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I’ve now reached a triple score for Hip concerts. and it means that I’ve seen them in a small venue, medium venue and large venue. the last time I saw them was for the World Container tour at GM Place. it cost me $110 for a seat literally in the player’s bench. this time around, it cost me $6.25 for 4th row just off the middle of the stage. that’s what happens when you pounce on a Facebook offering and are glad you shared concert stories with a past coworker who’s husband couldn’t go and wanted someone to go with. yes, I do realize how slightly ridiculous that sounds, but I do also realize how incredibly a lucky situation it was.
the tickets we had got us commemorative passes. they say “no backstage access” on the bottom. I’m going to cross out ‘no’. I also made off with a Hip scarf (35 fucking bucks… it’s like the merch learned form Oprah), and a set list. More often than not, if I have floor tickets, I manage to get something off the stage. or from the sound guys. either way. twas a good set, though I was surprised they didn’t play more off Now For Plan A.
I was also surprised at how awesome an opener the Arkells were. Leading up to the concert, I wasn’t sure if I actually knew any of their stuff, so I put some on and lo and behold, I somehow knew the words to four. definitely have to get some of their stuff.
now, let’s talk about the massive amount of security they have in Red Deer. I’ve never seen so many attendants, RCMP officers and people with Security shirts on at any concert I’ve ever been to. ever. period. it’s nuts. Ironically, I was never patted down. Apparently, quite a number of people were hauled out. The dude who managed to run up on stage and jump into the floor crowd JUST BEFORE the “in the middle of that riot” line from Bobcaygeon. He got hauled out by the cops. But he was a concert hero for that magnificent timing.
Then we had the four dudes just to my left in the next row up. three of them were hauled out for smoking up. though the order in which there were pulled out was pretty funny. guy closest to me lights up, puffs, passes it to the guy on his left, puffs, I look to the right, here come two security guards down the row. third guy gets it, puffs, gets busted and hauled out. just him though, since his buddies just shut up and watched the stage. then the guy who was closest to me tried to apologize to the unimpressed older women beside him. that didn’t work. maybe ten minutes later, back comes security to haul out the other two who;d been ratted out. the funny thing was, the fourth member of their squadron of Doob never got a second glance. he survived to live another song. well, all the rest of them.
I also had my Oilers jersey on, since they were playing the sharks that night. also because it was a Hip show and the Hip and hockey jerseys go together like every donut from Timmy’s and my mouth. This is the jersey that my dad got me for christmas a few years ago with my last name on it. when the show was over and we turned to leave, I suddenly hear “ZAPH! ZAPH!” and had a really strange flashback to highschool where no one was ever addressed by their first name. then I had a moment of total confusion where I thought, “I don’t know anyone here around me…what the hell…?” so I turn around and the guy yelling at me goes “we got our asses kicked tonight!” at which point I realize I’m wearing a jersey with my name on it. whatever, I’d just spent two hours yelling along to awesome songs.
also, I sat next to a guy we figured eithee looked like the Lorax or Ned Flanders. he was there with his wife. the both bought the new Bruins style Hip hockey jersey. she was right into the whole show. he just stood there blank faced the whole time. I think his moustache wouldn’t let him have any fun.
so that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
one more props to Andrea for sparing the ticket for the cost of a beer.