In memory; Favourite Hip/Gord moments

[c-towns]

I have some to share later today, I just wanted to get the ball rolling.

[deranger]

Seeing the hip at the horseshoe in last week of 1999 as a warm up gig for the acc show NYE. Then getting to go to NYE show later that week.

Almost bumping into Gord on Broadview ave in Toronto as he was putting his kids in the car and he stared at a giant bandage I had on my nose from a hockey injury. I think he was startled by my appearance as I was by him being Gord Downie.

I'm very sad to be in America right now as no one but my wife has any idea who Gord was and what has happened.

Thank you Gord for the music. Rip.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

Bouche has a great story about getting into Hip shows in bars in Kingston- I think he would've been underage at the time ta boot.

They played our highschool dances a few times, were more of a Doors/Who cover band at the time. I think every Kingstonian has one or at the most, two, degrees of separation from them.

[Esau.]

Didn't realize it at the time it would be such a great memory, but seeing them on Canada day 89 in a park in London, ON. There was about 50 people hanging around, though the videos circulating appear to show even less. That was the first time I saw the Hip I believe.

Another Roadside Atrraction Markham, 93. My girlfriend and I got mistaken for other people (I think it was her moreso than me) by someone on MIdnight OIls crew and were invited back stage, by the time it was realized we weren't the right folks, we were told, "well, your here now, enjoy the show" The Hip came on about 15 minutes or so later. Watched the entire show side stage, and Gord was in prime form that day.  Unfortunatley didn't get to meet anyone, from any band that played that day but still an awesome time.

[Velvet]

I was at a restaurant in downtown Kingston last June having dinner on the patio before a Bob Dylan concert at K-Rock. I knew that Rob Baker was a regular at the restaurant so it wasn't a complete shock when he walked right behind me, leaving the restaurant. It was, however, a shock to notice that Gord Downie (and Gord Sinclair) were with him. They stopped to linger on the sidewalk and Gord Downie noticed that I had noticed him. 

As I stared with my jaw slightly agape Gord leaned down and put his elbows on the little fence that seperated the patio from the sidewalk. He rested his chin in his hands and smiled, staring at me with a bemused look on his face. I stared and gaped, he stared and smiled. It seemed to last for thirty seconds or more. Eventually he got me: I flinched and looked away. 

When I looked back the three of them had set off down the sidewalk towards the Dylan show, completely unmolested by the throngs of people in the busy streets, all of whom had the respect to treat them the same as everyone else.

It's a wonderful final memory to have of a man I admire so much.

[Northern Wish]

I spent many days for night travelling the US in search of the smallest, coolest club in which to see them and that I could get in to at that time (I was 16 through 18). Although The Hip didn't spend much time hanging around the clubs in the late afternoons following sound checks, The Rheostatics did and they were oh so cool and kind to us wayward hosers. There were more than a few afternoons that we hung around that old Delta 88, scarfing down the remains of the deli trays and cookie platters. I learned about life on those trips, I learned about heroes and I learned about friendship. 

My favourite memory of Gord is from the REM show in 1995 at the Molson Ampitheater. Long after REM had left the stage and the crowd thinned out, I was walking with my brother up through the 200s when I heard my name called out. To this day I still cannot believe that Gord had remembered me, especially amidst a crowd of 1000s, and was saying hello and introducing me to his wife and to Mike Myers (!). That was near the peak of the popularity and he had recalled my name and I will never forget that moment. Neither will my little brother who was 14 at the time. At that moment I had ascended into legendary older brother territory and he got more than a few miles out of that story over the years.

This shot is from the Chameleon Club in Syracuse on Apr 27, 1995:

 

To paraphrase the man himself: We are all richer for having known him.

 

[bouche]

I made it to one local impromptu gig at a pub in kingston but only caught the tail-end.    

I still remember the cheap promotional posters around our highschool promoting The Tragically Hip for one of our dances.  The one cover that is still fresh in my mind was their cover of "Money" which I knew as a Beatles song.

