In this episode of School of Hip Chaz and Heath discuss the CBC’s 10th anniversary rebroadcast of the Tragically Hip’s incredible (nay, Herculean), final concert on Aug. 20, 2016, in front of the band’s hometown crowd in Kingston, Ontario. As a sincere Canada lovin’ American experiencing the show for the first time, Chaz is moved by the country’s outpouring of love for Gord Downie, who showed up a warrior while facing his terminal diagnosis. Indeed, with watch parties across the country, people who were moved the first time found themselves emotional all over again a decade later (like Heath’s girlfriend, a mess of tears as they watched).
The rebroadcast and accompanying live album marked a landmark in Hip history. But they weren’t the only legendary Canadian band to experience a landmark summer. How about Rush, who hit the stage for the first time in over a decade embarking on a massive, hugely successful tour with drummer Anika Nilles, not replacing the irreplaceable Neil Peart, but rather recreating those impossible beats in a new version of the band.
As co-host of the Rush Rash podcast Chaz knows a little something about Rush so he and Heath compare that band with the Hip as the two pillars of Canadian rock. Despite vast differences in their music, the two bands also have a whole lot in common from daringly literate lyricists to stubborn defiance against their own record companies as they each followed their unique musical visions unwaveringly.
Whether you’re a lifelong Hip fan or just curious about what makes this band so iconic in Canada, School of Hip is your guide to the sounds and the story of the Tragically Hip, one album side per episode. Episodes drop every two weeks.
For further exploration:
School of Hip is a proud part of the burgeoning empire that is the Boneless Podcasting Network. Listen there, or find us on iTunes, Spotify, Acast and other podcasting platforms. Please subscribe, rate and review. Five-star reviews help to spike those algorithms and grow our beloved show!
Reach out to us on our School of Hip Facebook Group or on our School of Hip Discord and watch for our posts in the awesome Reddit Tragically Hip community.
Also:
The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip by Michael Barclay.
This summer play along with The Tragically Hip Song Bracket to determine the Hip’s best song.
Chaz Charles is the founder of the Boneless Podcasting Network, currently hosting five fantastic shows (and appearing in many more!)
Heath McCoy is the author of Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, available on Amazon.ca and at ECW Press. He appears in the award winning documentary Singhs in the Ring on Crave TV.
And once again, to all you rock n’ roll podcast lovers .... GO BONELESS!