and Grace, too

Went to The Hip show last week in super grown-up style. Went with The Kat and AC and CW. CW and I have been to many many shows together - Rush, Jane's Addiction, Tool, The Kee to Bala... Been following these guys since the beginning. They lost me for a while after 'Trouble at the Henhouse', but the new record is polished and poppy and rock solid. Bought their first E.P. on vinyl at Music World way back - 'Been to Reno, drives an El Camino can you dig that styyyyyyyyle...' The four of us had a nice pre-concert dinner at the ACC Lounge then nestled in right there for the show. I was blown away. An entirely different band from the one I saw open up for Rush way way back at Maple Leaf Gardens. Diamond Dog, Walking on the Moon? Stoner groovy jam interludes and not one but two snapped microphone stands? Gord Downie's antics, tangents and vocal range? Beauty and bang for your buck. All of it.

The band is tight. The band has matured. And good old Gord has evolved into a full-blown rock star showman.

Say what you want, but millions of records sold and twenty years with the original line-up? Go listen to 'Road Apples', then go listen to 'Day for Night', then go listen to 'World Container'.

Canadiana? Absolutely. But a music fan is a music fan is a music fan and this ain't no college boy frat band.

'Baby eat that chicken slow'. All hail The Tragically Hip!