I should get something out of the way, I love The Tragically Hip.
This is really the first band that got me into music. My First Hip album was Trouble at the Hen house (i got it as a birthday gift). After listening to the album 5 times through and memorizing the lyrics by reading the CD jacket i was hooked, within a week i ran to the record store and bought Their EP, Up to Here, Road Apples, Fully Completely and Day for Night (a story that i'm sure a lot of Hip fans can duplicate.)
Now that that's out of the way...
My intent for this post was to highlight that the Hip have been inducted into the Canadian music hall of fame on April 2nd 2005. So i tracked down a couple articles and check out lead guitarist Rob Baker's Response.
"I guess everyone expressed honour to be in the company of Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, The Band and Leonard Cohen, but at the same time if feels like you're being put out to pasture and given the golden watch, and we're not ready for that. We feel the best music is yet to come, especially after the last tour. We're better than ever. We're slow learners, I guess."
I have to agree, "We are the Same" Is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums.
Scouring the interwebs and reading articles is giving me a re-newed appreciation for Canada's unofficial band. Its been a great reminder of what The Hip mean to Canadians and our culture. Here are some of the quotes that brought a smile to my face.
"As Canadian as an unnecessary apology, it's almost treason not to like The Hip. I'm sure it's only a few years before "O Canada" is replaced with "Wheat Kings" as our national anthem. Think about it; it's not that big of a stretch. What other band can play five undoubtedly sold-out shows in Toronto to an adoring audience that knows all the words to all their songs, and barely pack a bar one mile South of the border? - R.T."
Alan Cross Describing the Hip at their Canadian Hall of Fame induction
Alan Cross, host and producer of the Toronto radio show "The Ongoing History of New Music," describes the Hip as not only being important Canadian artists, but as an important part of Canadian culture itself.
"We haven't seen a more quintessentially Canadian band in the last 20 years. The Hip have become so ingrained in the culture of Canadiana that it's almost impossible to imagine a domestic music scene without them."
I have been racking my brain to try and think of a way to show the Rock Band programmers Why the Hip need to be a part of their game and i've come to one conclusion, You have to see them live to understand.
So here is my challenge anyone at harmonix. Catch one of their shows this summer and not get caught up in the energy they create. Walk through the crowd and not feel overwhelmed by that fact that 25000 fans are singing every song, word for word, and loving every minute of it. If you catch the London show you can crash on my couch. :)
