The Titanic Terrarium

catechism wrote:and photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catechism/ ... 923438512/

Terrific Pics! Love the one of GD giving the finger...great shot!

Good to see a live Hip show after a 3 year hiatus. The GA main floor was full, but not packed tightly. There was absolutely no pushing and shoving. The fans were into the music and very polite. People in the front row were able to leave and hit the bar or the bathroom and return to their spot with no hassles. The balcony seating was 3/4 full. The right side of the balcony stood and danced to the music the entire show, while the left side remained seated. My wife Carolyn and I were in the second row in front of Robbie as we enjoyed the show while celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary on its actual date. I was standing next to Alex, a Kingston/Toronto expatriot now living in Chicago, and Eric who drove from St. Louis to see the show. They were knowledgeable fans who knew the music well.

The set list was exactly as Catechism posted, except the band played ABAC to start the encore which was then followed by Blow at High Dough. The band was in great form. Gord D performed all the lyrics perfectly with the help of a teleprompter. He was not tied to the device, but consulted it maybe 50% of the time. Gord was animated, but slightly subdued. This was the 1st of my approximately 60 live Hip shows where Gord was not dripping with sweat at the end. He put alot into his performance and he acted out some of the emotions of the songs, but energy was not wasted by jumping and dancing around as he has in the past.

My wife and I were able to attend the "meet & greet" after the show. The unusual/great thing about this one was all five band members showed up. Usually only 2 or 3 guys come out, but not this one. I was able to speak with each band member for 5 minutes or more on a one to one personal basis. They are all very cool, gracious and down to earth. After 17 years of following the band, I have never spoken to Gord D alone. I had spoken to him before for fleeting moments as he was surround by 10-15 other fans talking to him also, but last night Carolyn and I spoke to him directly for 15 minutes! It was a very enlightening conversation in which we spoke on many varied topics.

I told Gord how I noticed he wasn't dripping with perspiration at the end of the show as he has in the past. He told me he was concentrating his energy and efforts on his singing, trying to hit each note properly. He did just that. Each song the band performed was near "album perfect" and Gord's voice was very melodic with no screaming lyrics. I also mentioned the great variation in the setlists and how the band reached deep into their catalogue for the first two shows. Gord said he, along with Gord S and Robbie, had worked out a good system for picking songs for each show. He told me he anticpated more deep cuts and varied setlists. Gord also mentioned he liked how the tour never had more than two shows in a row on back to back nights. He said his voice could take two nights in a row, but a third show in as many nights was difficult. He likened his singing to being like a starting baseball pitcher. By the third night in a row, you're not delivering your best stuff.

We talked about how I felt this album was very, very appealing to me. Gord said he felt the reason this one was was better for him too was because the band spent so much time developing the songs prior to going into the studio. He stated he felt past albums could have been even better if he and his band mates had done more development prior to recording, as they had done recently.

Finally, I mentioned how much I enjoyed being an amatuer hockey coach for my son's team. How I liked bonding with my son and passing on what knowledge I had to all the boys. I asked Gord if his son was still playing hockey. Gord's face lit up as he recounted being an assistant coach with his brother as head coach of the team. He also enjoyed the bonding with his son and his teammates and the intensity of coaching the defense.

I also had good conversations with Paul, Robbie and Johnnie. I was wearing the newest version of the "bee keeper" hipbase t-shirt. Johnnie saw it and stated how he loved the picture and graphics. If you have tickets to an upcoming show, I think you will be pleasantly suprised with the setlists and the way The Hip continues to evolve. I am looking forward to going to the Syracuse, Seneca Casino and Detroit shows.

Hugh23 wrote:Good to see a live Hip show after a 3 year hiatus. The GA main floor was full, but not packed tightly. There was absolutely no pushing and shoving. The fans were into the music and very polite. People in the front row were able to leave and hit the bar or the bathroom and return to their spot with no hassles. The balcony seating was 3/4 full. The right side of the balcony stood and danced to the music the entire show, while the left side remained seated. My wife Carolyn and I were in the second row in front of Robbie as we enjoyed the show while celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary on its actual date. I was standing next to Alex, a Kingston/Toronto expatriot now living in Chicago, and Eric who drove from St. Louis to see the show. They were knowledgeable fans who knew the music well.

The set list was exactly as Catechism posted, except the band played ABAC to start the encore which was then followed by Blow at High Dough. The band was in great form. Gord D performed all the lyrics perfectly with the help of a teleprompter. He was not tied to the device, but consulted it maybe 50% of the time. Gord was animated, but slightly subdued. This was the 1st of my approximately 60 live Hip shows where Gord was not dripping with sweat at the end. He put alot into his performance and he acted out some of the emotions of the songs, but energy was not wasted by jumping and dancing around as he has in the past.

