This week on The Tragically Hip Top 40 Countdown, we slide into song #10 — and a conversation that’s as much about life, literature, and lyrics as it is about rock ’n’ roll.

My guest? The self-confessed “fully incompletist” himself, Mark from Michigan. Mark takes us through his winding Hip origin story — from near-misses in the ’90s to the life-changing moment he dropped “At the Hundredth Meridian” into his car stereo and never looked back. We talk first concerts (State Theatre, 2007 — 10 feet from Gord), rowdy balcony encounters, and why Sarah Polley’s delicate Sweet Hereafter cover still gives him chills

Also in this episode: sash talk, honorary Canadian citizenships, and the usual abacus/Kia Sportage nonsense.

Pull Quote: “Sometimes courage comes, and sometimes it doesn’t. But you muddle through anyway.” – Mark from Michigan

Get Involved

Nominate yourself or someone else for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate SuperFan Search! Details on our socials.

Follow + Stream

Instagram / Facebook / YouTube: @tthtop40

Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40

Support the Show

Help us raise funds for the ALS Society of Canada in memory of Matt Rona: bit.ly/TTHTop40membersHIP

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🔥 TTHTop40 Round Table Review #3 went down Friday, August 8th — and it was everything it was cracked up to be.

Hot takes. Cold stares. And the pure perfection that is The Tragically Hip.

Join Sara J, Shirene from Sacramento, Thomas from Belgium, and me, jD, as we rip through the bottom 30, call out the surprises, and make some bold, maybe reckless, predictions for the Top 10.

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Join jD and Greg every week as they recap the song of the week by exploring the back catalogue of the Fully & Completely episodes.

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🎙️ The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Song 11 – Thomas from Belgium

What happens when a kid from Belgium falls head over boots for The Tragically Hip? You get a story that spans continents, spreadsheets, and six-string worship. This week, jD welcomes Thomas from Belgium to the show as we hit #11 on the countdown. That’s right. Eleven. Which means we are officially in the thick of the top ten next week.

But first, this episode is a postcard from across the pond—where fandom took root in a French-speaking corner of Europe and grew into full-blown obsession. How did it happen? Crash Thompson videos, bootleg YouTube jams, spreadsheet colour coding, and a live version of New Orleans is Sinking that jammed so hard it contained a proto-Head by a Century. Yup. That one.

Episode Summary

jD is joined by Thomas from Belgium, a fan who discovered The Hip years after Gord’s passing and built his own connection through British Spotify gaps, YouTube live sets, and late-night park walks. Together, they explore track #11 and unpack how the band’s unmistakably Canadian spirit resonated across the Atlantic.

We also dive into Gord’s elliptical songwriting, Rob Baker’s underrated noodling, and the thrill of finding new meaning—on the 50th listen.

About the Guest

Thomas is a motorsports journalist who grew up in Belgium, lived in the UK, and found The Hip through a very Canadian set of internet coincidences. He’s got a soundcloud (with Hip covers), a YouTube channel, and a spreadsheet that could qualify as sacred text. He’s also got serious takes on In Between Evolution, respect for World Container, and love for the Fillmore 2000 gig.

Why It Matters

This episode reminds us that Hip fandom is bigger than borders—and that sometimes, all it takes is a friend, a nudge, and a bluesy guitar lick to spark a lifelong obsession. It also reminds us how beautifully The Hip’s songs lend themselves to interpretation, imagination, and personal mythmaking—whether you’re in Toronto or a kitchen in Belgium.

Big Thanks + What’s Next

Huge thanks to Thomas for bringing his curiosity, warmth, and accent (c’mon, it’s charming!) to the show. His journey into the fandom is proof that it’s never too late to fall in love with this band.

We’ll be back next week with the long-awaited start of the Top 10. It’s gonna get emotional. Get your tissues, get your beers, and get ready.

🎸 Promos & Crosslinks

• 🏆 Think you—or someone you know—is The Hip’s Ultimate SuperFan? Nominate them now. Finalists will be revealed August 29!
• 🎤 Catch up on our latest Sunday Evening Jam – we talked SuperFan Search, Hipstory, and SiriusXM.
• 🎧 Miss an episode? Start from the top.

