LITTLE BONES (Tragically Hip tribute): Notes from HIP concerts


Seize the moments.........I remember, I remember the Ottawa Shows

No bones about it. Our favorite place to be is at a HIP show. This page is intended to help us remember the best times of our, and perhaps others, lives. Click on the peeling banana beside the date you are interested in, or scroll through them all...

	Tragically Hip Show	Author/Contributor
	Ottawa, Corel Center, 2000-12-06	Ren Bostelaar, J. Frew
	Ottawa, Corel Center, 99-02-07	Dan Hilts
	Ottawa, Another Roadside Attraction, 1997	Yvon Villenueve
	Ottawa, Corel Center, 96-11-28	Dan Hilts
	Ottawa, Corel Center, 96-11-29	Yvon Villenueve
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Ottawa, Corel Center, 2000-12-06

Pre-Show Situation (D.Hilts)

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My wife and I knew we took a chance when we bought our tickets. Our baby was due to be born on the 4th, so we thought we might be fine to take in the concert. Nope. Our son was born on concert night @ 7:32 pm with 'Escape is at hand for the Traveling Man' playing in the background. This is my wife's favorite Hip song, and believe it or not, is very calming during labour. We found this during the birth of our first son last year. So, we got some Hip in last night. And while James met us at the hospital to pick up some nice box seat tickets to the concert, I had front row seats for the birth of my son. That, I would not have changed for the world.

Dan

James summarized the overall show as follows:

The female backup singer (Kate) had a few little solo lines, and each time, the crowd went nuts. She had one of those real breathy, melt in your mouth voices.
Cool additions by the Hohner Keyboard (Chris). Obvious spot was Gift Shop, but also provided filler for many other songs, even some that didn't have boards on the albums.
I would expect that it was a bit of a disappointing turn out for TTH. The Center was not filled to capacity, but around 80% full in terms of available seating.

Our friend Ren Bostelaar (who is also a great photographer), posted a detailed summary of the show, so we have also captured it below. May have minor additions from other posts, but it is mostly as Ren stated.

Notes from the Show: (from R. Bostelaar)

Holy mother of Gord.

From my slightly limited Hip-concert-going experience, I can say that was the best Hip show I have ever been to. From my much wider bootleg-listening experience, I can say that the boys were truly on top of their game, treating the Nation’s Capital to a stellar performance last night.

The Music:

1. Music @ Work
2. Grace: "We drank turpentine".   Fancy footwork from Gord.   "Please, Please, Please give me my keys!"
3. Three Pistols: Paul dancing
4. Puttin' Down: Gord D. on the guitar
        Interlude (Chris on the Organ)
5. Gift Shop: (Smell of weed)
6. Titanic Terrarium
7. Fireworks
8. The Completist
9. Springtime in Vienna:   New staccato starting - cool!   Gord w/ his hacky sack
10. Ahead by a Century:   Synth Drum track?   Kate vocal flourish.   Organ.   "1986".   "Pink Moon"! Nick Drake!
11. 100th:   YA!!   Jam w/ organ.   "C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!".   "Purple Paint".   Shorter than usual.   Huge cheer for 'vanity' rap.
12. Sherpa:   Rhodes piano.   (sound mix is better)
13. Nautical Disaster:   big orb lowered, with under-water-like projection.    "I'm so hot under the collar!"
14. Tiger the Lion:   Lights like search lights scanning for fighter planes.   Green flashes like radar.    Johnny playing drums like machine gun.   "Daily current of the radio waves".

END SET 1 ("See you in a few")

