Tonight, most of the population of Canada will be coming together to watch likely the last ever performance of The Tragically Hip, one of the best bands to ever come out of our great country.
For those outside Canada, the reason for the big show is that lead singer / songwriter / dancer / poet / all around nice guy Gord Downie was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. Most people would use this as a time to get their affairs in order. Gord decided to do one final tour across much of the country.
The Tragically Hip has been the soundtrack to Canada for the past 30 years, with great rock songs about love, hockey, Thompson girls, and whatever else comes out of Gord’s creative brain. They are also one of the few bands that can get away with a “fuck” or two in a song and not be censored. Whether you are a fan or not, there’s at least one Hip song that everyone has heard enough to start singing along to.
It’s a rare gift to get a chance to say goodbye. For the last show, people from coast to coast will be gathering in parks, bars, hotels, and everywhere else with a screen to see the concert broadcast live from Kingston. It’s going to be sad and beautiful, and there’s going to be some great music.
I’m going to try to get through the show with Courage, and some Grace, Too.
Learn how to watch the show here
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