Dropped Among This Crowd

Gord Downie covering John Lennon's "Oh Yoko!" during a solo appearance at a White Ribbon benefit concert in Toronto, ON on June 3, 2003.

-----------

Follow DATC Media:

[https://datcmediacompany.com](https://datcmediacompany.com)

[https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia](https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia)

[https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/](https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/)

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

[https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/](https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/)

[https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/](https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/)

Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": [https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast](https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast)

Follow Sara J:

[https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/](https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/)

[https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/](https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/)

Donate to DATC Media Company: [https://datcmediacompany.com/support](https://datcmediacompany.com/support)

Join the community on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift](https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift)

Vegas Strip, the previously unreleased track from The Tragically Hip's 1998 album Phantom Power.

-----------

Follow DATC Media:

[https://datcmediacompany.com](https://datcmediacompany.com)

[https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia](https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia)

[https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/](https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/)

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

[https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/](https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/)

[https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/](https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/)

Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": [https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast](https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast)

Follow Sara J:

[https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/](https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/)

[https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/](https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/)

Donate to DATC Media Company: [https://datcmediacompany.com/support](https://datcmediacompany.com/support)

Join the community on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift](https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift)

One of the biggest conversations behind the mic to date. This week on Dropped Among This Crowd, Sara J. welcomes legendary guitarist for The Tragically Hip, Paul Langlois.

In this definitive, career-spanning conversation, Paul joins the show to reflect on the legacy of The Hip, stepping into the solo spotlight, and finding a renewed fire for live music.

We kick things off with a beautiful trip down memory lane, as Paul recalls just how deeply The Hip loved Buffalo—and drops the heartbreaking revelation that the Queen City would have been the absolute first stop on their final tour if they had been able to cross into the States.

From deep-dive track structures to raw, honest reflections on life, family, and the present moment, this is an absolute must-listen for new and lifelong Hip fans alike.

Inside the Conversation:

• The Solo Evolution: Tracking Paul's sonic journey from his 2010 solo debut Fix This Head to his brilliant new 2026 album Smooth Rock Falls—including the deep family ties and the connection to Bill Barilko.
• The 5-out-of-5 Rule: How the band protects their legacy by requiring a unanimous vote on everything they ever put their name on.
• The Final Tour Live Release: A look at how the tracks were chosen for the highly anticipated upcoming final tour live EP release, and how Bruce Dickinson stepped in to handle the daunting task.
• Adapting to the Quiet: Paul speaks candidly about navigating his life and musical career while being totally deaf in his right ear since 2011.
• The Definitive Record: Why Paul points directly to Road Apples as the one album he would play for someone if they “wanted to hear my band.”
• The Early Years: Revisiting the formative club days, saxophonist Davis Manning, and the legendary Copper Penny show.
• Nerding Out on "The Depression Suite": Sara gets Paul to break down the complex, multi-movement structure of one of her personal favourite pieces of music (and leaves him with some official homework!)

Plus: Paul talks about the new production “It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken,” his early musical influences from his mom, how Gord shaped his singing, what he reads in his spare time, and what he has on deck for a busy summer of returning to the live stage.

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

How You Are? from Smooth Rock Falls, the fourth studio solo album from Paul Langlois (February 20th,2026)

-----------

Follow DATC Media:

[https://datcmediacompany.com](https://datcmediacompany.com)

[https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia](https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia)

[https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/](https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/)

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

[https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/](https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/)

[https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/](https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/)

Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": [https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast](https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast)

Follow Sara J:

[https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/](https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/)

[https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/](https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/)

Donate to DATC Media Company: [https://datcmediacompany.com/support](https://datcmediacompany.com/support)

Join the community on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift](https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift)

Billy Talent performs a cover of Nautical Disaster by The Tragically Hip live in concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada on February 27th 2017.

-----------

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

Hey there! I’m Sara J., and being a part of the incredible Tragically Hip community, I’ve gotten to collaborate on a lot of projects, awesome content, and have some pretty amazing interviews. But along the way, I’ve found a lot of cool stuff packed up in the rafters...