15. Scared:   New blue shirt (GD).   KATE sings few verses.   New song? Travellin' salesman - "We don't get many visitors up here; hit the road!".
16. Wild Mountain Honey
17. Boots or Hearts:   Whole place clapping.   Chris on honky tonk piano.
18. Blow at High Dough.   "TV star"
19. Lake Fever:   "Can we..?"   Old style ending
20. Daredevil:   slow old style start - like hiccups!   New song? 'Saboteur".   "Nasty 'cause they're in aisle 5.   SHHHH!!! SHHHHH!!! SHHHH!!!    The saboteur..." repeat.   Gord S really into it.
21. Twist my Arm:   (gord sounds exhausted; panting..)
22. Long Time Running:   "After I'm gone".   Gord distinctly better singer than Road Apples days.   Honky Tonk piano from CB
23. Poets:   "Bring out your dead" - as always.   "Be where I asked you to be!" - the mic?
24. Flamenco:   Kate: yuck. Gina was right.   Crowd likes her.
25. Courage:   "The garage door closes at 7! Can you lemme in? No. No."
26. Chagrin Falls:   Gord D gets his guitar for jam @ end of song
27. NOIS:   "Even a priest would say this: If new Orleans is Sinking, than I don't wanna swim.".   "My baby she don't know me..." comes before jam?   FUNKY BASS.   "I have to fine my friend Mr. Balbooey. With his left arm dangling.   Excuse me while I find my friend.   "When he woke up, he was covered in Coke Fizz." Sloan!   Short jam.
28. Fire in the Hole!:   "C'mon out on the front line! Are you with us or not?".   Robby's hair flying madly.   WOW!   WOW!!   CRAZY END JAM!!

ENCORE:

29. Stay: (GD: "this is Stay, so you know what that means."). Kinda lackluster song to return to. Nicely done; better than NYE version.
30. Little Bones: SHIT! No INCH! Crowd nuts. Pot smell...NICE. BLOODY NICE!

Additional facts posted by Stephen Dame:

intended Encore according to the setlist

1. Wheat Kings
2. Freak Turbulence
3. Locked In The Trunk Of A Car

Show Summary:

The mix got better as the show went on. The first two songs were muddy as all hell, but by the end of the show the sound was very enjoyable. Gord was very animated, as were the rest of the band. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves. It’s also amazing how well they kept the groove going for the whole night - the only time they lost the energy build-up was when 10 minutes encore cheering was met with Stay, a down tempo, lulling song. I would have preferred Inch an Hour. In fact, I was quite upset when I didn't get to hear that song. I was so excited to see it on a few sets this year, and I was hoping to get a chance to hear it live. Oh well, I did get Yawning or Snarling last tour, and Titanic Terrarium this time. There are only so many Oddball DfN songs they can play, eh?

The most Canadian moment of the show: When the whole arena cheered a Molson ad before the show. Just the logo. The whole place cheered. Has our national identity been pared down to a Beer label?

Tiger the Lion was mind-blowingly fantastic. The lighting, with the searchlights and the radar blips, complimented the song in an indescribable way.

Chris was terrific on the keys. His organ in Gift Shop, and his piano in Long Time Running really impressed me. I’d like them to keep him forever. Kate didn't impress me as much, but some of my friends really dug her. I can surely live with her, because she doesn't intrude too much - only on Flamenco and Scared, which have never turned my crank too much.

The crowd was subdued, but that's really just an Ottawa thing. The floor was rocking, but the stands were just mellow. And, to be honest, that's not really that bad of a thing. A concert can be enjoyed sitting down - its easier to observe, relish, and photograph. It’s easier to linger on little details from a stable perch. Mind you, I was in a very close seat. If I were up higher, I’d surely stand to have a better view, and to involve myself more.

Hiccups! Okay, the words weren't there - but the music was! I've always enjoyed the ‘96 pre-Daredevil jam, so it was exciting to see it revived. I haven't had any time to read about the other concerts - were you all treated to Hiccups jams as well?

I caught the words of two new embryonic songs; Saboteur seems well on the way to being a fully developed song. Travellin’ Salesman is well put-together also. Purple Paint made an appearance (and my singing along with it confused some seatmates), and I was surprised to hear a snippit of Sloan!

Fantastic show. Worth every penny. But I couldn't help but feel that this will be the last time I see them for a while. With their growing families, Gord’s solo pursuits, and their need of a break, I don't foresee another Canadian tour for a few years.

Still high, Sherpa high from the show,

- Ren -

Ottawa, Corel Center, 99-02-07 (D.Hilts)

One of the best stage setups -- overhead lighting trusses were covered in stone like material, with a large chandelier hanging from the center -- a 'Phantom on the Opera' type thing. The backdrop and lighting truss material were often transformed into a multitude of color with various moving light patterns. There were a couple of Phantom Power props on stage as well. Gord D. was wearing Brown pants, white long-sleeved shirt with kinda green colored vest, and initially a blazer. I spent the show looking through binoculars, and could see a friend (the Bass player in our band, Dave) grooving in the Phantom Zone. Two hours before the show, he had scored these tickets with another musician friend of ours (Marty Sobb).