I volunteered to work at Another Roadside Attraction in kingston at richardson stadium in 1993.  I was assigned to mind the artist gate and had to verify credentials.  Gord came to the gate to enter and I acted like I had no idea who he was. 

"I'm in the band. I'm playing." 

I asked for credentials and said I couldn't let him in without proof.

Then I laughed, he laughed.  Chatted briefly and I asked for a smoke.  He gave me one but didn't have a lighter.  He then tore off to the stage at the center of the field.  5 minutes later, I noticed him running back my way.  He returned to light the smoke with a lighter that he'd borrowed.

Swell guy.

 

[Esau.]

1 hour ago, bouche said:

I made it to one local impromptu gig at a pub in kingston but only caught the tail-end.   

 

I remember being in Kingston to visit a friend going to St. Lawrence, and we missed a Hip show in a bar, mid nineties (thinking 94/95). My first thought was the Toucan, but that place was pretty tight - saw Fat Cats there. Memory is cloudy regarding bar names, Wellington perhaps?

[bouche]

16 minutes ago, Esau. said:

I remember being in Kingston to visit a friend going to St. Lawrence, and we missed a Hip show in a bar, mid nineties (thinking 94/95). My first thought was the Toucan, but that place was pretty tight - saw Fat Cats there. Memory is cloudy regarding bar names, Wellington perhaps?

I'm recalling a pub along one of the side streets of Princess st.  It may have been the wellington.  or whatever the Scherzo pub (long gone) was previously.

[Esau.]

Right on. Texted my friend, he thought the same. Damn, that would've been awesome.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

that was probably the best pub for catching bands back then and yes the Wellington was its name before it became Scherzo

I have a vague notion that the lineup was down the street that night but I may be misundermembering or something

[Freak By Night]

Here's my Gord story:

In Sept 2009 the Hip did a theater tour, and played 3 nights in Ottawa at the venerable National Arts Center. I went the 3rd night, we had pretty good seats in the 6th or 7th row, dead center. It was awesome. The performance of "Scared" gave me the music shivers! I'd seen the Hip many times before but this was the first time I realized that Gord was acting out the song's lyrics with his facial expressions. It was brilliant.

During "Blow at High Dough" Gord came out into the crowd, walking on the backs of the seats. He stopped right beside me, put his hand on my shoulder to support himself, and stuck the microphone in my face so I could sing a line. I shouted "Blow at High Dough" as best I could. I think I was in key. He was sweating profusely, and much of his sweat ended up on my shoulder and head. I didn't wash for a few days!

[c-towns]

Our own Blurry managed to raise over $6000 via The Hip for some good causes.

https://globalnews.ca/news/3823833/stratford-man-selling-tragically-hip-signed-hockey-card-for-charity/ 

[Esau.]

Figured this was the best thread to share this.

 

[Davey Boy 2.0]

He's told that story before...can't recall when or anything but it does sum Gord up pretty well, I think.

[Booche]

Bouche...........didnt you sneak into a Hip show carrying a patch cable while implying you were with the band? You were too young to get in the bar........something like that. Perhaps it was someone else but I always thought that was you and the bar might have been Stages? You hid in the bathroom until the place started filling?

My favorite memory is lame compared to this stuff. It was the first time I saw them and it was at our high school, which I think they only played once while I was there because I went to all that shit simply due to my love of the opposite sex. Anyways, at one point I got talked into going outside to smoke a bomber. Nothing was working inside for me so why not? Did the deed and felt severe fear walking back inside. "Everyone knows. I am going to jail now. How will I survive in jail? I am 140 pounds. Why is my heart pounding so hard? Death is upon me."

Somehow I slowly settle into a spot on the floor of our high school gymnasium where I had been and the Hip delve into a cover of Riders On The Storm. At the time I fucking loved the Doors and that cover carried me into the rest of their show. It was the first time I truly ended up on my own at a 'concert' and I have been framed ever since. Thank you Gord Downie.

I never saw them again until their second last show here in Ottawa.