These are the gems that don’t quite fit into a standard (project) episode, breakdown, or guest appearance. Some old-school Hip heads might remember a few of these, but honestly, a lot of you might never have even known these existed.

This is The Tangentially Hip.

Consider this a fun little bonus space where I’m dropping bite-sized morsels into your feed whenever the mood strikes. We’re talking side projects, unreleased tunes, bands associated with The Hip, the guys covering other artists, and other bands interpreting the Hip’s catalogue.

It’s a little nugget of goodness that doesn't need a massive full episode, because sometimes that’s just saying too much.

The goal is simple: to surprise and delight long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Welcome to The Tangentially Hip…

-----------

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

This week on Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast, Sara J. is joined by singer Joe Cad for a personal and insightful conversation about the life of a frontman.

Joe tracks his musical roots right back to the very start—from a childhood obsession with microphones and picking up the piano at age ten, to navigating the role of family trailblazer while soaking up the early influence of his older cousins. He shares his evolution from loving pop music to discovering the heavy world of metal, sparking a lifelong love affair with Black Sabbath.

Sara J. and Joe dive into the pivotal moments that shaped his stage presence, including the high school hangout where his singing aspirations finally took root, and the talent show that officially bit him with the performance bug. In a true full-circle moment, just one year later, Joe found himself fronting the very band that had inspired him on that high school stage, leading to the formation of his first official group and a legendary gig opening for Teenage Head in Toronto.

After a long hiatus from music to focus on marriage and family, it only took a persistent co-worker to push Joe back into jamming—a move that made him instantly realize just how desperately he missed the stage. Today, Joe is making up for lost time in a big way. He takes listeners through the wild logistics of managing multiple projects with an interlocking web of talent—specifically, 8 musicians across 6 different bands, resulting in four distinct tribute acts between five core guys!

Joe opens up about the immense preparation required to front completely different acts, focusing heavily on the unique challenge of stepping into a Tragically Hip tribute. He discusses the fine line of "getting into Gord mode" without becoming kitschy, throwing their hat into an incredibly crowded Canadian tribute market, and exactly what sets his band apart from the rest.

The conversation turns to the cultural weight of live music, with Joe making a passionate case for why tribute acts are more important now than ever. For younger fans, these shows offer a vital opportunity to experience timeless music live, long after the original artists have stopped touring or passed on.

Joe and Sara J. also explore:

Finding the Meaning: The tracks that hold the deepest personal resonance across the various catalogues Joe performs.

The Message: Why the music and political commentary of Rage Against the Machine feels more crucial to perform and reiterate today than ever before.

The High Stakes: The nerve-wracking pressure of "coming correct" and delivering a flawless performance for a band's absolute die-hard fans.

Future Projects: The heavy need for musical variety, and the two bucket-list bands Joe still dreams of paying tribute to.

When he isn't in strict performance prep mode, Joe’s musical tastes run deep. He shares his early introduction to progressive rock and the band YES, which quickly blossomed into a profound love, and reveals his ultimate "prog comfort album."

Finally, the two geek out over the lost art of album cover art, Joe's strict rules for "blind buying" vinyl, why being a self-proclaimed physical media nerd is a badge of honour, and more!

Where can you find the week's guest:

Forever Hip: https://foreverhip.ca

The Righteous & The Wicked: https://therighteousandthewicked.ca

The Rebels of Rage: https://rebelsofrage.com

Freeloader: https://freeloadercoverband.com

Mentioned in this episode:

JAMerica: The History of the Jam Band and Festival Scene: [https://amzn.to/4vzs0ge](https://amzn.to/4vzs0ge) 

YHWH Nailgun: https://yhwhnailgun.bandcamp.com/album/45-pounds

1:1 creative strategy with Sara J - SPACE IS LIMITED - https://datcmediacompany.com/1%3A1-creative-strategy

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

No regular episode dropping this week because we are behind the mic recording something incredibly special this afternoon! 🎙️✨

Tune in to find out when it drops, how to get early access to our next massive conversation via Patreon, and more!

