In May of 2016 The Tragically Hip announced that lead singer Gord Downie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Shortly afterwards they announced one final tour. When they announced this tour my first thought was "I have to go" my favourite band for over 20 years was about to tour for the last time, not because they were retiring, not taking time off, because this was their last chance.

I can still remember how I was introduced to The Hip. I was 14 years old, and my older cousin (Remember the older cousin you followed around as a kid? That was him) He had just seen the Hip perform live at a music festival and played "Grace Too" for me, that was it, I was sold, these guys were awesome. In turn a few years later I introduced my younger cousin to The Hip and watched them become one of his favourite bands as well.

November 20th, 2004. That was the first time I saw The Tragically Hip play live, I remember the date because the next night they were playing the half-time show at the Grey Cup in Ottawa. That show only solidified why the Hip were my favourite band for such a long time. Watching Gord Downie on stage at that concert was a whole new show in itself, I had never seen anyone as uniquely entertaining as Gord, that's why I would go see The Hip perform twice in Regina after that, and of course at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.

Friday, September 6th was the date that The Hip played in the Friendly City. We had a contest at the radio station and had a mini pre-concert party at Mosaic Place where one lucky winner got an autographed Tragically Hip hockey jersey, I'm still jealous of the winner. Watching the concert at Mosaic Place (my now 4th Hip concert) I was once again blown away by just how tight the band is and how entertaining Gord Downie is on stage. After the show I remember reading comments from a few people on Facebook about the show, they were saying "The singer was weird" or similar comments, they just didn't get Gord.

So there I was, on a Monday night, sitting behind the stage at the Saddledome in Calgary because those were the only seats I could snag for the concert, thinking about my experiences connected to my favourite band for over 20 years. The guys took the stage at 8:30 sharp and started to play through what would amount to be over 2 hours of music. When the concert came to an end (after 2 encores) the band left the stage and Gord Downie stood by himself, thanking the crowd, the look in his eyes showing that he appreciated the 15000 screaming fans as much as we appreciated him.  He wiped his eyes as he left the stage and I wiped mine after watching the most amazing concert I had ever been to.

What has amazed me since their final tour was how Gord Downie dedicated himself, his final days, to making Canada a better place. Gord spent his final days speaking about our wrongs of the past, about residential schools, speaking about how we can make this country better. 

For all of the music, all of the memories, I can only say Thank You. To the Tragically Hip, to Gord Downie, Thank You. Your music will always be on the top of my playlist.

-Nick Myers, Mix 103