'Thank you for that': Tragically Hip put on poignant show for hometown Kingston crowd

After an evening full of poignant lyrics andalmost-goodbyes,Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip, closed the concert in his hometown of Kingston, Ont., with a simple, heartfelt "thank you for that."

Then the band members allcame together onstage, hugging and kissing, friends for 30 years possibly saying one last goodbye to the life they've shared with each other and with their fans.

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In the final concert of what could be their final tour, they had comeout for three encores, with Downie himself proclaiming they were "officially into unchartered waters. We never do third ones."

But such was this particularnight whereDownie refused to let up, sweat pouring down his emotion-filled face, asthe band playedalmost non-stop for just under three hours. Theytouchedon various highlights from the Hip's entire discography, including crowd favourites like Nautical Disaster,New Orleans Is Sinkingand Bobcaygeon, and ending with Ahead by a Century.

The frontman also lovingly teased Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in a box with a crowd of people, clad in a denim jacket and a Hip T-shirt. Downie praised Trudeau, but also took two separate opportunities to address the need for decolonization.

He called on the prime ministerto address Canada's historical mistreatment of its Indigenous peopleand to"get 'er done." He also asked the audience to hold Trudeau to account and commit to acknowledging and fixing the problems.

"He's going to take us where we need to go. And we've gotta be a country that's going to take us 100 years to figure out what the hell went on up there. But it isn't cool and everybody knows that. It's really, really bad. We're gonna figure it out."

Gord Downie shares a moment with an emotional audience

8 years ago

Duration 1:04

The Tragically Hip played their final show of the Man Machine Poem tour.

The mix of social justice, political and cultural commentary didn't end there. Downie also remembered that the audience was something of a boy's club until 1996, which was never the Hip's intention. He thanked all of the women in the audience, which sparked a massive round of applause that echoed in the stadium.

But he showed his appreciation for the fans as well, thanking them "for keeping me pushing."

Inside the Rogers K-RockCentre, fans were on their feet before The Tragically Hip even made it to the stage, screaming and clapping and stomping their feet in anticipation of the band's historic homecoming.

The concert marked the final stop of their Man Machine Poem tour, which kicked off in Victoria on July 22, made its way east across the Prairies to Ontarioand ended, not surprisingly, in the band's hometown.

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It has been an emotional journey for the group and its fans, rocked by the announcement in May that Downie has terminal brain cancer.

The Kingston show becamea cultural event. Hundreds of viewing parties were held across Canada, and the eastern Ontariocity officially proclaimedSaturday The Tragically Hip Day.

Thousands of fans flooded into Kingston from elsewhere. While the arena itself holds just under 7,000 people, officials braced for 20,000 more towatch the live broadcastofthe performance on a large LED screen set upblocks away at Springer Market Square.

Gord Downie wipes tears from his eyes in the middle of the Tragically Hip's Grace, Too

8 years ago

Duration 1:03

Gord Downie wipes tears from his eyes in the middle of the Tragically Hip's Grace, Too

'Sad yet grateful'

It was a bittersweet reaction from the arenacrowd, who hung on every word from Downie, and joined in with him on almost every song. Many shedand wipedaway tears throughout the concert, butmostly, all were grateful to be part of thespecial show.

"I'm very sad yet I'm very grateful forwhathe's given to us. Before the show wasstarting,it was just the best vibe ever in here," said Jenny Hutchison from Cambridge, Ont. "I've never felt it at any other show."

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The praise from the audienceafterward for the show, the energyand the emotion insidewas effusive.

LauraCoppolasaid the concert was the "greatest single thing I've ever seen in my whole life" and the "best concert ever."

"The first Hip song I ever heard wasAhead by a Century," Coppola added. "The fact that they closed with that, it felt really good."

Cathy Downey, of Calgary, said:"I've never seen a crowd that is this united. It's incredible."

Concert-goers treated the show like a landmark moment in Canadianhistory:Giant flags made their way through the crowd during the performance, and before the concert began, the audiencespontaneouslybegansingingOCanada, with nearly everyone rising from their seats.

"So much Canadiana, just felt so incredibly Canadian and so much love. There was a lot of love," said Cindy Dreher.

Most inside the arena seemed to acutely feel that thismay likely be the last time they see the band perform.

"I've never been on the verge of crying at any concert," Ryan Prentice said. "Except for tonight."

For many, the band is a nostalgic reminder of years gone by.

"They'rethesoundtrackof ourhigh schooland universitydays," said Jenn Carlesso, choking up. "To say thank you tonight was pretty overwhelming."

The Tragically Hip say thank you and goodbye

8 years ago

Duration 1:02

Band members bid farewell to fans at the end of Saturday's show in Kingston