I woke up to the news this morning and I...
Had a bit of a moment, crying for a stranger I had only seen on stage 4 times.
He was criminally unknown in the USA but he was a national hero in his native country just to our north. Gordon Downie had passed away.
I'm tearing up now just typing this...
I 1st heard the Hip in 1989 while stationed northeast of Buffalo NY.
Still remember the track that came over my beater Nova's radio, Highway Girl on k-rock 95, the Toronto station that crushed the crap corporate rock stations in Rochester and Buffalo.
For the next 3 years the classics singles kept coming one after another.
38 Years Old, Blow At High Dough, New Orleans is Sinking, Little Bones, 3 Pistols, Fiddler's Green, Locked in the Trunk of a Car.
While I lived on the shore of Lake Ontario between 1989 and 1992 The Tragically Hip released 3 of the best hard rock albums ever produced and they came came like clock work -Boom Boom Boom.
Up to Here
Road Apples
Fully Completely
After I left NY, the band drifted away from the blues rock growl and snarl mixed with the occasional ballad formula and began to let the band - and especially their front-man singer and lyricist Gord Downie have more room to explore.
Melodically more adventurous and lyrically challenging albums followed and The Hip became established as the Canadian band of record.
I have to point out that no matter how experimental the albums became, the band always played tight and skilled arrangements and never once failed to include at least 1 bad ass rocker that sounds best played loud in a speeding car.
They kept this up for over 30 years releasing albums and touring North America and Europe practically non-stop until Gordie was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer last year.
Upon getting this news, they released an album and went on tour.
Because the Road was Gordie's home as much as Kingston Ontario was.
At the conclusion of their national tour - which became an event that culminated in the final live show from Toronto broadcast on the CBC. An event that led to the Toronto PD to Tweet (only half jokingly) "Dear World, please be advised that Canada will be closed tonight beginning tonight at 8:30 ET"
Gordie then released "The Secret Path" a book and Album sharing the story of an indigenous Canadian boy who died trying to escape from a reeducation camp in the 60s.
Then he went silent, underwent treatment and lived at home with his wife and kids.
Until today.
RIP Mr. Downie.
= new reply since forum marked as read
This is a great concert photo, great lighting, perfect timing for positioning and alignment so that all members are visible and in a good pose.
