Lead singer Gord Downie, guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay played tenacious arena-sized music for the thousand or so fans in attendance. Loud and involved, the crowd showed appreciation for Baker’s steel guitar on the opening “Vaccination Scar.” This song, like many from the set, is featured on the band’s latest disc, In Between Evolution. The new material from The Hip owes itself less to the great White North and more to the bluesy vibe of New Orleans.
Undoubtedly, it was the dominating vocals and frenetic theatrics of front man “Gordie” that had fans mesmerized for more than two hours through a second encore. The puddles of sweat Downie left onstage served as a useful measuring tool for the astonishing amount of energy he exuded. O Canada!