06/02/09: Artpark: Lewiston, NY

[chris]

I take it, there was no opener. What time did they hit the stage?

No openers on this tour, at any stop. (The Kingston show had an opener, but it wasn't a true tour show as it was a fundraiser for ALS.)

[Tthip]

best nois i have ever heard...

Damn right. Something very special about New Orleans last night.
And I did not even have a seat. I had seat 119 - and there was no such thing - but thanx to Sean I got to stand there and pretend I had a seat.

[chris]

http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainmen ... 91083.html

Tragically Hip opens Artpark run with sublime show
By Jeff Miers
NEWS POP MUSIC CRITIC

The Tragically Hip opened its four-night run at Artpark on Tuesday evening with one of the finest, most energetic and well-received shows it has played in our neighborhood. If this show offers any indication, it’s going to be wild, torrid, emotional and awfully fun week with the Hip.

What made Tuesday so special? It’s hard to nail it to one particular thing. Maybe it was the venue, which was lawn free Tuesday.

Perhaps it was the participation of the crowd, which truly seemed to “get it,” following the band as it made its journey through its considerable catalog, and feeling the pulse in front-man Gordon Downie’s performance as much as it succumbed to the power of the rhythm section and the subtle interplay of the twin (and sometimes triple, when Downie strapped on his acoustic) guitar presence.

Maybe it was the set list, which was oh-so-fine, and drew liberally from every phase, while acknowledging the new lease on life that is the sublime “We Are the Same.”

Could it have been the divine convergence of all of these variables? “Divine” feels like a keeper word—Tuesday’s show had that element of otherness to it, as if providence was indeed intent on smiling down on the proceedings.

When the Tragically Hip is one, it’s really on. The shows that boast this element of otherness are the best ones, because one who is attuned feels the building the band is playing in lift off the ground, find some sort of space to hover in that is its own, and then transform into a private playground where all the rest of it is forgotten.

Enough of the purple prose, for now. The facts are and were these. The Hip came out to rapturous applause, opened with the “We Are the Same” three-part beauty “The Depression Suite,” assaulted an inspired “Family Band,” then luxuriated in an airy, spacious “Gift Shop.”

The rest of set one — for the Hip is now offering its fans a two-set, three-hour show — included a sublime “The Last Recluse,” a muscular “New Orleans Is Sinking,” a tender and emotive “Bobcaygeon” and a new Hip classic in the form of “Speed River,” which positively made the tail feather shiver.

The band returned after a brief break with an acoustic mini-set that included “Thompson Girl” one that got the crowd considerably riled, “Fiddler’s Green.” (This was certainly a high point among many.)

“Ahead by a Century” was a movie-in-song, and probably conjured its own childhood reflections for everyone there. Downie was singing so well, and he had been throughout the evening — “Sing the words, serve the song,” as he told me once — but this song offered that stirring tenor in stark relief against the Rob Baker/Paul Langlois open-tinged acoustic melange.

“Nautical Disaster,” “In View,” “ The Exact Feeling,” “The Dark Canuck”—could any Hip fan have left feeling even the slightest tinge of disappointment? One for the ages, indeed.

Tuesday night in Artpark Mainstage Theater. Additional performances at 8 p. m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

[Tthip]

Is it true that the 2nd set only had 11 songs?

First set:
1. Depression suite
2. Family band
3. Gift shop
4. Puttin' down
5. The last recluse
6. New orleans is sinking
7. Throwing off glass
8. Bobcaygeon
9. Speed river
10. Lonely end of the rink
11. Now the struggle has a name


Second set:
12. Thompson girl (acoustic)
13. Fiddlers green (acoustic)
14. ABAC (acoustic)
15. Nautical disaster
16. Gus
17. In view
18. Springtime in Vienna
19. Morning moon
20. Grace, too
21. Frozen in my tracks
22. Music at Work
Encore
Dark Canuck
Little Bones

[mintgreenbird]

let me look...

[mintgreenbird]

i have the exact feeling in there before springtime

[mintgreenbird]

First set:
1. Depression suite
2. Family band
3. Gift shop
4. Puttin' down
5. The last recluse
6. New orleans is sinking
7. Throwing off glass
8. Bobcaygeon
9. Speed river
10. Lonely end of the rink
11. Now the struggle has a name


Second set:
12. Thompson girl (acoustic)
13. Fiddlers green (acoustic)
14. ABAC (acoustic)
15. Nautical disaster
16. Gus
17. In view
18. the exact feeling
19. Springtime in Vienna
20. Morning moon
21. Grace, too
22. Frozen in my tracks
23. Music at Work
Encore
Dark Canuck
Little Bones

[Tthip]

i have the exact feeling in there before springtime

Thanx.

[The Horrible Esthete]

best nois i have ever heard...

Damn right. Something very special about New Orleans last night.

I agree that they are really kickin' out some great renditions of NOIS this tour. I was extrememly impressed the couple times I heard it this tour, especially in Cleveland. Three words: Bobby effing Baker. His jamming for the last couple minutes of that tune in C-town kicked my ass up and down the Cuyahoga.

Can't believe they played Thompson Girl last night, dammit. I was SO hoping to hear that sometime during the last 3 shows....after not hearing it in DET, I was convinced we'd get it in Cleveland.....only figures that they would play it last night instead. Nuts.

[mintgreenbird]

was anyone there taping?

[chris]

was anyone there taping?

Probably. There are a lot of tapers that frequent ArtPark.

[Pudge7681]

I saw at least 2 tapers there.

[Dark Canuck17]

Been to my fair share of Hip concerts but got to say unbelievable absolutely stellar...Dark Canuck, Puttin Down, Throwin off Glass, Speed River and Fiddler's Green all in one night...Wow...and going Thursday...I love them at Artpark so glad they came back...I hope there is a way to get a copy of this show

[Tthip]

best nois i have ever heard...

Damn right. Something very special about New Orleans last night.

[mintgreenbird]

thats killer its video ... sounds great but dosent even come close to capturing the essence of the vibe and sound in house live.. very sweet thou very sweet! thanks