30 shows in 18 years: Meet Eric, the Tragically Hip's superfan

Sunday will markthe last of three performances by the Tragically Hip in Toronto, and superfanEric MacKenziewill be there, again.

In fact theOttawa manhas five shows already under his beltsince the Hip's ManMachinePoemtour'sfirst stop in Victoria, B.C. And he plans on following them to Kingston, Ont. where they'll playthegrand finale of their tour on Aug. 20.

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But how is he getting all these tickets whenfans across Canada are coming empty-handed?

"It was a real blessing.I know there was a large ticketfiascothat ensued, but my wife and I were diligently trying," saidMacKenziein an interview onMetro MorningFriday. "So we just really lucked out."

30 times in the past 18 years

"Between 1999 and 2014,I've only seen them 17times," said MacKenzie.

Only 17times?

Well, by the end of this tour, he will haveseen the banda total of 13times in the past year-and-a-half, bringing him to a grand total of 30 live performances,he said.

MacKenzie said this recent "blessing"came after his wife suggested he goto the opening leg of the tour in B.C.for his birthday.

"I couldn't help but take her up on her kind offer," he said.

He wasn't originally planning on going to Edmonton. But after the Tragically Hip played 52 different songs inthe first threeshows in B.C., he said he was inspired.

"Every show has been so special and unique that it's something that it's just so worth taking advantage of."

'I've left each show reminding myself I don't need to cry'

MacKenzie said the band dug deep into their catalogues for each show, surprising fans with their "few hidden gems that they wouldn't normally play." He said fans were"just mesmerized."

"I've left each show reminding myself I don't need to cry because I'm goingto see them again," he chuckled.

For others who weren't as fortunate as him,"they've just been literally causing puddles [around] their feet."

The end of each song is met with a deafening roar from the fans, according to MacKenzie.

The Hip will be playing in Hamilton and Ottawa before finishing up in Kingston, Ont. and the committed MacKenzie will continue to be there celebratinghis all-time favourite band.

"I can't imagine how itwill transcend in Kingston,or what type of last waltz there will be."

CBC will be screening the last show of the Hip'ssummer tour on Aug. 20 at these locations.