Support the media company and get early access: 👉 patreon.com/datdcmediacompany

1:1 creative strategy with Sara J - SPACE IS LIMITED - https://datcmediacompany.com/1%3A1-creative-strategy

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

What’s new this week from DATC Media Company: May 24th - May 30th, 2026

🎤 : Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast Episode 332: Behind the Mic: A Mid-May Update, New Music and More!

Pull up a chair and join Sara J. behind the microphone this week for a full scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes, right now, and looking ahead.

1:1 Creative Strategy Sessions—high-impact, 2–3 strategic weeks for creatives and entrepreneurs who are mid-launch, mid-pivot, or mid-"WTF am I doing?" and ready to sharpen their vision.

1:1 creative strategy with Sara J - SPACE IS LIMITED Book now - https://datcmediacompany.com

Now on Patreon: In Her Headphones 🎧 New discoveries and timeless favourites. Get a personal, inside look at the tracks, albums, and artists that keep Sara J. inspired.

💛: One Show at a Time, A Yellow Balloon Experience is back! Episode #205 Tim S. 

👀: Forty years ago, a historic recording was made in Kingston, ON.

Join me, Sara J, as we dive deeper into all this and more, including an in-depth look at Davis Manning, who was more than just the sax player in The Hip. 

The Copper Penny Project by DATC Media — coming soon.

📸: Join the DATC Media team and shoot live shows with us! 

DATC Media is looking for concert photographers! We’re looking for passionate concert photographers to collaborate with our growing media company! 

Whether you’re just starting, building your portfolio, or need a publication to secure photo passes, we’d love to work with you! 

If you love live music and capturing the energy of shows, send us a few samples (or a portfolio link), a short intro, and your location. Photographers near major touring cities are especially encouraged to apply — but all are welcome! 

Apply now! Email: [email protected] *Please note: this is a voluntary, unpaid opportunity.*

🗓️: 1:1 Consulting Sessions with Sara J now available! 

For creatives who want clarity, momentum, and strategic support.

Book a 1:1 live video consultation & get personalized advice on content strategy, community development, and more!

Come in curious, leave with direction!

🗳️: Musicians + creators — if you’ve ever worked together with DATC Media Company on your album release, podcast, event, PR, or anything in between, we would love to hear about your experience!

Your testimonial helps other artists understand what it’s like to have guidance, strategy, and real support behind their project. 

It means more than you know! ☺️

Share your thoughts here: https://forms.gle/atJri2DMrnZ6szBD9 

1:1 creative strategy with Sara J - SPACE IS LIMITED - https://datcmediacompany.com/1%3A1-creative-strategy

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift

Pull up a chair and join Sara J. behind the microphone this week for a full scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes, right now, and looking ahead. 

In this episode, she’s recapping recent show magic and teasing a major "sworn to secrecy" announcement that is heading your way in just a few weeks. She’s also incredibly excited to introduce a brand-new space over on Patreon: the "In her headphones" collection and 1:1 Creative Strategy Sessions—high-impact, 2–3 strategic weeks for creatives and entrepreneurs who are mid-launch, mid-pivot, or mid-"WTF am I doing?" and ready to sharpen their vision. 

1:1 creative strategy with Sara J - SPACE IS LIMITED - https://datcmediacompany.com/1%3A1-creative-strategy

Follow DATC Media:

https://datcmediacompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/datcmedia

https://www.instagram.com/datcmediacompany/

Follow Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/droppedamongthiscrowdpodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/droppedamongthiscrowd/

Email: [email protected]

Book a conversation on "Dropped among this Crowd": https://datcmediacompany.com/contact/ola/services/be-on-dropped-among-this-crowd-podcast

Follow Sara J:

https://www.facebook.com/sara.till41/

https://www.instagram.com/sarajachimiak/

Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support

Join the community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift