Buffalo Place

Saturday, July 30th

The Tragically Hip
www.thehip.com

The National Post describes The Tragically Hip saying, "There may be no rock band more viscerally Canadian than The Tragically Hip.”  This group is the sound track of Canadian summers and has a loyal following in the folk and indie rock circuit in the US.  The Tragically Hip, also known as “The Hip,” was formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1983 by childhood friends Gordon Downie, Bobby Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay.  The band name was inspired by the Michael Nesmith video, “Elephant Parts.”  The group released their first self-titled album in 1988.  While playing a gig at Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, The Tragically Hip was discovered by MCA Records President, Bruce Dickinson and offered a record deal.  The group accepted Dickinson’s offer and soon launched two records in Canada, Up to Here in 1989 and Road Apples in 1991 before their third album, Fully Complete crossed into the international market. 

The Hip were the performance guests on Saturday Night Live in March of 1995 in the episode featuring guest host John Goodman.  They released “Trouble” at the Henhouse with Atlantic Records before releasing their first live album, Live Between Us in 1997.  The band worked with Sire Records on their 1998 album, Phantom Power and was on the Saturday main stage at Woodstock ‘99.  In 2000, The Hip toured with Guster and in 2002 they performed at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.  Lead vocalist Gordon Downie is an accomplished poet and wrote a book of poetry, Coke Machine Glow.  This book title is also the name of his first solo album which debuted in 2001.  He went on to release his second solo album, Battle of the Nudes in 2003.  Downie is similar to U2’s Bono in that he enjoys ranting about doing the right thing and is notorious for ranting on stage in between songs.  The most infamous of his rants is, Killer Whale Tank, based on the song, “New Orleans is Sinking.”

The Hip opened for The Rolling Stones during their 2005 tour amongst other highly acclaimed artists including, The Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Pearl Jam and John Mayer Trio. This Kingston quartette has made cameo appearances on the Canadian sitcom Corner Gas, played a curling team in the 2002 Canadian romantic comedy, Men With Brooms and Gordon Downie and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson play police officers in the 2006 movie Trailer Park Boys.  They are also the first Canadian band to host a touring festival and did so in 1993, 1995 and 1997 titling the festival, “Another Roadside Attraction.”  While they have not received significant praise in the US, our northern neighbors have bestowed the band honors including, 13 Juno awards and an additional 29 Juno nominations, inductees into the 2002 Canada’s Walk of Fame and inductees into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2005.   In their 25 year recording career, The Hip has sold over 6 million albums worldwide.  Fans are known for traveling hundreds to thousands of miles to catch one of The Hips high-energy shows.  Their performances are for music lovers of all ages looking to have a good time rocking out to summer jams.  According to MUCH Music, “The Tragically Hip are all about connecting with the music and connecting you with their music.”


Opening for The Tragically Hip…

The Arkells
www.arkells.ca

The Arkells are an alternative rock group based out of Hamilton, Ontario.  According to NOW Magazine the Arkells have "an awesome muscular quality that sets it apart from the output of so many of their sad-sack indie rock peers..."  The band signed with Dine Alone Records in 2006 and released their first album, Jackson Square in 2008.  Their second album is set to release this fall. 

This five piece rock group has performed with Black Crowes as well as on MTV Live and V-Fest.  At their 2010 Juno Awards performance they were joined on stage by Canadian rapper Classified and have also played with Josh Trager from the Sam Roberts Band.  During their performance at a MUCH Music Awards after party at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, where they were performing a cover of Outkasts “Ms. Jackson,” hey were joined onstage by American pop star and party girl Ke$ha.  Last summer the Arkells toured with Tokyo Police Club.  In 2010, the Arkells received a Juno Award for New Group of the Year and opened for acclaimed rock group, Them Crooked Vultures.  According to MUCH Music, this indie rock group has a, “boundless passion for making meaty, rootsy rock that any listener can relate to.”