2015-01-10 - Toronto, Ontario

[sean.bonner]

'It's man-sized inside'

Danforth Music Hall

01 - Grace, Too
02 - My Music At Work
03 - Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man
04 - Something On
05 - In View
------
06 - Courage
07 - Looking For A Place To Happen
08 - At The Hundredth Meridian
09 - Pigeon Camera
10 - Lionized
11 - Locked In The Trunk Of A Car
12 - We'll Go Too
13 - Fully Completely
14 - Fifty Mission Cap
15 - Wheat Kings
16 - The Wherewithal
17 - Eldorado

18 - At Transformation
19 - Man Machine Poem
20 - Scared
21 - Poets
22 - Three Pistols

[bstrauss24]

Wow, I'm surprised to not see a review yet. Here ya go:

Grace
MMAW
Escape is at Hand
Something On!
In view

Then they did this video thing that I think will be how the actual shows start (or, if this is the layout they will use, just before the FC portion) because it lead right in to....

Courage
Looking for a place to happen
Meridian
Pigeon camera
Lionized
Locked in the trunk
We'll Go Too
Fully Completely
50 MC (w/ Bill Barilko footage on the video screens)
Wheat kings
Wherewithal
Eldorado
At transformation
Man machine poem
Scared
Poets
3 pistols

The venue was nice. I went with my 8 month pregnant wife, so we opted for the balcony (You were given a choice) To my surprise, some people went NUTS about people standing in the balcony, screaming at those who stood literally the second the did, screaming "This is a Balcony, this is why we are up here" etc. One guy near me literally told security every time someone got up and danced, including people in the VIP section where friends and family sat. But I digress...

The show featured 5 songs before and 5 songs after the FC part. I am hoping for the actual tour, for the price of the shows, that this is extended by a few on each side. There were SHORT breaks right before and after the album, with the second serving as more of an encore. Again, I don't know if this will be the format for the tour, so I will break the review down into three sections:

Pre FC: The band looked rested and happy, and sounded great. I love when they play Escape, but just don't love how Gord often changes the melody. I was SO HAPPY to hear Something On. One of my very favorites and a nice treat. I haven't heard that in a long time. After these songs, they quickly walked off stage. Video screens came down and they played an intro that lead nicely into Courage. I don't know if this will be how the actual shows will begin, or if they will put FC in the middle last night. Time will tell, but it would be a good way to start a show, which is very atypical of the band's usual, "just walk on to the stage"

FC: The songs sounded good in my opinion. Highlights for me were Lionized, Locked, Wheat Kings and The Wherewithal. Gord no longer plays acoustic on any song, even Wheat Kings. Part of me likes that, but part of me also misses watching him play and tear through guitar strings. Maybe they were no longer in the budget! The album part of the show featured video and lights very unlike previous Hip tours, but it was cool. Many of the videos featured old clips from the band. A highlight was 50 MC accompanied by Bill Barilko highlights, including the goal...that won the Leafs the Cup....in overtime... None of the other FC songs that were included in the reissue were played. As a big fan, the album being played took a little bit a way for me. My favorite part of Hip Shows, even when they aren't mixing their lists up, is that feeling of "I wonder what they will play next" that was obviously lost here. So for that reason, this part of the show was honestly a bit of a lull for me. It is cool in a way, but would make it hard for me to see multiple shows on this tour, which is something I usually love to do. (I'm not this tour, with a pregnant wife and high prices, but will be at the hometown Buffalo show) Last thought, is Eldorado isn't quite a "closing" song, so that came off a tad flat too. This is all sounding like I didn't love the show, which isn't the case. I just know how you all like a good, detailed, honest review

Post FC: I was in a bit of a lull, and then they came back with two of my least favorite Now For Plan A songs, which surprised me. Not that they chose those songs, but that they played them back to back and at that point of the show. But, then they came back with a GREAT version of Scared, a high energy (but Gord misplayed lyrics) version of Poets, and then a GREAT closing number of 3 Pistols, ending the show on a high note.

