The Final Hip tour and reminiscing about Gord Downie

[guzzy]

When I was dealing with colon cancer last year I used two Tragically Hip songs as my rally cry - grace too and courage.

I realize that grace too is about a hooker but the words "with will and determination....and grace too" was all I needed.

I can't believe that the person responsible for the lyrics for the songs I used in my rally cry Is now diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. As much as I am appreciative for my survival, it brings me great pain knowing that Gord Downie is spending his last few months with his family while touring for his fans....and himself...and the band, but I I know this is how he wants to go out.

We will all miss you so much more than you will ever know. Thank you Gord Downie.

I wish there was inspiration I could send his way as he did for me in my time of need.

[Engine09]

I spent years in cover bands playing bars, you could not get away without playing at least 2 Tragically Hip songs each night. I remember tiring of them after playing Blow at High Dough and Little Bones for the thousandth time, then they released Fully Completely and I really enjoyed doing Courage and Locked in the Trunk of a Car. Great grooves, strong riffs and of course, Gord put them over the top.

Being a Canadian we might have been overexposed to them slightly but they really are a great band with incredibly written songs. One of those proud Canadian moments, when they played SNL and Dan Aykroyd introduced them.

[millhouse11]

Saw Gord do a private showing for about 150 people. It was just him and his guitar. He played some of his favorites and took requests. He also talked about the environment and the waterkeepers, which he was involved with. Afterwards he just hung around to chat. It was a pretty cool experience.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by guzzy

When I was dealing with colon cancer last year I used two Tragically Hip songs as my rally cry - grace too and courage.

I realize that grace too is about a hooker but the words "with will and determination....and grace too" was all I needed.

I can't believe that the person responsible for the lyrics for the songs I used in my rally cry Is now diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. As much as I am appreciative for my survival, it brings me great pain knowing that Gord Downie is spending his last few months with his family while touring for his fans....and himself...and the band, but I I know this is how he wants to go out.

We will all miss you so much more than you will ever know. Thank you Gord Downie.

I wish their was inspiration I could send his way as he did for me in my time of need.

Well... you could tell 'em what you just told us. I think it would be inspiring for anyone to learn that their work/art had such a significant effect on someone's life.

I don't have a clue if Twitter/Facebook/whatever social media messages actually ever get to the celebrity whose name is attached to it, but it's worth a shot.

[jayswin]

Agreed with the song "scared" for an underrated hip song, just an incredible acoustic song. But honestly of all the beautiful lyrics Gord wrote that people are coming up with I can't help but feel the last line in that song sums up my feelings with the guitar outro. It may not have the power and lyrical wizardry of others, but you really just have to listen to the song to feel the emotional effect of it after the news.

I gotta go, it's been a pleasure doing business with you

[4X4]

There is so much Hip that is just so good. I love the fact that they're Canadian. Not one of the charity bands that get played because of CanCon, but a legit band that gets air because they rock.

I'm pretty sure that one of their concerts permanently damaged my hearing. Floor, close to speaker. No complaints. I came back for a couple more concerts.

I love their sound. Unique. You know it's the Hip as soon as you hear it... In a good way. They just have a sound that transcends their songs, without all their songs sounding the same. I'm not really sure what the band is without Gord Downie, but I'm sure they are even more sad about this than I am. His family and band and friends have to deal with this right in the public eye.

All the best, Gord. Thanks for all the great music. Legacy.

[driveway]

Walking with a few friends on a beach in Taiwan two years ago, coming upon a group of people playing guitar around a campfire.

Sit down and one of my friends takes the guitar and starts singing a couple songs, Billy Joel or something, then starts into Bobcaygeon. The three Canadians around the fire sing our hearts out, everyone else is confused but amused.

Goes from Bobcaygeon into Courage and suddenly three guys' heads pop up over the dune.
"Who's Canadian?"
"Yo!"
Six Canadians then serenade about fifteen people of other nationalities with Hip songs for the next twenty minutes.

