By Jim Windle with files
KINGSTON – There is no way of knowing exactly how many million people watched what is likely the last performance of the Canadian super-band, the Tragically Hip and its manic front man Gord Downie who has been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer.
The live event Saturday night at a large convention Hall was staged in the band’s hometown of Kingston Ontario with a full house and thousands more spilling outside in the square where big-screens were erected to watch the live performance going on inside.
There were thousands of Hip parties throughout Canada viewing the concert on outdoor big screens including one at Harmony Square and another at Tutela Park in Brantford, which attracted several hundred. As a last minute add on, CBC decided to broadcast the event in its entirety, commercial free, to countless millions more making it one of the largest live audiences for a concert in Canadian history.
Donnie emptied himself of all he had, at times fighting tears, with a three-hour-long, 30-song concert, which included three encores and an even longer final cheer from Hip fans everywhere.
This concert was somehow different, particularly for Canadians. The Tragically Hip first began playing small pubs in the Kingston area which Downie referred to, estimating there were about six to 12 people in attendance — a far cry from the millions who were glued to every word and every move the odd but delightfully different Downie spoke and made.
With three costume changes, which consisted of different colors of the same shiny and poorly fitting suits, complete with his signature feathered hats in matching colors and his Jaws T-shirt beneath, Downie and band performed 30 songs in a three-hour musical marathon.
Present and ready to rock was Canadian Prime Minister and confessed Hip fan, Justin Trudeau, wearing a Hip tour shirt and sitting among the crowd with his wife Sophie and a few low key security people.
Downie gave a vote of confidence for the new PM for the future of Canada while also taking the opportunity to bring attention to the plight of northern reserves thanking Trudeau for bringing Native rights to the forefront of his mandate.
Downie’s comments were short but powerful and heartfelt.
Downie and the Hip are known for their activism with Downie once serving on the board of environmental group Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. He’s also raised awareness of issues facing First Nations communities by performing at venues around James Bay.
“Thank you to the Prime Minister for coming to our show, it really means a lot to all of us,” said Downie.
“We’re in good hands, folks, real good hands. He cares about the people way up North, that we were trained our entire lives to ignore, trained our entire lives to hear not a word of what’s going on up there. And what’s going on up there ain’t good.”
He added: “It’s maybe worse than it’s ever been, so it’s not on the improve. (But) we’re going to get it fixed and we got the guy to do it, to start, to help.”
Donnie was pictured before the concert embracing the Prime Minister. He also thanked his adoring fans for their love and support throughout the band’s career.
“Thank you, people, for keeping me pushing and keeping me pushing,” he told the audience.
Fans caught on camera seemed to be somewhere between tears of joy in watching the iconic Canadian band perform probably for the last time, and tears of sadness for Downie himself. Despite the many emotional swings the concert took, it was all in an atmosphere of celebration for arguably, the greatest Canadian Band ever.
Much like the “Deadheads” who followed Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead around the USA of the ’70s and ‘80s, the Hip had a unique style which attracted a unique audience of hyper-loyal and even fanatic fans in their 30 year run.
But even for those who confess they are not particularly Tragically Hip fans, they were caught up in the history of all, many becoming fans by the end of the night.
CUTLINE:
Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie took the opportunity afforded him by such a huge audience, to thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in attendance, for bringing world attention to northern reserves and committing to help make their lives better.