My wife and I were able to attend the "meet & greet" after the show. The unusual/great thing about this one was all five band members showed up. Usually only 2 or 3 guys come out, but not this one. I was able to speak with each band member for 5 minutes or more on a one to one personal basis. They are all very cool, gracious and down to earth. After 17 years of following the band, I have never spoken to Gord D alone. I had spoken to him before for fleeting moments as he was surround by 10-15 other fans talking to him also, but last night Carolyn and I spoke to him directly for 15 minutes! It was a very enlightening conversation in which we spoke on many varied topics.

I told Gord how I noticed he wasn't dripping with perspiration at the end of the show as he has in the past. He told me he was concentrating his energy and efforts on his singing, trying to hit each note properly. He did just that. Each song the band performed was near "album perfect" and Gord's voice was very melodic with no screaming lyrics. I also mentioned the great variation in the setlists and how the band reached deep into their catalogue for the first two shows. Gord said he, along with Gord S and Robbie, had worked out a good system for picking songs for each show. He told me he anticpated more deep cuts and varied setlists. Gord also mentioned he liked how the tour never had more than two shows in a row on back to back nights. He said his voice could take two nights in a row, but a third show in as many nights was difficult. He likened his singing to being like a starting baseball pitcher. By the third night in a row, you're not delivering your best stuff.

We talked about how I felt this album was very, very appealing to me. Gord said he felt the reason this one was was better for him too was because the band spent so much time developing the songs prior to going into the studio. He stated he felt past albums could have been even better if he and his band mates had done more development prior to recording, as they had done recently.

Finally, I mentioned how much I enjoyed being an amatuer hockey coach for my son's team. How I liked bonding with my son and passing on what knowledge I had to all the boys. I asked Gord if his son was still playing hockey. Gord's face lit up as he recounted being an assistant coach with his brother as head coach of the team. He also enjoyed the bonding with his son and his teammates and the intensity of coaching the defense.

I also had good conversations with Paul, Robbie and Johnnie. I was wearing the newest version of the "bee keeper" hipbase t-shirt. Johnnie saw it and stated how he loved the picture and graphics. If you have tickets to an upcoming show, I think you will be pleasantly suprised with the setlists and the way The Hip continues to evolve. I am looking forward to going to the Syracuse, Seneca Casino and Detroit shows.

Best. Review. Ever. Thanks very much! EXCELLENT write-up & I'm so very, very jealous of your experience right now.

Fantastic review, Hugh. I found this part particularly interesting:

"I told Gord how I noticed he wasn't dripping with perspiration at the end of the show as he has in the past. He told me he was concentrating his energy and efforts on his singing, trying to hit each note properly. He did just that. Each song the band performed was near "album perfect" and Gord's voice was very melodic with no screaming lyrics."

I doubt the guys in the band spend any time on these forums, but there has been a lot of discussion around here lately about Gord's live vocals, and the screaming/yelling and what not. I wonder if some of this criticism from the fans filtered back to Gord somehow? Or maybe the other guys in the band were noticing a trend and talked to him about it? Regardless, I really dig the fact that he's putting so much effort into his singing on this tour.

Thanks Hugh, great review dood!

Yes Yes....terrific review!

Hugh23 wrote: I was wearing the newest version of the "bee keeper" hipbase t-shirt. Johnnie saw it and stated how he loved the picture and graphics.

My highlight of 2012 - Johnny Fay likes my T-Shirt Design!

Shane Kroeker wrote:

Hugh23 wrote: I was wearing the newest version of the "bee keeper" hipbase t-shirt. Johnnie saw it and stated how he loved the picture and graphics.

My highlight of 2012 - Johnny Fay likes my T-Shirt Design!

is there any xxl of these left?

direwolf74 wrote:I doubt the guys in the band spend any time on these forums, but there has been a lot of discussion around here lately about Gord's live vocals, and the screaming/yelling and what not. I wonder if some of this criticism from the fans filtered back to Gord somehow? Or maybe the other guys in the band were noticing a trend and talked to him about it? Regardless, I really dig the fact that he's putting so much effort into his singing on this tour.

I hope it's paying off. My friend made me turn off the live stream of the album debut show because she couldn't stand the vocals.

ikky99 wrote:

Hugh23 wrote:Good to see a live Hip show after a 3 year hiatus. The GA main floor was full, but not packed tightly. There was absolutely no pushing and shoving. The fans were into the music and very polite. People in the front row were able to leave and hit the bar or the bathroom and return to their spot with no hassles. The balcony seating was 3/4 full. The right side of the balcony stood and danced to the music the entire show, while the left side remained seated. My wife Carolyn and I were in the second row in front of Robbie as we enjoyed the show while celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary on its actual date. I was standing next to Alex, a Kingston/Toronto expatriot now living in Chicago, and Eric who drove from St. Louis to see the show. They were knowledgeable fans who knew the music well.

