Budweiser Gardens buzzed with anticipation as the crowd eagerly awaited The Tragically Hip to go on stage. Which is totally understandable due to the fact they have 12 studio albums and nine of them have reached number one status in Canada. They played some of their most notable songs which included Hundredth Meridian and Wheat Kings.
I have never had the opportunity to see them live so this was definitely one for the books.
Gord Downie came on stage and the crowd erupted with cheers. Full of energy and smiling, he looked liked he was ready for a great night. I do have to say if you ever have a chance to be up close he makes the best facial expressions, very animated which is always fun to watch!
The crowd went crazy after every song they played. The band is rock solid as they should be I mean, I am watching probably one of the most notable bands in Canada.
The only thing I didn’t quite understand was at the beginning of Locked in the Trunk of a Car and Wheat Kings there were screens that came down in front of the band and showed a very weak, quick video while the band was playing, this I am not fond of. I am here to see the band not mesh screens and they served no purpose, you could barely see what the video images were. Thankfully it doesn’t last long. There are LED walls behind the band you don’t need screens in front blocking the view of the band. But that’s just my opinion to each their own.
During Fifty Mission Cap the crowd sang over top of Gord Downie and the band during the whole song. Let me tell you it was loud in here and the crowd over took the band with their voices.
The sound in Budweiser Gardens is fantastic. I have to give props to the crew, as without them there is no show.
This one is definitely one for the books for myself for three reasons, it was my first show shooting in the media pit in an arena, second, I have never seen The Hip live and three, this is my first review of any band.
Encore: Poets…and I will let you wonder what the other ones were or you will just have to go check out The Hip yourself to find out!