What a great way to spend 20 bucks. For me, seeing them in a small venue can't be beat, and in Canada, this was the only chance this year. I will be very interested to see the layout starting with the first show, and as I mentioned, I hope they add a few songs, or maybe do more of a real encore on the actual shows, but for the cost, no one can say they did not get their money's worth last night. I hope it all translates to the arenas.

Last note: They were selling a sweet ass poster of a goalie with a guitar instead of a stick, and the FC tour dates. Loved it. Hoping some more Hip Basers were there. I'm interested to hear other reviews!

[gcouves]

Thanks for a great review!

Girlfriend and I are going to both Chicago shows, and really looking forward to the small venue and back-to-back shows.

[jonprice34]

Hey bstrauss24, I sat beside you in the balcony. i went with a buddy who saw them for the first time, he was impressed and is now going to the acc show. The show was awesome and Gord sounded great. Setlist was great, would have loved to have heard Nautical ( my all time fav), but when you get Something on, Pistols, Scared and all of Fully, there isn't a complaint to be made.

[boot]

Just to add some more... not much has been said about the aux screens that they used. Video screens behind the band playing various graphics & clips (including what I have to assume was Barilko's goal during 50MC - funny to see Gord turn around and just watch the screens for a few moments), but the show also made use of a mesh screen that came down in FRONT of the band (sometimes only halfway down, sometimes all the way down). Images were projected from the back of the venue on to the screens. This got a little distracting at times - I personally found it hard to see very much during Wheat Kings - but was an interesting, well-used change for some of the show.

Gord did get into scream-o mode a couple of times, but at other times (Scared, for one) sounded pretty great. Was standing right in front of the sound booth, and thought that the mix could use some work though. It might just be my old ears, but found it hard to make out Gord's vocals at some points, but was clear at other parts.

And I'm surprised no one else has commented, despite a good performance for most of the show, was that not the worst performance of Wheat Kings ever? Sure, we all love the song and will sing along to any version of it, but wow.

[sean.bonner]

Officially out of recovery mode and back into reality haha

I had a fantastic time. First time back to Toronto since moving to Ottawa, first Toronto concert an club show and it was fantastic. I was definitely celebrating, and how could I not when I paid with change in my pocket for a ticket and the beer at the Danforth was Saint John NB's own Moosehead.

It is also hard to say no to Jager shots when you're dancing to your favourite band...

Anyways, we had a fantastic time and both had fun meeting some of yas.

The whole band was tight, sounded great.

Being right up front, I thought the effect with the screens was great. 18th show, and got to see some songs for the first time:

Looking For A Place To Happen
We'll Go Too
Fifty-Mission Cap
The Wherewithal
Eldorado
Three Pistols

I know it makes zero sense that I've seen them 17 times before seeing Fifty-Mission Cap, but I guess that shit happened.

And if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... Paul kicks ass.

Hope to see yas again at somepoint !

Well worth the trip. Thanks all!

[WesleyC.]

Yea all said and done it was a great show, I agree Wheatkings was very weak, I did not care for it at all, and that being said, I see some of you liked "Scared" well being right down front on the railing, I gotta tell ya, Gord kept looking at the monitors for the words or tempo or something, but it was very distracting to see him constantly checking out where he is on the song. I guess with no solid beat to keep time to he can get lost in that song. Loved the way the crowd took over so many songs and it seemed like Gord was singing backup to us.
Great time running into a ton of basers.
Up next Windsor.
Oh yea I recorded the audio of the Danforth Music Hall and will post a link to my dropbox sometime next week so anybody who wants it can get it.
Vic aka BigVdogg also did an excellent job videotaping it, I stood watch beside him to make sure the monopod did not fall over. lol
The fine looking ladies infront of me kept my eyes occupied that direction also.

[WesleyC.]

Dropbox link to the FLAC files for the entire audio of the Danforth Music Hall show, thanks to srb for putting it all in order for me.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x2gyfyres2jec ... D.zip?dl=0

[sean.bonner]

Popped up in my news feed today.... 3 years ago today. Great memories!

[Tthip]

Looking back over this review on the anniversary and I wonder if this below example of Gord is a prelude of what was coming?

….I gotta tell ya, Gord kept looking at the monitors for the words or tempo or something, but it was very distracting to see him constantly checking out where he is on the song…