🔗 Connect with Us

📍 Facebook Group

📸 Instagram: @tthtop40

📬 Email: [email protected]

🌐 Website

📺 YouTube

Hashtags:

#TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom #TopTragicallyHipSongs #TragicallyHipPodcast

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🎸 The Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream

Originally aired: July 27, 2025

This week: Sara J and jD reunite and take a stroll down memory lane — specifically, jD’s very first live Tragically Hip experience. Spoiler: it was loud, sweaty, and life-changing.

From there, they round up what’s hot and happening in the Top Forty universe:

• 👑 The Ultimate SuperFan Search heats up as we near the nomination deadline
• 💥 membersHIP is climbing fast (but we’ve still got a goal to crush)
• 🎟️ Early Bird Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS are still available — but not for long

Come for the Hip talk. Stay for the tangents. Maybe even stick around for the community.

🧡 Let’s Get Fandom Right

This jam is part of our Let’s Get Fandom Right initiative — where love for The Hip meets real-world impact.

• Nominate your Ultimate SuperFan: https://bit.ly/tthultimatesuperfan
• Join the membersHIP: https://bit.ly/TTHTop40membersHIP
• Snag Early Bird tix for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS: https://bit.ly/HipForALS

🔔 Follow + Stream

Catch The Sunday Evening Jam LIVE every Sunday at 8PM ET on:

📺 YouTube → https://bit.ly/SEJYouTube

📘 Facebook → https://bit.ly/SEJFacebook

Or replay the audio right here, right now.

📦 Support the Show

This live stream (and everything else we do) is powered by Hip fans who want to make good things happen. If that’s you, consider tossing a few bucks into the open guitar case:

👉 https://bit.ly/TTHTop40membersHIP

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join jD and Greg every week as they recap the song of the week by exploring the back catalogue of the Fully & Completely episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Intro

What happens when you bond so hard with The Hip that they feel like your chosen family? This week, I’m joined by John Paul from Toronto—a lifelong fan who’s seen it all, from camping trips at Guelph Lake to getting kicked out of the Phoenix. We dig deep into Song 12 on the countdown and talk about the powerful, personal connections that make this band more than just music.

Episode Summary

We cover the full arc of John Paul’s fandom—from hearing those first singles on Toronto radio to buying Day for Nighton CD, obsessing over Phantom Power, and falling in love with the band’s live energy. We also swap stories about unforgettable Hip shows, camping mischief, and the heartbreak of being booted out before the third song.

About the Guest

John Paul is the quintessential Toronto Hip fan: thoughtful, passionate, and a little self-deprecating. He first fell for the band thanks to classic singles and videos on MuchMusic (shout out to Gord in the Bruins sweater), and over time found himself pulled in deeper with every album.

He’s been to half a dozen Hip gigs (plus a solo Gord show), but his fandom is built just as much on introspection—how the band offered him a sense of family, safety, and permission to see the world through Gord’s strange and beautiful eyes.

Why It Matters

This episode isn’t just about Song 12. It’s about how The Tragically Hip can be an anchor in your life. How they can make you feel at home, even when you’re homesick in Korea. How they become a mirror for your values, your memories, and your sense of who you want to be in the world.

It’s also about the messy side of fandom: the near-religious devotion, the gigs that changed you, the ones you missed, the ones you got kicked out of while pleading your case like a lawyer on fire.

If you’ve ever felt like The Hip knew you before you even knew yourself, this one’s going to hit close to home.

Closing

Huge thanks to John Paul from Toronto for bringing so much honesty, humour, and raw fandom to this week’s episode.

If this week’s track sparks a memory for you, share it with us! Drop a voice memo, send an email, or jump into the Facebook group and start a debate about your Top 10.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 11 on the countdown. Don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Join us every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET for the Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream

🔥 Nominate someone (or yourself) for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search before August 25! Enter here

📣 Join our community & share your Hipstory:

• Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
• Instagram: @tthtop40
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
• YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

Meta Description (SEO)

John Paul from Toronto joins jD to talk Song 12 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—stories of fandom, family, and finding yourself in the music.

Optional Tags (SEO)

• Tragically Hip podcast
• Gord Downie fan stories
• Fully Completely
• Hip fandom community
• Canadian alt-rock history
• Canadian rock podcast
• Tragically Hip song rankings
• Gord Downie legacy

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🎙️ Sunday Evening Jam Recap – July 20 Edition

Let’s call this one The Glitch, The Gratitude, and The Grail.

