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Publication on The Web
Representing The Bay
Area
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Tragically Hip
Where have they been ! |
.....
......When American music
fans think of Canadian artists who have come to the states over the last ten
years, acts like Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morisstte and Neil Young immediately
come to mind. However, to leave the intelligent alternative rockers
The Tragically Hip
out of the picture is simply wild.
.....Before they came to
the San Francisco Fillmore for two sold out shows they sold out 26,000 seats at
venues in Canada. They've been called quirky, strange, even disturbing --- but
at heart the Tragically Hip are a bluesy, frenetic, slightly Theatrical rock
act -- one of a handful of its generation's alternative/pop groups that
actually rocked, kicking in the teeth of early albums by groups like REM (to
which the Hip are endlessly compared) with their string of late 80s and early
90s albums. Though they've appeared on Saturday Night Live and at Woodstock 99
and been praised by rock critics beginning with some of their earliest
releases, U.S. chart success continues to elude them . Granted, the group has found only sprinkles of commercial
success in the states across a span of nine albums and over a decade together,
but there are certain sections of the U.S. where their fan bases are dedicated
their show San Francisco was for one.
.....The Hip fans that came
to see them were in force to prove that they are the Band to Rock America. With
Singing loud to every song and waving the Canadian Flag it was a show of shows
to see. Throughout The Tragically Hip's hour and 45-minute performance, the
band sampled bits from their entire career, focusing heavily on there new disc
"In Violet Light." The project is somewhat of a turning point for the
band, who although strives to be well rounded between all out rock and roll
jams and tender acoustic Ballard, at times lacked accessibility. The crowd
seemed to already know and love the first single off In Violet Light, the
catchy It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken -- by which time Downie had a cool
can of Heineken in his hand, dubbing it "the Dutch 50" -- and they
liked or tolerated some of the other new tunes including Silver Jet. But it was
upon hearing perennial favorite New Orleans Is Sinking, at the cathartic
conclusion of the band's three-song encore, that the fans finally went
completely mental.
.....Master of the moody
rock song, the Tragically Hip's newest album, In Violet Light, practically
invites soul searching, laden as it is with thoughtfully crafted kinetic
rockers. Frontman Gordon Downie sings in an impassioned vibrato that sounds
downright delicate amidst the album's scorching,electric-guitar-fueled pop, but
it perfectly fits tracks like the soaring, anthem "Use It Up" and
"The Darkest One." While Downie's lyrics are lean toward precise
analyses of human behavior -- overly wordy ones, in the case of "The Dire
Wolf" -- the lovely "A Beautiful Thing" allows him to invoke his
romantic side. Much of this album's catchy appeal also translates well onto the
stage. By Randy
Cohen
........This is the Official Rock Publication Web Site
All photos and written material courtesy of Rock Publication
.Copyright © 2002
E-mail at
Rockpub@aol.com
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The Tragically Hip
Robby Baker -- guitar
Gordon Downie -- singer, acoustic guitar
Johnny Fay
-- drums
Paul Langlois -- guitar, vocals
Gord
Sinclair -- bass, vocals
Set
list
Use It Up
New Orleans
M@W
Grace Too
Eldorado
Silver Jet
Courage
Puttin' Down
IAGLIYDW
Hundredth Meridian Springtime In Vienna
Dark Canuck
Poets
Nautical Disaster
Little Bones
Long Time Running
Thugs
Blow At High Dough
Encore1 ABAC
Fire In The Hole
Encore2 Steve
Check out Songs
of
The Tragically Hip
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...........8/2002
