Jan
16
2007
The Hip? Passable.
I didn't listen to my own advice. I went into Sunday's Tragically Hip show expecting to hear a few favorites of mine. Wheat Kings. Nautical Disaster. Anything from In Between Evolution. But it didn't happen. They pulled out their overdone standards like Little Bones and Blow at High Dough. Threw in a few more obscure back tracks like Lionized and Fiddler's Green. I must admit however that the new songs from World Container were excellent, especially the title track. Mr. Appleby (who also attended the show) and I were in full agreement: The song World Container should be a new Hip anthem. The show was a prime example of a working band; a group that is not simply touring for the sake of touring. They are consistently putting new and compelling music into the world. Their live shows reflect that, and they have always concentrated on new material. This can produce frustration for fans who haven't kept up with the band. One thing is certain: Their live shows always leave me wanting more.
Perhaps the funniest/most annoying part of the show was the white trash woman in front of us. She was well into her fifties but acting half her age (in the worst possible way). Sloshing her vodka/seven around, hanging off of young guys she didn't know, and generally being a piss tank with a bad dye job, bad polyester pants, and bad shoes. Kerry hit the nail on the head when she described her as, "one of those women who would get drunk at their teenaged son's party and sit on his friend's laps". She was a distraction throughout the show, but she finally hit the floor about half way through. Her equally blitzed but still-in-control girlfriend helped her out of the way. It was very funny, and not a little pathetic.
The Tragically Hip remain an enigmatic band whose albums demand repeated and closer listens. Their live shows are hit and miss. Everything seems to depend on Gordon Downie's bizarre energy. Sunday's show was decent, but not spectacular. I guess one can only expect so much.
