An Inaugural Affair: K-Rock Centre / Hip Concert review
Posted on February 26, 2008, by Couper
Filed Under Events, General News, Music
On Saturday, February 23, the K-Rock Centre hosted one of the biggest names in Canadian music: Kingston’s own Tragically Hip. Tickets went on sale for members of thehip.com fanclub on December 12th, 2007 and to the general public on December 14th. It was a mad scramble at 10AM on the 14th, but I managed to secure 4 tickets for what would prove to be an unforgettable show.
As a big Hip fan, I’ve had my fair share of “Hip” experiences. My crowning moment was being an extra in The Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” video. On film, I may have just been another hand in the crowd for the ‘riot’ scene, but I had the proud distinction of handing Paul Langlois back his microphone stand every time it fell off the stage: he’d say “Thanks, man”.
I was in the front-row back in 1995 when they played at the M Centre. Listening to anyone play in the Memorial Centre was a unique experience. It had the same acoustic resonance as a giant tin can and it was a disappointing venue for music fans. Where listening to your favourite band play in the Memorial Centre was a let-down, listening to them play in the K-Rock Centre is a golden experience. The K-Rock Centre certainly could not have chosen a better band to lose its virginity to.
We joined the queue outside the K-Rock Centre, which stretched down the street to the Food Basics and quickly made our way through to the gate.
“Women, have your purses open. Men, have your murses open”, bellowed a security guard from the gate. Guards quickly ushered people through, and tickets were quickly scanned. The whole process was painless, and it was completely unapparent that this was the first major event (aside from the Fronts game) that the arena had hosted. When we got through the doors, I was amazed at how orderly it was: it wasn’t crowded, there weren’t people pushing and shoving, and there was a generally positive vibe in the air.
We found our row and seats easily, and I was a little surprised at how crammed the actual seats were. Jammed together, the seats were the definition of “uncomfortable” with their lack of legroom (and cupholders). Even the rows of floor seats were crushed together. This was all forgotten when, 45 minutes fashionably late, the lights went down, the show started, and we were all on our feet. “G” from K-Rock 105.7 and Dan Akroyd both quickly introduced the headliner we’d all come to see. From there, the show was on.
I’ve seen the Hip live a handful of times and, hands down, this show was the best. The performance was genuine and heartfelt, and the fans drank up every note. Frontman Gord Downie was his signature self, shadow-boxing and dancing with the microphone stand as Johnny Fay kept a furious beat. Downie is the consummate showman, dancing around the stage, examining seemingly mundane items (such as the microphone) with a fascinated glee. The two large screens which framed the stage captured Downie’s exaggerated moves and expressions: he is really a great performer.
The rest of the band was really into the show. Paul Langlois stood quietly to the left of the stage, absorbed in the music. He was the target of Downie’s attention at several points in the show: he just grinned and shook his head. Paul blends in so nicely that it’s easy to take his vocals for granted: songs like “Grace Too” just wouldn’t be the same without him. Bobby Baker broke out his impressive slide guitar skills for “Vaccination Scar”, and Johnny Fay kept a ferocious beat during a sped-up version of “At The Hundredth Meridian”. Gord Sinclair was characteristically unassuming in his playing: he’s all business on stage. While Gord Downie lept around and kept the crowd entertained, it was Sinclair who really got the crowd going with just a few notes. The introduction to “New Orleans is Sinking”, anyone?
The Hip played core Hip favourites, a majority of the tunes coming from Fully Completely. Some new material was met with less enthusiasm, and I noticed that a lot of people in my section took these songs as an opportunity to head to the washrooms/beer line. However, the majority of songs were straight from “Yer Favourites”: the concert’s setlist celebrated the entire catalogue of the Hip. The show was finished with not one, but two encores. For the first, Dan Ackroyd/Elwood Blues joined the band with his harmonica for “Locked in the Trunk of a Car”. Had Downie not pointedly put the microphone down in the middle of the stage after the second encore and had the arena lights not come back up, we’d probably all still be out there chanting “Hip.. Hip.. Hip” for ‘just one more song’.
So, while I’ll probably never get a chance to say it in person, “Thanks, man” to The Tragically Hip for an absolutely amazing show. It was an honour to be there for the inaugural show, and to help support your causes. Same time next year?
Check out my pics from the show.
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Beyond being a great show, the concert proceeds went towards some important causes as is typical of The Hip’s generosity. The first, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, is an organization which is set up to restore/protect Lake Ontario. The second, Camp Trillium is a camp for children with cancer and their families. Downie also spoke about the plight of Ardoch Alonquin First Nation negotiator Bob Lovelace, who was recently sentenced to 6 months in jail and a $25,000 fine for his role in a protest against a proposed uranium mine on disputed land in Eastern Ontario.
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The seats are terribly small, and the lack of cup holders is ridiculous in such a “modern” facility. Good show nonetheless…can’t wait to see who else they get to fill the place. Seems like the schedule is a bit light, I mean who the hell wants to see the Harlem Globetrotters or Englebert Humperdinck?!?
I agree completely: comfort aside, I’d hate to be in the stands if there was ever an emergency that required a quick and orderly evacuation.. there just isn’t much room to move at all. Granted, maybe we’re spoiled with the likes of the Scotiabank Place, but I’d rather sacrifice a few seats in the interest of both comfort and public safety.
I can’t imagine suffering through an entire hockey game, my legs cramped up, with two “big” fans on either side of me. Like you said, in a modern facility, I expect a little more comfort: even a cheap airline couldn’t get away with seats like this. In the end, once the novelty of the K-Rock Centre wears off (Sunday night?), issues like this will definitely affect attendance.