Never ones to sit back and just play the hits, The Hip are taking a novel approach to curating the setlist for these shows. As you surely know by now, the band released a statement back in May saying that frontman Gord Downie had been given a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer and that they would go on tour this summer, not only to celebrate the release of their new record, Man Machine Poem, but as a fund-raising effort for the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital. Though no one has said that this will be the last ever tour for the band, given the aggressive nature of Downie’s tumour, everyone is treating it as such. So here we are, already so far down the long and winding road that took them from unknowns playing the El Mocambo on that night in ’87 to a Canadian institution playing the ACC for god knows how many times.for what could possibly be the last time. I’m sure they must have played before that, but I can’t find any details of it. ![]() That night in Toronto! The earliest date I can find of a Tragically Hip Toronto concert happened (ironically enough) on the day after Canada Day in 1987. The ways music and words combine to connect with the listener, turning a minute into a moment out of time, reminding us that we aren’t alone.THE TRAGICALLY HIP - AIR CANADA CENTRE, AUGUST 12, 2016 In all aspects of his work, Plaskett embraces both the communal and individual experiences music provides. In a world increasingly connected-and disconnected - by digital mediums, Joel Plaskett prefers to make his connections the old-fashioned way, building community at his studio and shop, dedicating himself to the art and authenticity of songwriting and analog recording processes, and moving audiences with the electrifying, uplifting experience of live performance. In front of the studio is The New Scotland Yard Emporium, where Plaskett has partnered with Halifax mainstay Taz Records to bring a curated selection of records to his adopted hometown, providing a spot where music fans can congregate to grab a coffee or beer while they dig for records. His work with artists like Jimmy Rankin, Two Hours Traffic, David Myles, Sarah Slean, Shotgun Jimmie, Dennis Ellsworth, Old Man Luedecke, Dave Marsh, Colleen Brown and longtime collaborator Mo Kenney has led to numerous awards for production, and turned New Scotland Yard into a popular destination for artists looking to develop and document their sound. In addition to producing most of his own records since 1999, Plaskett has also set up shop behind the console at his New Scotland Yard studio in downtown Dartmouth, N.S. Recorded to analog tape, Plaskett’s records reflect his attention to detail, his dedication to technique, musical history and craft, and a sincere and inimitable lyrical style that runs through his diverse and ever-expanding catalogue. Plaskett is a versatile and ever-evolving artist, at turns delivering intimate and idiosyncratic singer-songwriter fare ( In Need of Medical Attention, La De Da, The Park Avenue Sobriety Test) incendiary riff-rock ( Down at the Khyber, Truthfully, Truthfully), left-leaning folk rock ( Solidarity), as well as conceptual epics and off-kilter feats of musical stamina ( Ashtray Rock, Three, Scrappy Happiness, 44). Backed by the Emergency and racking up a growing roster of anthemic singalongs, Plaskett worked his way up from small clubs to opening for Paul McCartney and the Tragically Hip, and filling larger venues with his own devoted audience. In the early 2000s, Plaskett started touring under his own name with his band, The Emergency (featuring Dave Marsh on drums since 1999, and for the last 14 years, Chris Pennell on bass). Plaskett began his musical career in the early 1990s as a member of alt-rock favourites Thrush Hermit, recruiting lifelong fans as the band toured North America in a half-size school bus, setting up their signature neon ROCK & ROLL sign from show to show. ![]() A sprawling box set comprised of four, 11-song albums connected visually and thematically, at its heart 44is an imaginative rumination on trying to slow down and grow up in a rapidly accelerating world. Plaskett’s new project, 44, is his most detailed musical weave yet. His accolades over a quarter century include a Juno, numerous East Coast Music, Canadian Folk and Music Nova Scotia awards, and two Polaris short list nominations. Plaskett’s songs are a perennial part of the national playlist, a fixture on “best of” lists, and the soundtrack to the lives of faithful fans across the country and around the world.
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