What an unforgettable experience. I can't find the words to fully convey how much it has meant to me seeing both of these shows in Calgary. One of my first musical memories is listening to the Up To Here album with my childhood best friend on his Dads stereo. Wheat Kings, Fireworks and more guided me through good times and bad when I was a struggling student in Kingston. My best friends lived a couple blocks away from one of the band members (Rob Baker?) and they would occasionally see him walking down the street or at the kitty corner convenience store. Sometimes we would play beersbee on the front lawn and blast some Hip tunes, hoping we might catch a glimpse of him walking by. I saw them live in 2008 at Virgin Festival in Calgary and the memory of Gord maniacally dancing with the microphone stand is seared into my memory.
I never completely appreciated the emotional connection I had formed with this band until I saw the terrible news headline on May 24th. I went home that night and wept. Cancer is an incredibly unfair disease that steals far too many, far too soon. The courage Gord has shown by taking to the road for one last ride is inspirational, and I am so grateful to have shared a moment with him and everyone else who was in the Dome for these two special nights.
Thank you Gord.
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