The Hip Rock The ACC

The Tragically Hip’s much anticipated concert at Air Canada Centre went off yesterday as an overwhelming success. In fact, the only thing tragic about last night’s show was when it finally came to an end after a twenty four song performance which included three encores. Playing infront of a capacity crowd at Air Canada Centre, the Tragically Hip drew an unbelievable amount of energy from the legion of Hip fans and sustained that excitement until they finally left the stage for the last time. The band members themselves seemed to have an excess amount of energy and they treated the fans by leaving every last ounce they had on stage last night.

The concert was opened by The Joel Plaskett Emergency, as it was on Canada Day at the Molson Amphitheatre. They have been opening for the Hip throughout their Canadian Tour and again last night, they put on a solid performance infront of what is likely one of their largest ever audiences.

The Tragically Hip took the stage at a quarter to nine opening with Vaccination Scar, the hit single off their new album “In Between Evolution”. They also included Summer Is Killing Us, As Makeshift As We Are, Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park, It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night and Heaven Is A Better Place Today. Their previous concert in Toronto, July 1st, 2004, came on the day their new album was released not allowing fans a chance to familiarize themselves with the Hip’s new music. The new songs meant a lot more last night to a crowd that was had now had almost four months to listen to the Hip’s new album.

The highlights of the show included lead singer, Gord Downie’s usual on stage antics which saw him talk to the microphone throughout the concert. On two occasions, Downie dropped the microphone and reprimanded it for trying to get away. Once it fell from the stand onto the stage and the other time it fell right off the stage. Downie had to crawl over a speaker on the stage and lean right over the edge to retrieve the microphone just in time to hit his queue. The performances of Grace Too, Silver Jet and Three Pistols seemed to be crowd favorites as the already energetic crowd went into a frenzy during these tunes.

Along with promoting their newest album, the Hip treated the capacity crowd by reaching back into the archives and playing some of their oldest material. Little Bones¸ Three Pistols and Boots or Hearts were well received songs by the crowd that added a more comprehensive feel to the setlist.

The Tragically Hip’s performance last night at Air Canada Centre was one that was truly remarkable. Anybody who attended this concert surely left with a memory they will not soon forget. Let’s all hope the Hip do not make the wait for their next concert in Toronto a long one!

Skynyrd Thoughts

Anyone who has ever listened to the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd will admit one thing: they have come up with some of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. Their sound is one that is so unique, different and incomparable to any other classic rock band. From the tremendous vocal work provided by the legendary Ronnie Van Zant to the riveting guitar solos from Allen Collins and Steve Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a band that truly is in league of their own.

The band took their name from their likeable high school gym teacher and because of its bizarre spelling; its pronunciation caused curiosity as well as much interest toward the band among music fans throughout the mid 1960’s. The band started out performing one-nighter gigs until they hit fame in the early 1970’s with the release of their first two albums, (pronounced leh-nerd skin-erd) in 1973 and Second Helping in 1974.

The band’s first release included their immensely popular hits, Simple Man and Freebird, which contains one of the most epic guitar riffs of all time. The second release featured Sweet Home Alabama which has become a time honoured anthem and has been included in numerous movie sound tracks.

Much of Skynyrd’s music possesses special qualities that keep people interested in their songs. Each time a song is listened to, it is usually possible to discover certain intricacies that had not been picked up on before. Be it their offbeat style in some songs to their subtle tempo changes in others, it is very difficult to get bored of Skynyrd’s music because it is always possible to hear something that had not been heard before.

When a plane crash claimed the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gains in 1977, the band was dealt a punishing blow they were never able to fully recover from. Had the band not suffered this tragedy, there is no telling what kind of masterpieces they would have come up with.

Both Sides Prepared To Wait It Out

Any hope that a solution will be found to the current lockout that is preventing National Hockey League action so far this season is likely all but lost after the comments that were made by both the NHL Owners and the National Hockey League Players Association earlier this week. An NHLPA meeting this week in Toronto had produced some anticipation of a new proposal; however, it resulted in nothing more than the NHLPA reaffirming their willingness to reject a salary cap system at all costs.

Over the last few weeks, several players including Montreal’s Pierre Dagenais and Calgary’s Mike Commodore had suggested they would be willing to agree to a salary cap system if it would prevent the entire 2004-2005 campaign from being lost. Their statements were not well received by the majority of the NHLPA and part of their meeting was spent convincing any undecided players that indeed they are better off to adamantly refuse the salary cap.

On the other side, the NHL owners are willing to accept no proposal unless it includes a salary cap system in some way. They are intent on regaining control of salaries and they do not think it is possible unless a salary cap is implemented.

The major problem is not that the two sides are disagreeing on a new system; it is that both sides believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are completely correct in their stances. Generally in labour disputes, one side is advocating the sensible solution and the other side knows they are completely wrong in their stance but they are willing to be greedy and holdout. In those situations, it usually does not take long for one side to realize how wrong they are and back down in favour of the more sensible solution.

In the current NHL lockout, both sides believe they are one hundred percent in the right. Therefore until both sides acknowledge the problems that exist, there will be nothing to solve. As it stands right now, it is not looking like either side is willing to admit a problem which indicates it could be quite a while before we see NHL hockey again.