The set list was exactly as Catechism posted, except the band played ABAC to start the encore which was then followed by Blow at High Dough. The band was in great form. Gord D performed all the lyrics perfectly with the help of a teleprompter. He was not tied to the device, but consulted it maybe 50% of the time. Gord was animated, but slightly subdued. This was the 1st of my approximately 60 live Hip shows where Gord was not dripping with sweat at the end. He put alot into his performance and he acted out some of the emotions of the songs, but energy was not wasted by jumping and dancing around as he has in the past.

My wife and I were able to attend the "meet & greet" after the show. The unusual/great thing about this one was all five band members showed up. Usually only 2 or 3 guys come out, but not this one. I was able to speak with each band member for 5 minutes or more on a one to one personal basis. They are all very cool, gracious and down to earth. After 17 years of following the band, I have never spoken to Gord D alone. I had spoken to him before for fleeting moments as he was surround by 10-15 other fans talking to him also, but last night Carolyn and I spoke to him directly for 15 minutes! It was a very enlightening conversation in which we spoke on many varied topics.

I told Gord how I noticed he wasn't dripping with perspiration at the end of the show as he has in the past. He told me he was concentrating his energy and efforts on his singing, trying to hit each note properly. He did just that. Each song the band performed was near "album perfect" and Gord's voice was very melodic with no screaming lyrics. I also mentioned the great variation in the setlists and how the band reached deep into their catalogue for the first two shows. Gord said he, along with Gord S and Robbie, had worked out a good system for picking songs for each show. He told me he anticpated more deep cuts and varied setlists. Gord also mentioned he liked how the tour never had more than two shows in a row on back to back nights. He said his voice could take two nights in a row, but a third show in as many nights was difficult. He likened his singing to being like a starting baseball pitcher. By the third night in a row, you're not delivering your best stuff.

We talked about how I felt this album was very, very appealing to me. Gord said he felt the reason this one was was better for him too was because the band spent so much time developing the songs prior to going into the studio. He stated he felt past albums could have been even better if he and his band mates had done more development prior to recording, as they had done recently.

Finally, I mentioned how much I enjoyed being an amatuer hockey coach for my son's team. How I liked bonding with my son and passing on what knowledge I had to all the boys. I asked Gord if his son was still playing hockey. Gord's face lit up as he recounted being an assistant coach with his brother as head coach of the team. He also enjoyed the bonding with his son and his teammates and the intensity of coaching the defense.

I also had good conversations with Paul, Robbie and Johnnie. I was wearing the newest version of the "bee keeper" hipbase t-shirt. Johnnie saw it and stated how he loved the picture and graphics. If you have tickets to an upcoming show, I think you will be pleasantly suprised with the setlists and the way The Hip continues to evolve. I am looking forward to going to the Syracuse, Seneca Casino and Detroit shows.

Best. Review. Ever. Thanks very much! EXCELLENT write-up & I'm so very, very jealous of your experience right now.

Yes!! Awesome review Hugh!!

A collegue of mine took in his first Hip show Saturday night. I started him off with EP, UTH, RA, FC, DFN, TATH and PP. He purchased NFPA before the show! He's an old school rocker. I asked him for his impression of the show and his response was VERY GOOD!!

Another one converted. One by one ...

very cool Hugh... thanks for posting !

Awesome review Hugh! From your description I believe my wife and I were right behind you! Was a great show!

double post

Hugh, great post. Thanks for sharing.

Incredible setlist. 15 new songs by my count? Insane. Heres hoping they keep this going. SO excited for Rochester

I`ve been a Hip fan for 20 yrs and this was my first chance to see them live. I`m from Rockford, Il and no one around here is familar with the Hip which is frustrating and at the same time kinda ok cuz the Hip are my secret Unplucked Gem in my circle. I took my girlfriend and as we haven`t been together long, she was new to the band. All I can say is phenomenal, what a true group of proffesional musicians who have stood the test of time. The band is so in sync with each other it`s like each guy is an extension of the other, clearly a true brotherhood that comes out in each amazing song. Gord Downey is clearly the most interesting and enigmatic frontman in all of music. Not only does he interact with the crowd, but after literally dozens of shows I`ve seen, it was the first time that a lead singer not only sang the song, but truly performed them as well. It was as if he acted out each song, absolutely brilliant definitely not my last show. Btw, my girlfriend now says the Hip are her favorite band and has downloaded all of their catalog! Thanks guys for being true to your craft and simply awesome when far too many bands clog the airwaves with garbage. Keep up the great work.

Greg in Rockford