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.

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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.

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