The songs:

1. POETS: As hoped, the first song. Gord D. shakin' the shaker (let's call it a gord).
2. GRACE TOO: The SNL version ("I'm Tragically Hip")
3. COURAGE
4. ESCAPE IS AT HAND FOR THE TRAVELLIN' MAN
5. SPRINGTIME IN VIENNA: Gord D. still tosses bells up and catches them during this song
6. YAWNING AND SNARLING
7. SOMETHING'S ON
8. GIFT SHOP: Introduced as a song about heavenly delights right here on earth
9. VAPOR TRAIL
10. FLAMENCO: Introduced as 'this song is called sweet sunshine in February. Gord D. sang a bit of "don't worry baby" at the end--perhaps in tribute to their departed friend
11. FIREWORKS
12. MEMBERSHIP: Introduced as "it's a river song"
13. AHEAD BY A CENTURY: Introduced as "this is a song about a tree"
14. BOBCAYGEON: At the start Gord D. notes "I hope the Black flies don't carry me away"
15. NAUTICAL DISASTER: Still a favorite, and they lived up to expectations again
16. SAVE THE PLANET
17. AT THE 100TH MERIDIAN: As opposed to Hengalo, Gord notes 'Tokyo'. There was a brief jam in the middle like usual, lyrics included "you're like a milestone, didn't seem like nothin' at first"

--- FIRST ENCORE ---
18. DAREDEVIL
19. CHAGRIN FALLS: Johnny's drum techs changed a cymbal at the end. Damaged perhaps?
20. NEW ORLEANS IS SINKIN': Audience went nuts, as usual. Was a brief jam in middle, but mot much if any lyrics

--- SECOND ENCORE ---
21. LET'S STAY ENGAGED: Introduced as "instead of good bye, let's stay engaged"
22. BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH: You know what happened to the audience. Incidentally (or maybe not) they closed the first show (see below 96-11-28) back in '96 with 'Blow'

Ottawa, Another Roadside Attraction, 1997 (Y.Villenueve)
You know, we didn't take notes this time around...just soaked it all in. We did, however, take a picture. Just one of many left in our minds from this show:

Ottawa, Corel Center, 96-11-28 (D.Hilts)

1. GRACE TOO: Drum beat starts before the band takes the stage (drum track used). Gord D. 'plays nets' near the end--takes his mic stand, uses as a stick, and blocks pretend shots. Never seen this before, but I understand from an interview, that he plays net when playing hockey with others, including the boys from the Reo's

2. EVERY TIME YOU GO: Didn't expect this one--a nice surprise.

3. SPRINGTIME IN VIENNA: Introduced as a song from Celine Dion. Gord D. shakes 'bells' through the whole song.

4. 50 MISSION CAP:

5. GIFTSHOP: Hey, Bobby uses a Telecaster on this one.

6. AHEAD BY A CENTURY: Introduced as "This one is for you Catherine"

7. OPIATED: Gord D. says "OK, it's come to this. I'm shakin' a banana. It's a banana that talks..it talks". At the end of the song, Gord places the banana in his right front pocket, holds the mic down by his crotch, and shakes his leg to the beat.

8. 700 FOOT CEILING:

9. COURAGE: During the song, Gord D. rips out his heart, and stomps on it. Near the end of the song, he whistles, and calls for his dog. "Courage... here boy". Referring to the Corel Center, he says "Nice shack...nice fucking shack...right here in Stittsville, too". (Kevin Duffy - thanks for the clarification)

10. CORDELIA: At the end, Gord D. says "you are a two man job".

11. HICCUP? Gord D. introduces as "This is a Gordon Lightfoot song. It's called 'Tight Rope Walker's got the Hiccups'". At the end, he says, "As you walked that rope over the Niagra Gorge, only looked down once or twice, just to make sure it's the Niagra Gorge. Then right into Daredevil.

