipedia which is generally accurate, this would be a few months before they had real success around 1990

Yup. They were actually in Madison to record some demos with Butch Vig, who ended up producing Nevermind. "Bleach" had been released a year earlier, but Nirvana was still a fairly unknown band at the time.

[Tthip]

Since the image above disappeared
From Luck13:
The Tragically Hip and Nirvana in 1989 for $4

image.jpeg Size: 72.94 KB  Downloads: 289

[direwolf74]

That is awesome.

[thedarkcanuck]

Imagine trying to tell people the story if you were in that bar for the night, they'd all think you were the worlds biggest bullshitter :lol:

[schaggs]

:lol: I don't know if it would have been worth missing The Leo Malberger Quartet, though. That's a once-in-a-lifetime show. :lol:

[kieffer]

Here's a link to the nirvana setlist. Haven't heard what the hip played.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nirvana/1989/ocayz-corral-madison-wi-5bd15f20.html">http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nirvana/1 ... 15f20.html</a><!-- m -->

[mardar8284]

I was fortunate enough to win a spot to watch the hip tape a live radio show in Madison, WI. They were playing later that
night at the Barrymore. They were promoting "World Container". Gord, Rob,and Paul were there to perform a few
songs and be interviewed by the local DJ. It's crazy how they just never received the attention they derserved when they
played in the majority of US cities they toured. But, it was fantastic if you were a huge fan. 3 guys and I were the
only people that were going to be allowed in, besides the radio people. Anyway, long story, less long, we had to sit in this small waiting area while they were setting stuff up. I was looking at some magazine, trying to kill time, when someone sat down next to me. I looked over and it was ROB. I thought I was going to faint, didn't, but I'm sure I definitely wasn't rocking my most intelligent look. Rob pretended not to notice and just started making small talk for a few minutes before going back in the studio. We went in a few minutes later and they seated us right in front of them. Really close! During the interview, Gord told the story about the last time they had played in Madison, with Nirvana being their opening act. It was in a small downtown club called O'Cayz Coral. Nirvana was in town working with Butch Vig. Gord said almost everyone left when Nirvana finished. A few minutes later he found Kurt Cobain passed out/sleeping under the pinball machine. I didn't think we'd get to talk with them after the show, and was surprised nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. Rob came over chatted and signed some of my CD's. He called Gord over to meet me and asked if I wanted some pictures taken with them. I don't think I was even able to speak coherently English by then. We did get some nice shots, though. They were so unbelievably friendly and considerate. That night my husband and I wentto the venue pretty early. There weren't many people there yet, so we walked up directly in front of the stage. It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Got to meet them, then saw the whole show about 10 feet from Gord.
I took my son to 2016 Winnipeg show and watched them from a Canadian show perspective. Completely different, but equally amazing shows. I still can't believe I was lucky enough to have both of those unforgettable experiences.