[Fuzz]

Tour dates announced:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...598795?cmp=rss

• Victoria, Jul 22. Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
• Vancouver, Jul 24. Rogers Arena​.
• Edmonton, Jul 28. Rexall Place.
• Calgary, Aug 1. Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Winnipeg, Aug 5. MTS Centre.
• London, Ont., Aug. 8. Budweiser Gardens.
• Toronto, Aug 10 and Aug. 12. Air Canada Centre.
• Hamilton , Aug. 16. Firstontario Centre.
• Ottawa, Aug. 18. Canadian Tire Centre.
• Kingston, Aug. 20. Rogers K-Rock Centre​.

[getbak]

Tickets on sale next Friday.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Tour dates announced:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...598795?cmp=rss

• Victoria, Jul 22. Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
• Vancouver, Jul 24. Rogers Arena​.
• Edmonton, Jul 28. Rexall Place.
• Calgary, Aug 1. Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Winnipeg, Aug 5. MTS Centre.
• London, Ont., Aug. 8. Budweiser Gardens.
• Toronto, Aug 10 and Aug. 12. Air Canada Centre.
• Hamilton , Aug. 16. Firstontario Centre.
• Ottawa, Aug. 18. Canadian Tire Centre.
  
• Kingston, Aug. 20. Rogers K-Rock Centre​.

Holy crap. End it in Kingston. Growing up in Kingston everyone knew the Hip were from there and I guess people were kind of proud of it. That is going to be an amazing one.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I'm going to try my ass off to make it to one of the final shows but I'll be shocked if I leave the show with dry eyes. Really awful news.

World Container got me a little this morning. A beautiful hidden gem in a sea of hits.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

Holy crap. End it in Kingston. Growing up in Kingston everyone knew the Hip were from there and I guess people were kind of proud of it. That is going to be an amazing one.

That Kingston show needs to be shown live on CBC.

[malcolmk14]

I'm going to try to go to the Calgary show and/or the Kingston show.

[Fuzz]

Will be in Toronto, so might try for one of those, or Calgary but that one would be tight to make. I assume AC Centre has better acoustics than the Dome?

[corporatejay]

Someone needs to make a documentary about this. CBC. Get. On. It.

[bigtmac19]

Hopefully will be able to make the London show. It's a bit smaller venue so tickets will be harder to get.

[socalwingfan]

I listened to the Hip all day yesterday, and was feeling pretty blue. It was my wife's birthday (and a special one to boot) and she came home and said "No one's allowed to be sad on my birthday, but I understand, you're allowed to be sad..."

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Someone needs to make a documentary about this. CBC. Get. On. It.

That's a really good idea. And I could see the last show in Kingston having a lot of "special guests" something similar to The Band...well, not as many big names, but still lots of musician friends in attendance I'm sure.

[zukes]

I'll be doing the London show for sure, and likely at least one of the Toronto shows.

I've probably seen the Hip 40 times.

I've seen them 4 times in concert with less than 1,000 people. Twice at Mulcahy's Long Island New York. Those two shows were probably my favourite. Met the band before the show the one time as they were staying at the same hotel as we were and Gord S. and Bobby went out to get some McDonald's. Was outside having a smoke and stopped them as they were walking back. They had all the time in the world to chat with us. Then we met them again after the show and same thing. Both shows I was at the front with my beer on the stage.

I saw them at the Fillmore on Detroit (this may have been slightly more than 1,000, but if it was it wasn't much more) and that venue is fantastic. I was lucky enough that my niece (19 now and a bigger Hip fan than me which is saying something) and nephew and sister got to go as well. My niece had never seen them in a small venue before. Gord came right over to her as she was front and just off centre and sang right to her for a good minute. My niece would sing Hip lyrics before she could even speak growing up.

My buddy won tickets to see them for The Strombo Show right as they were opening up the new studio at CBC, and that was only about 350 people.

I remember Roadside Attraction shows, Edenfest, too many arena show to count, Molson park shows, Live 8, Centennial Hall in London (another small venue), plus they always seemed to come and play the little festivals we have here in London.

As many have said here, they were the soundtrack to my formative years and there is no way I am not going to see them on this tour.

Here's to you Gord! Stay strong!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

That Kingston show needs to be shown live on CBC.

And Justin should award The Order of Canada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...rder_of_Canada