It’s been a while since I have posted but today I was so moved I just had to.  This morning reading the news that Gord Downie of the Canadian band The Tragically Hip, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer was just a punch in the gut.  He’s 52 years old, has a wife and 4 kids….the prime of his life and it’s being ripped out of his control by cancer.  This is sad for anyone who would be in this situation, been there first hand and watched the strong deflate as the cancer ravages them from the inside.  When the radio played Courage this morning, I bawled.

I remember the first time I heard the Hip, it was on the radio and the song was called New Orleans is Sinking (how prophetic that one was) the music just made you want to move.  These guys were awesome, the music was fantastic, my mom even loved this album so no troubles cranking the stereo at high volume…sweet.  They played at a local university campus on a typical overcast dreary day in Vancouver, I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be summer even though the weather was not agreeing.  It was the Great Canadian Party tour in July 1992 and the first time I had seen them live.  Even sitting up in the stands, and looking like he was about 3 inches tall, Gord stood out as a winning stage man, the moves were unique but that is what made it great.  Dancing to the beat of your own drummer is a quality I respect in a human.

The more albums released, the more it became part of the soundtrack of my transition to adulthood.  Part of the soundtrack of my life and it’s currently playing on the stereo.  The Hip played the part of the patriotic Canadian in my soundtrack.  When I listen to the Hip, I connect with them as Canadians, not rock stars, just Canadians.  I would love to just sit down and shoot the shit with these guys.  I feel like they are the dudes who had a band and practised in their parents garage down the block.  I had plenty of those where I grew up, all the guys were in bands because there wasn’t anything else to do in town.   There isn’t a Canada Day that goes by in the last 25+ years that the Hip doesn’t make it onto my stereo playlist.

The next time I saw these guys, they were playing at the Coliseum, probably in the mid 90’s.  They were awesome that night, I will always remember this particular show because before it started I was using the bathroom and all the chicks were talking about how excited they were for the show.  One girl asked me what song I was excited for them to sing, I replied Wheat Kings, she said she had seen them tons of time and didn’t ever do that one.   That night they played it, I was so excited to hear it live, such a beautiful song about such a terrible injustice served on a fellow Canadian.

I think my favourite time seeing them was at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver in 2002, such a small venue to see them in.  The show was great, I stumbled upon a review of the show by someone and they were surprised that the crowd was “shouting the lyrics out loud, like they were belting out the friggin’ national anthem”.  Well dude, I guess for some us, the Hip is a patriotic experience, although I do refrain from belting out the lyrics, it’s hard not to sing along with a catchy, meaningful tune.  I plan to attempt to get some tickets for their show in Vancouver this summer,  I haven’t been to see them in a long while but I have to make it to the show this time knowing it will be the last time.  I need to pay my respect to a man who has provided music to me for a great part of my life.  A bittersweet experience…you normally don’t get the opportunity to see that last show, knowing it is the last show before someone is gone.

I know Gord Downie will leave a loyal legion of fans, we will miss his showmanship on stage, his music and lyrics in our ears.  I’ve never seen any performer quite like Gord, he will be deeply missed.   Thank you Gord and the Hip for giving us one last opportunity to show you how much your music has been appreciated over the years.