Tragically Hipped Out At Crocks….

Tragically Hip/Crocks/Thunder Bay/Feb 1988

So I had a friend who went to college and she told me there was this band from Kingston that was playing a local bar (Crocks) coming up on the weekend (Friday & Saturday) and that they were worth checking out. Of course with it being Feb in Thunder Bay that means cold and snow and I remember distinctively that we did not go to the Friday show but me and Tbone said we would go to the Saturday show and well not only did we go but a snowstorm came with us as well. The city got covered that day but Tbone said as Downie would say ‘Fuck This …Fuck That” and well we got to Crocks.

Crocks back than was a small bar comfortable to hang out in but it could get crowded and well with the snowstorm blasting outside I think there were maybe 25-30 people there that night so umm we had a ton of elbow space. While we were killing time there was one pool table in the joint and some guy was itching to steal someone’s money so he asked me if I wanted to play a round of snooker. I passed as I was the shit’s at it and I’m not making a $20 donation to some clown but Tbone accepted and threw down his $20 and proceeded  to demolish the  poor sap and I still recall the fella telling Tbone that no one in a long time had beaten him so bad. Tbone just shrugged his shoulders grabbed the $40 and told the guy he could have his pool table back! Classic!

So from Kingston here’s mine and T’s intro to the Hip and boom there they are all long-haired fellas jammed on the tiny stage playing it all and giving it all as well! Too be honest I don’t remember many songs as I mean  they were just plugging there 5 song cassette EP that night.( I’m sure as well the other songs would have been ones that would have been on Up To Here which came out in August of 1989)I do know that when they played I’m A Werewolf,Gord Downie was jumping all over rhythm guitar player Paul Langlois’ back! A site to see and kinda funny that’s how that’s one thing  me and Tbone still recall from that show! The other thing was they were hocking there cassette tape from the stage for $5 in which I purchased and still wish I had today!  I would sell it to Probie (huge Hip fan)for $500! Hahaha……

For me and Tbone living in Tbay it’s not too often you see a band that within a year that  is gonna go huge in Canada and boy did they ever. I did a review of when a little of a year later me and T caught the Hip playing our University plugging there Up To Here release and the place was jammed! So you knew they were making leaps and bounds in the size of buildings they were playing. But it’s sometimes cool to go back and pull off a Marty Mcfly and step into that time machine and trip out!

Also what must be noted that as crazy as it sounds that this show was 25 yrs closer to 26 yrs ago is that the Hips lineup of Downie/ Fay/Sinclair/ Baker/ Langlois is still intact today….and in the music biz that’s impressive…

Enjoy the tune posted for Highway Girl..crank it and Gord as always tells a great story……..

Sonic Waves….Tragically Hip/Up To Here

This Up To Here review is for DaBrun! Hope ya enjoy it buddy!

Considering 1989 was the year Glam Metal was ruling everything in sales,ticket grosses,print media and video. Out  of Kingston came The Hip with their major label debut and man this album went against the grain of what I just mentioned but the Hip struck a chord or three chords for that matter with a ton of Canucks and this album just flew off the shelves! My first purchase was on cassette for this followed by cd.

The album was produced by Don Smith(rip) and he just lets the Hip go at it which to me just sounds like they just toked up/plugged In and pushed play!

Let’s see what Gordie/Bobby/Johnny/Paul and Gord are rolling……

BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH-So let’s Canadiana 101 begin! Here comes Gordie blasting out of the gate with the boys because well you knew they can get behind anything! Cool guitar,bass and drums actually I still love the sonic of this album to this day! Still I think if you were to ask people to say what one song would define the Hip I betcha it may be this one or perhaps Orleans? I dunno close call…..

I’LL BELIEVE IN YOU-Man this song is a firecracker it just zips along the 411 at break neck speed Gordie is slipping and sliding around traffic and he pushes along the tracks and the backing vocals are well suited to the Hip like I said…toke up/plug-in and push play!. Cool Bobby Baker riffing ….

NEW ORLEANS IS SINKING- This is one catchy riff of guitar courtesy once again from Mr Baker and Gordie is in full storyteller mode. This song is just a classic and still is and like I said it’s probably along with Blow At High Dough the two most recognizable Hipster tunes Ever!

38 YEARS OLD- Hip throw down the electrics,grab some acoustic and pedal steel and Gordie talks about being locked up in the Clink! Cool song and a shift in gears after the first three tunes drop the  sonic hammer on your senses!

SHE DIDNT KNOW- actually my fav from Up To Here. I mean classic ” she didn’t know the barrel was loaded” uh huh yeah right! Great stories/lyrics put to music. Man this shit does not get any better! Love this song..just love it. Actually this is like if REM took a few hits off the Hip Bong!

BOOTS OR HEARTS-Side two begins with some acoustic guitar kicked in the rump by the drums. That’s the thing with these  songs on here, They were road tested thru perhaps tons of bar gigs and the Hip just kept the tape machine going once they hit the studio.

EVERYTIME YOU GO- actually my second fav off of this album. Love the guitar sound and love the line ‘Like everyone I once knew a Dave. Drove a Plymouth shallow grave. Said my girl don’t walk she just unfurls” Wowzers! Sooooo cool…..geez I wish I could have said cool lines like that back in Highschool!

WHEN THE WEIGHT COMES DOWN- Cool strummer of a tune, super catchy chorus. Folks were headed for the finish line and the Hip just keep chugging along.

ANOTHER MIDNIGHT- If you dig a little deeper you will come across different flavours on the this debut. This is one of em just different textures add to a cool written song. Love the fact they can crank bar rock and ease off the gas a bit and just chill with a song like Another Midnight!

OPIATED- ends Up To Here with the medicine man paying a visit. Sounds like a fitting end to album or is it just the plain end? That’s the thing with Gordies lyrics. How I hear em you may hear em differently and perhaps we could get together and discuss and figure out what he’s going on about sometimes! But only if you bring the Doritos at the end of the night!

IN CONCLUSION – Stellar comes to my mind about Up To Here. For me the Hip came along with a good bar rock sound that was missing from the late 80s and just stomped on Poisons lipstick and gave us all a different outlook on rock and how it should sound. Simple yet effective. If your one of the few who have never listened to Up To Here, it’s never too late!