The Tragically Hip are legends in Canada.

It's been, oh-about 16 years (yikes!) since I last saw them; they've all aged a bit, but then arguably, so have I. One thing that The Hip has been blessed with is longevity. Even after all these years, with 10 albums under their collective belt, plus their individual side and solo projects, the five members have remained the same: Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay.

Downie is still the ever engaging frontman... only this time he's more lucid and not three-sheets-to-the-wind as he was back in 1990.
Perhaps after all these years he's finally settled into his own skin, accepted his fate as a Canadian icon...
( ^ hell, he did pose for a photo, mid-song)

That night, Gord battled against his evil nemesis, The Mic Stand. There were a couple close calls when the mic almost slammed into his mouth - he lost his footing on the base stand and the mic swung fast and hard into his upper chest with a thud. We at the front all cringed in unison. But as luck would have it, Gord's fancy footwork gave way to a 3 to 2 finish, advantage Downie.

And did I mention stage antics?

He's on the floor, behind the monitor, legs splayed upwards, singing his little heart out.

What a guy!


Here are the highlights:

Left: Gord Downie gets comfy with us slums down front.

Right: Rob Baker, aka: Willie Nelson.

Left: Paul & Gord.








Right: Gord S. & Rob.

Sadly no photos of the drummer.





... and the setlist: