I just found out this morning that one of my favorite bands of all time, The Tragically Hip, have gone back into the studio and are nearing completion on their newest record. It's going to be their FOURTEENTH major label release and that does not include their box set or their live record. They have a couple videos up on their website of them in the studio in Bath, Ontario with producer Bob Rock. When I saw these videos I completely lost focus on the million things I had to be doing and went into fan boy mode. Where I grew up these guys are legends. I mean you go into most any bar within an 80 mile radius of Buffalo, NY and they will have the Hip on the jukebox. Their music for me as a songwriter is something really special because it is edgy and challenging but also manages to be widely accessible (considering they've been the biggest band in Canada for about 20 years).
Something new hit me about these guys though when I was watching those videos. They are totally the most average looking, middle aged fathers. In The Tragically Hip there is a lot of baldness. There's considerable saggage. Shit tons of polo shirt wearing. But watching these videos on their website I was struck but how little that matters. In an age where everything is hipster or indie or retro these guys focus on keeping their band dynamic healthy, writing great songs, recording them masterfully and then going out and killing it live. Simple. Maybe that's why they are all still alive, really enjoy being in a band together and have the whole of Canada on their mailing list? This Labatt's for you, Hip.
check out the hip in the studio:
www.thehip.com