We kicked things off with the usual tech chaos (muted mics, ghost intros, Instagram wizardry), but once we found the signal, damn did we find our groove.

👥 Big thanks to everyone who joined us live — Craig, Kirk, Jeff, and eventually the full fuckin’ Voltron crew. Special love to Sara J for being the MVP of the night (and for calling me out with kindness about memory loss, missed uploads, and the mental gymnastics of running 14 things at once).

🎧 We talked about:

• 🧠 My bonkers amnesia moment and the double-episode debacle (you will get two 28s — you’re welcome)
• 🧩 SuperFan Search shake-ups and abacus math
• 🧨 Phantom Power as a live show powerhouse (hello, Phantom Zone)
• 📼 The Woodstock ‘99 footage: who owns it, what’s missing, and what could still come
• 🛸 Our most-wanted Hip Grail items (Limelight, unreleased solo footage, full show archives, YOU NAME IT)
• 💬 A full-on roundtable of geeky, glorious Hip talk

🎥 Oh — and we went live on Instagram, Facebook, AND YouTube. At the same damn time. Still can’t believe we pulled that off.

If you missed it, we’ll be back next Sunday. Maybe with a topic. Maybe with functioning tech. Definitely with beers, laughs, and Hip talk.

📣 If you’ve got your own grail wish list, drop it in the comments. Or just tell Pete to get another tattoo.

🧡 Powered by NorthStar Bets

🎶 Fueled by fandom

🧠 Surviving by spreadsheet

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join jD and Greg every week as they recap the song of the week by exploring the back catalogue of the Fully & Completely episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Intro

What happens when your Hip fandom runs so deep you can rattle off setlists, sneak into soundchecks, and still get choked up thinking about the last Kingston show? This week, I’m joined by Andrew from sunny Tampa, Florida—who’s here to remind us what living for the live show really means as we crack open Song 13 on the countdown.

Episode Summary

We cover a lifetime of cross-border Hip fandom, the thrill of hearing the band test songs live before they were released, and how seeing Gord Downie sweat and snarl on stage changed everything. We also dig into this week’s track, exploring its hypnotic build, raw emotion, and how it turned every venue into a sweaty, bouncing mess of humanity.

About the Guest

Andrew grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario before moving to Florida, but the Hip was always there—on the radio, in the background, waiting to take over his life. He caught his first show in 2000 and was immediately hooked, going on to see 40+ gigs, sometimes three or four nights in a row.

He shares stories about sneaking into soundchecks back in the Wild West days of touring, building his calendar around Hip shows every summer, and collecting truly one-of-a-kind memorabilia—from a Gord Downey mic stand base to backstage tour books you can’t buy anywhere.

Why It Matters

This one’s for the die-hards. For anyone who’s built their year around Hip gigs, who’s stayed up late chasing setlists online, who’s made friends for life in the pit.

Andrew’s memories take us back to the gritty, real-life side of fandom—where you weren’t just listening to The Tragically Hip, you were living them. From the heartbreak of shows missed to the joy of watching Gord turn a song into something unrecognizable, this episode is a love letter to the messy, sweaty, unfiltered magic of live music.

If you’ve ever lost yourself in the push and pull of a Hip crowd, or felt Gord’s words cut straight through you—even when you didn’t know what the hell he meant—this one’s gonna hit home.

Closing

Huge thanks to Andrew from Tampa for dropping all his stories, honesty, and Hip history on us this week.

If this week’s episode brings back memories, tell us about it. Send us your Hipstory, drop us a voice memo, or come argue your Top 10 in the Facebook group.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 12 on the countdown—don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Check out the Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream every Sunday at 8pm ET.

🔥 Nominate someone for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search before August 25! Enter here.

📣 Join our community & share your Hipstory:

• Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
• Instagram: @tthtop40
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
• YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

Meta Description (SEO)

Andrew from Tampa joins jD for Song 13 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—sharing deep fan stories, live show memories, and the sweaty magic of Hip fandom.

Optional Tags (SEO)

• Tragically Hip podcast
• Gord Downie fan stories
• Fully Completely
• Hip fandom community
• Canadian alt-rock history
• Canadian rock podcast
• Tragically Hip song rankings
• Gord Downie legacy

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy