Day 281 - Saturday August 20, 2016
Day 281 - Tragically Hip tragedy
Football season began for my kiddo today. Although we paid $10 to get in to a game that didn't even count, GT rode the bench due to prior weeks knee bang issues. Even though we went to Milton and he didn't play, we ended up at Taco Town. I always regret going to Taco Town.
As we were leaving, my Google news showed me that the Tragically Hip' final concert was tonight, in Kingston, Ontario. As I delved into the article trying to figure out why, I learned that the lead singer, Gordon Downie was diagnosed in December with terminal brain cancer. Fifty two years old. I grew up with this guy in the early and mid-nineties, buying every album; the self titled one I had to order off e-bay on CD, to Phantom Power in 1998--by then, my music tastes had drastically changed--I'd gone the Alt country route, but I always had time to replay Up to Here, Road Apples, Fully Completely, or Day for Night--nowadays I love 'Trouble at the Henhouse', maybe because I didn't get enough listens back then.
I learned of the Tragically Hip by a fellow co-worker at the time I worked in a seafood restaurant. He had gone to see Joe Satriani at either the Bayfront Auditorium (RIP) or the Civic Center. Opening from Satriani was the Tragically Hip. He liked them so much he bought their new disc at the time "Up to here" and played it for me at work. I LOVED that album. Ended up buying it when I was able to afford it, when I saw it used at the Sound Box.
Another friend played Road Apples for me not long after it came out in 1991. This album, along with Fully Completely became a multi-play staple on long road trips. Back when we were younger. Back when my then girlfriend (who is my wife today) was able to ride with me to Ontario to drink legally at 19 and see Niagara from the Canadian side without a passport. I can still remember singing 'at the hundredth meridian' at the top of my lungs, and whispering the 'garbage bag trees' while driving thru Geneseo, New York on the way there. Great times.
I had the privilege of seeing the band three times. Twice in Pensacola, and once at the House of Blues in NOLA. When we saw them at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter during the Day for Night, I remember dancing with Jen when Gord started 'blow at high dough'. Up went the hands flailing, and dancing like a total geek. The problem with the hands flailing, is that they don't always care about personal space issues, and bam--an unsuspecting gal behind me took a shot to the nose. Whoa. Totally unexpected. It was a good connect--almost dropped her, as she held her nose with her boyfriend's glaze going through me. I was a little scared, then, once no blood was seen, everything turned out OK. I bought her a beer for her trouble and all turned out well. How embarrassing--that my have put a damper on my flailing, dancing career. Gordon Downie had a lot more space with which to flail and dance than I did.
The albums stand the test of time. Tonight I read the rolling stone article Tragically Hip sampler (great article) but unfortunately was unable to tune into the show. Something about watching a concert from a computer isn't exactly the best. TV's are different. Maybe I'll get a chance as I read over the articles tomorrow to catch it or i'm sure clips from it will flood youtube. The weather was nice tonight-a balmy lower humidity 83, so Jen and I went to the porch, grabbed a couple of PBR's and played every video from the article above. I had a cigar and remembered those times. There are SOOOO many more songs worth mentioning, but these are a good starter set.
Gord Downie, I wish you the best from the deep south. Yes, Phineas looks like a ship, and, we have MUCH better venues now.
Football season began for my kiddo today. Although we paid $10 to get in to a game that didn't even count, GT rode the bench due to prior weeks knee bang issues. Even though we went to Milton and he didn't play, we ended up at Taco Town. I always regret going to Taco Town.
As we were leaving, my Google news showed me that the Tragically Hip' final concert was tonight, in Kingston, Ontario. As I delved into the article trying to figure out why, I learned that the lead singer, Gordon Downie was diagnosed in December with terminal brain cancer. Fifty two years old. I grew up with this guy in the early and mid-nineties, buying every album; the self titled one I had to order off e-bay on CD, to Phantom Power in 1998--by then, my music tastes had drastically changed--I'd gone the Alt country route, but I always had time to replay Up to Here, Road Apples, Fully Completely, or Day for Night--nowadays I love 'Trouble at the Henhouse', maybe because I didn't get enough listens back then.
I learned of the Tragically Hip by a fellow co-worker at the time I worked in a seafood restaurant. He had gone to see Joe Satriani at either the Bayfront Auditorium (RIP) or the Civic Center. Opening from Satriani was the Tragically Hip. He liked them so much he bought their new disc at the time "Up to here" and played it for me at work. I LOVED that album. Ended up buying it when I was able to afford it, when I saw it used at the Sound Box.
Another friend played Road Apples for me not long after it came out in 1991. This album, along with Fully Completely became a multi-play staple on long road trips. Back when we were younger. Back when my then girlfriend (who is my wife today) was able to ride with me to Ontario to drink legally at 19 and see Niagara from the Canadian side without a passport. I can still remember singing 'at the hundredth meridian' at the top of my lungs, and whispering the 'garbage bag trees' while driving thru Geneseo, New York on the way there. Great times.
I had the privilege of seeing the band three times. Twice in Pensacola, and once at the House of Blues in NOLA. When we saw them at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter during the Day for Night, I remember dancing with Jen when Gord started 'blow at high dough'. Up went the hands flailing, and dancing like a total geek. The problem with the hands flailing, is that they don't always care about personal space issues, and bam--an unsuspecting gal behind me took a shot to the nose. Whoa. Totally unexpected. It was a good connect--almost dropped her, as she held her nose with her boyfriend's glaze going through me. I was a little scared, then, once no blood was seen, everything turned out OK. I bought her a beer for her trouble and all turned out well. How embarrassing--that my have put a damper on my flailing, dancing career. Gordon Downie had a lot more space with which to flail and dance than I did.
The albums stand the test of time. Tonight I read the rolling stone article Tragically Hip sampler (great article) but unfortunately was unable to tune into the show. Something about watching a concert from a computer isn't exactly the best. TV's are different. Maybe I'll get a chance as I read over the articles tomorrow to catch it or i'm sure clips from it will flood youtube. The weather was nice tonight-a balmy lower humidity 83, so Jen and I went to the porch, grabbed a couple of PBR's and played every video from the article above. I had a cigar and remembered those times. There are SOOOO many more songs worth mentioning, but these are a good starter set.
Gord Downie, I wish you the best from the deep south. Yes, Phineas looks like a ship, and, we have MUCH better venues now.
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