Intro

What happens when a Hip fan from Buffalo finds himself explaining Canadian starlight, family road trips, and Gord’s cosmic madness to his kids? This week, I’m joined by Brad from Buffalo to talk all things fandom, cross-border connections, and a song that—like the band itself—never gives up all its secrets.

Episode Summary

We dive into Brad’s deep roots with The Tragically Hip—from his first time hearing a certain hockey-tinged track in a car ride home from college to years of road trips across Ontario. We talk about the vibe of the music, the strangeness that makes it magic, and why this countdown track is the very definition of a grower.

About the Guest

Brad is a dyed-in-the-wool Hip superfan from Buffalo, New York—a city where the band’s legend looms nearly as large as it does here at home. He first fell in love with The Tragically Hip during long drives back from college, hitting play on Fully Completely and never looking back.

Brad has stories about hearing Day for Night the day it came out, seeing the band live 20+ times, and making pilgrimages to Ontario lakes where Gord’s lyrics come alive one star at a time. He’s the kind of fan who didn’t just listen—he felt it, and he’s spent decades trying to share that feeling with family and friends (including his very opinionated 12-year-old).

Why It Matters

This episode is about more than Song 13. It’s about Hip fandom as a kind of shared citizenship—a borderless, lifelong, deeply personal thing. Brad’s memories of being on a dock in Ontario, watching the stars reveal themselves one by one, tie him forever to the band’s most poetic imagery.

It’s also a love letter to the mystery at the heart of The Tragically Hip. Brad talks about why he never wants their songs explained, why Gord Downie seemed part alien, part shaman, and how the confusion and chaos is exactly what makes these songs worth obsessing over.

If you’ve ever argued with friends about the best Tragically Hip songs, shared your fandom with your kids, or caught yourself crying at lyrics you don’t even fully understand—this one’s for you.

Closing

Huge thanks to Brad from Buffalo for bringing the full Hip fandom energy to this week’s episode. If this track has ever messed with your head in the best way possible, tell us about it! Send us your Hipstory, leave a voice memo, or come argue your top 5 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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