The Tragically Hip

I would like to introduce my American friends to The Tragically Hip. (And we Canadians can enjoy a backtrax video) In my opinion they are the best Canadian band ever! The Hip released their first album, an EP, in 1987, but really made it big with their second album release in 1989, which included the huge hit New Orleans Is Sinking.

An excerpt from Wikipedia says " The band is immensely popular in Canada. They have never found great success in the United States, but have never specifically sought it. Their most-seen appearance in the United States was on March 20, 1995, when they appeared on Saturday Night Live with fellow Canadian and friend Dan Aykroyd guest starring, and with John Goodman hosting. In 1999, The Hip were also one of the featured bands at Woodstock '99 held in Rome, New York. When touring in Canada they typically play to sold-out arenas; when touring in the United States they will play smaller venues and clubs, or festivals where they aren't the headliner. Performances abroad are usually attended by Canadian expatriates. The band permit recordings of their performances, so an active trading community thrives. The tone and content of much of their music is a paean to the Canadian experience and touches on such themes as small-town life, geography, and hockey. The historical, geographical and individual references in many of the lyrics are a source of much internet discussion." To read all of it, click here. I've been lucky enough to see them live and it is always an event to say the least.

The video is for their song Poets off of the 1998 album Phantom Power. This is Gordie (who bears an uncanny resemblance to a friend of mine) at his quirky best.