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PubClub.com writes about the Hio's concert at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Ripped With the Hip
An Amercan's Review of the Canadian Band's Performance

 
The Tragically Hip plays before a Canadian crowd at The Troubadour.

They are a treasured national product, Canada's Rolling Stones, as much a part of the country's social culture as hockey and beer.

The Tragically Hip is a rock band from Kingston, Ontario, about two hours east of Toronto. Occasionally they step out beyond their borders and play in the States, as was the case when PubClub.com saw them at the legendary Los Angeles music club, the Troubadour.

Canadians press up to the stage at the legendary Troubadour

Not unexpectedly, the crowd of 375 consisted primarily of Canadians, as well as a sprinkling of Americans who went with Canadians. The Troubadour is a small venue which has hosted some of the legendary bands in rock history – Elton John, Neil Young, James Taylor, Van Morrison. Just look at the pictures on the walls (and oh, if those walls could talk. Or perhaps just the shower in the upstairs bathroom.)

People were hot, sweaty and smiling. Just they way they should be listening to a good rock band. And the Hip is a good rock band. More accurately, the Hip is a very good rock band. They have pounding, grinding tunes that inspire people to raise the arms above the head and pump the fist, and other songs that slow down and capture the moment for their fans.

Canadians soak up seeing the Hip at the small venue.

Their song Courage is one of their most recognizable hits for Canadians and was a favorite of the late, great Canadian race car driver Greg Moore, who tragically died in the prime of his career.

Lead singer Gordon Downie plays to the crowd and is thoroughly entertaining, though drummer Johnny Fay is so dude-next-door looking it would take a Canadian to know he's in a rock band. The Hip has been making albums since 1987 and, not surprisingly, have won multiple Canadian Entertainer of the Year awards. They have the staying power of SkyDome.

In Canada, they play to instantly-sold out arenas like the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. But their lack of recognition in the USA has them at places like the Troubadour and House of Blues when they come to LA. This, of course, is a blessing to their fans, who can press right against the stage or be relatively close even from the back of the club instead of having the band be dots in the distance as with the larger venues.

Lead singer Gordon Downie sparks the crowd's enthusiasm.

Yet for this observer, while definitely entertained by the upbeat music, it's difficult to determine any landmark single. The kind of song that takes a band or performer from very good, or even great, to legendary status. No signature song that identifies them to the larger music community, that cover bands yearn to play for decades.

There's no "Bobby McGee" of Janis Joplin, no "Margaritaville" of Jimmy Buffett, "Stairway to Heaven" of Led Zeppelin, "The Wall" of Pink Floyd or "Free Bird" of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. So just enjoy the Tragically Hip for what they are – a very good rock band with a very loyal following of loyal Canadians.

Rock on!

Comment on this story by sending us an e-mail. Put "Hip Review" in the subject matter and we'll post it.

PubClub's Music Section