The Tragically Hip Part 2

Continued from Part 1

I next saw them in Vancouver at Rogers Arena for the “Fully Completely” reissue tour. I had originally selected 2nd row center, but my credit card wouldn’t work. The bank thought it might be a fraudulent charge since I’d never tried to use it for a Canadian purchase before. I finally got 4th row, off to the right of the stage. Of course, the show sold out, because Canada, so my view wasn’t as good as I wanted, and the fascists at the arena wouldn’t let me film the show, but I did get a few fuzzy pictures.

A few weeks after that show, they finally announced western US dates. Had I known they were coming here, I would have waited to see them, but at least I got to get some poutine at La Belle Patate. I asked a lady next to me in the audience for a recommendation, and she said they were the best. I have nothing to compare it to, but I liked it a lot. I got a large, which turned out to be too much to eat at once time, so I brought the leftovers home and had it for a snack the next day.

I got a FANTASTIC seat for the Seattle show at The Paramount, 2nd row, center aisle on the right! I was able to film most of the show, and eventually, I plan to put the vids up on YouTube.

In April, the band started tweeting cryptic messages about 8/4/15. As an American, I thought I'd have to wait until AUGUST for the new album, but then on April 8, they posted the video for their new single, In a World Possessed by the Human Mind. It was such a good song, it became my most listened to song in my iTunes library in a day.

So now we’re at yesterday. I got up for work, and was almost out the door when I checked my email. I saw the post from the band announcing Gord’s cancer and their final tour. I screamed an obscenity at it all. Reading through all the tweets from their fellow Canadians, watching the reports on The National, it's almost too much to deal with. I know it’s got to be much worse for Gord’s family and friends, but I still feel awful. I can’t imagine not having more music from them every few years. They’ve announced their final tour dates, eleven dates over twenty-seven days, all in Canada. I will be going to the Vancouver show, no matter what else happens. For those of you who will be able to see their final show in Kingston, please please PLEASE appreciate fully and completely the event, and say a final goodbye to Gord for all of us who can’t be there.