Hey everyone!
Just returned to Halifax from the show in St. John's, Newfoundland last
night, and what a day/night it was!!!
Let's start with 4 in the afternoon. I get to Mile One Stadium, and they are
just finishing loading in the gear. The boys show up a few at a time for the
soundcheck: Paul, Gord S and Johnny in one van; Robby in another, about ten
minutes later; and Gord D. in a van with Bea Lorimer twenty minutes after
that. I can hear them start the soundcheck, and I notice that the backdoor
isn't locked, so I slip in and find myself right behind the stage. Standing
there is Ricky Wellington (head of security), Bea, and Jake Gold is also
walking around. Ricky kinda just nods at me, so I lean up against the wall,
and I stay for the soundcheck. Of course, I scramble to get my recorder
going, and here's what I captured, right from the start of the soundcheck:
Lake Fever
Leave (!!)
Chagrin Falls
Long Time Running
Fight (!!)
So long story short: the boys finish their soundcheck, and are apparently
off to do some media interviews. Bea (their road manager) asks me if I work
with the crew, and I say no. She asks me what I'm doing here, and I tell her
I'm just a big fan, and I slipped in to hear the sound check, hope that's
cool, blahblahblah. She says, "I guess that's ok!"
I tell her that I met Jake Gold in Halifax, and I wanted to say hello. Just then, Jake walks by
and Bea calls him over. He shakes my hand, and asks how I'm doing. I thank
him for the Halifax setlist. He tells me that he'll say hello to the boys
for me, as "they know who you are." Big smile on my face now, as I say my
goodbyes, and walk out into the bright sunshine of a St. John's afternoon.
Ok... onto the actual show...
Sarah Harmer was fantastic opening. She had Gord come on stage again, and
sing Silver Road. Gord would return the favor later.
The show, 20 songs in total, just over 90 minutes:
USE IT UP
M@W
NOIS
CHAGRIN
DAREDEVIL: A real crowd pleaser, and the boys looked like they were enjoying
playing it, too...
SILVER JET: Deafening roars of approval when Gord sang the line "Clayquot
Sound to Cape Spear"
COURAGE
FIREWORKS: By this time, Gord D. was really getting concerned with all the
crowd surfing. The floor was general admission, and during the song, he
repeadtedly asked the girls in the front if they were ok, always keeping an
eye on them.
WEAKEN: Once again, as with Halifax, this song got a great ovation.
MERIDIAN: A fantastic crowdsurfing rant (improv?
in the middle.SPRINGTIME: A great gord quote before the song starts: "I gotta say, I gotta
talk to Jake about live GA."
WHEAT KINGS: Gord invites Sarah Hartmer on stage to "do a couple songs". A
beautiful version with Sarah's voice.
DIRE WOLF: No doubt the crowd was waiting for this one. The crowd drowned
Gord's voice out at the mention of Newfoundland in the song. Very magical.
GIFTSHOP
POETS: A very energetic version. Faster than nornmal, maybe??
ARE YOU READY: Was hoping to hear this one. this song has come a long way in
a short time. It sounds so perfect now. Gord forgot the words at the start.
BONES
Encore:
GRACE
BOBC: Another Newfie tribute from Gord before the song starts. He gestures
to Robby and says: Robby is playing a Garrison guitar, made right here in
Newfoundland." The crowd goes nuts again.
NAUTICAL
All in all, a good show. Gord was extremely concerned with all the
crowd-surfing, and some idiots on the floor even started to mosh and
slam-dance during Bones. From the view I had beside the stage, I could see
that a lot of people passed out, and had to be lifted out of the crowd. Many
times, Ricky Wellington would go to the front of the stage and pour water
down the throats of the people in front. Gord S tossed a few bottles of
water into the crowd as well, gesturing to the person who caught it to
"spread it around".
I did record this show as well. I'd have to say, though, that the Halifax
recording came out better. For some reason, there are sound fluctuations
occasionally throughout the recording. Nothing major, though. Still a good
recording, but not as good as Halifax.
So there's the show in a nutshell!! And so ends my Summer 2002 Hip Trip...
Cheers!
Rory
Rory Young
Halifax, NS
http://www.killerwhaletank.com/rory