12. DAREDEVIL:

13. PUT IT OFF: During the beginning, Gord D. mentions he's thinking of getting his Little girl a doll that procrastinates for X-mas.

14. BEST FRIENDS / STEREO:

15. NEW ORLEANS IS SINKING: In the middle, where so many songs are born, Gord D. sings "I'm diggin' for fire". He also sings "looked up to the lord above, and said hey Alanis thanks". By the way, Gord had his acoustic on for this one.

16. GREASY JUNGLE: Couldn't make out Gord D's comments at the beginning exactly, but believe he was referring to going to a funeral (also noted in the song, right?).."I went to your funeral". He also notes twice , "I could not be a shampoo boy", "I guess I'll just continue to smell" (Kevin Duffy - thanks again).

17. APARTMENT SONG: Gord's introductory comments: "See I'm not bilingual, but I wish I was...and my kids too. This is not the Apartment Song... It's about looking past your fingertips." Near the end, he says "A song...sang about national unity...aw fuck it". The at the very end, "...for all time, that includes the future".

18. LITTLE BONES: During 'the long days of Shockley..', Gord D. goes through the motions of a quarterback.

19. LOCKED IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR: Introduction included a discussion about the fox in the henhouse...."they were organized...the fox was a victim of cunning".

.....End of set...Johnny Fay grabs a blonde from 'the henhouse', and takes her back stage.

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--- FIRST ENCORE ---

20. SCARED: Introduced with "Your cool, thanks a lot...thanks a lot". Bobby & Paul used Electrics, only Gord D. plays acoustic.

21. AT THE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN: Gord D. uses the banana shaker again... during the solo, he shoots his banana like a pistol. They jam in the middle of the song (as usual), to Gord singing "She's rock solid" (or perhaps 'blonde solid'??). "I cherish the minutes...the seconds too", he says to end the song.

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--- SECOND ENCORE ---

22. THUGS: Introduced as "this song's about an alien abduction. At the end, Gord D. says "that's how you paint a room--feet shoulder length apart".

23. COCONUT CREAM.

24. BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH: Gord D. mentions O.J.Simpson a couple of times, "out at the speedway, same O.J. thing".

Ottawa, Corel Center, 96-11-29 (Y.Villenueve)

Well the Hip concert was a most interesting event, a tremendous success. Empty seats were very difficult to find even with binoculars. The hip performed two encores! The show started at 8:50 and ended at 11:10.

I have only one gripe; I have heard rumours about the excellent sound at the Corel Centre. However, I was disappointed. Although it was loud enough, it was not what I consider "rock" level. The output level was too low and gentle. Comments and shouts from the people around me often drowned out the band. That has never happened to me at a rock concert as there are usually annoyingly loud. I also struggled to understand what Gord was saying/singing and could only pick out the odd word (of course I’m concerned about those additional lyrics Gord usually adds at the beginning or in the middle of songs). Despite this, I will relate what I could pick out below:

1. Gift Shop

2. Twist my Arm

3. Grace Too

4. Inevitability of Death

5. Three Pistols

6. Ahead by a Century (Stretched ending in chords C and D)

7. Butts Wiggling

8. The Luxury

9. Springtime In Vienna

10. 700 foot ceiling

11. Inevitability of Death

12. Flamenco

13. At The Hundredth Meridian (Song done faster than usual with Improv in middle) Improv: New song perhaps named Purple Paint ? A comical song which went to the tune of “The Edmund Fitzgerald” At one point, Gord said: “I’ve heard farts before but this one was smart...So I went over to his ass!...so I can mic it! ...Back to the tail-end of “At The Hundredth Meridian.

14. Don’t Wake Daddy

15. Fully Completely

16. Sherpa

17. Blow at High Dough

18. Nautical Disaster “This is a song about terrorism”

19. The Where Withal.

--- FIRST ENCORE ---

20. Wheat Kings

21. Best Friends / Stereo (un-recorded song in chords E and A )

22. New Orleans is Sinking (Fan jumped onto stage from behind Bobby and was promptly kicked off).

--- SECOND ENCORE ---

23. Locked in the Trunk of a Car

24. Fire in the Hole