"Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish
when you don't let the nation get in your way
no ambition whisperin' over your shoulder
isn't it amazing you can do anything"
The Tragically Hip (Fireworks)
It all begins again today. Right here in the unnofficial capital of our often underrated country; Kingston Ontario. Hard now to recall how the band's love affair with this fair town began. Most likely in a bar at Queens university. Revolutionary conversation over many drinks followed by dangerous performances and very restless sleeps. I fear I have already forgotten far more than I will ever remember. No worries. Alan and Bob will live to write the book. I only hope they are brave enough to include all the juicy bits.
It's a very good thing I never went to school in Kingston for if I did I would surely be there still. The "professional student" unwilling to leave and forced eventually into that most dubious of all the "literate" trades; pedagoguery. Never did have much respect for prof's but Queen's is the best excuse for the excuse I've ever seen. Intellectual innebriant. Opium. Fortunately they have a strict zero canine policy when it comes to faculty. Beagles are especially banned as our whiskers were deemed too coarse for the delicate arses of the deans that so desperately need to licked.
But I digress.
It was in Kingston that my mind was opened to a career in music. In other parts of the country, people tended to talk a lot about music, but Kingston was a place where you actually did it. Bands like the Headstones and the Hip came roaring out of this small college town with things to prove and rocked our small subrban worlds. They frightened the living shit out of T.O. shoegazer wannabes and we all watched and learned.......and wanted more. Were we not too from a small college town with a harbour? Did we not also adore the dark lord of Rock? We may have walked into Kingston wearing Doc Martens and plaid but we walked out in feather boa's and leather pants.
well maybe not the pants.....
Rock On
Tosh