#almost feel like a ringmaster walking in on stage like ladies and gentlemen what you are about to see is something you have never seen befo

[the-acid-pear]

Seeing your own trans body and identity as your masterpiece is so important

[straynstay]

Changbin - Hybrid AU! (part II)

part I

here you are again buying a ticket for the circus

you barely slept after last night, the thrills of being a volunteer to a fire act still keeping the adrenaline running through your body

and, of course, him 

Spear B

you were excited to see what kind of fiery tricks he would pull off tonight since he promised you something special

as soon as you entered the tent, you sat on the second row in front of the stage

this time you wouldn’t hide yourself

kids and parents filled the place once more and you felt nervous

nervous to see his reaction once he spots you in the crowd

and nervous to see him again

you can’t deny that he bursted your heart’s doors and took a place in it in less than 24h

he was really impressive and mysterious, someone you’d like to know better

hopefully tonight you’ll be able to talk more

the lights suddenly went out and that same circus song began playing

funny how yesterday you were terrified of it, but now it made you excited because you know he is coming

the attractions were the same as the day before, nothing much changed except for the audience’s reactions

the kids were more hyped than yesterday, and you can’t deny you’re too

especially when the ringmaster appeared to announce the special act of the night

you can feel your own heartbeats resonating in your chest and your hands starting to get clammy

“ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages! You’ve laughed with our clowns, you’ve been thrilled by our acrobats, you were amazed by our jugglers…” the ringmaster spoke

“but now it’s time!” drum rolls filled the arena, just like it did yesterday

“it’s time to be mesmerized by our main attraction of the night!” the spotlight moved around the arena

oh lord… it’s now… he’s coming...

“brace yourselves because it's gonna get hot in here! Make some noise for Spear B!” the kids screamed their lungs out and you held your breath once he got on stage

he was so different, holy shit!

he had an undercut and his hair was styled to show his forehead

his right eyebrow had an X on it, which was quite charming, and he was wearing a tight red shirt

goddamn, you weren’t ready for this!

Spear B bowed to the crowd and as soon as he lift his head, the entire stage caught on fire

you were taken aback by the sudden heat, and the flames were so tall that you couldn’t even see him anymore

a hype song began playing and you saw some balls on fire moving in circular motion above all the flames

Spear B walked to the front of the stage, and you saw that he was juggling the balls amid the fire

the kids screamed, but you couldn’t do anything except to be mesmerized again by him

Spear B threw one ball at a time so high it almost reached the peak of the tent

when they all started to descend, he somehow created with his own mouth a thin stream of fire aimed directly at them and blew them up one by one like tiny fireworks

you smiled seeing his amazing pyrotechnic performance

you still had no idea how he did it, but it was absolutely extraordinary to witness it

he snapped his fingers and immediately the sleeves of his red shirt caught on fire

the flames quickly reached his shoulders, but with a strong clap of his hands he put out all the flames, including the ones that were still burning on the stage

the trick not only made his sleeves burn completely, but it also revealed the huge muscular arms you had no idea he had

geez… you’re twice as hot now

the lights suddenly went out and the song stopped

you held your breath once again, not knowing what to expect next

after about twenty seconds, a sudden brightness illuminated the arena, making your eyes shut involuntary

once you opened them again, you saw the same wooden target from yesterday, the same one that you were bound to while he threw spears on fire at you

but this time the edges of the target were lit up in flames

“and for Spear B’s last act, he had chosen a brave soul to come up on stage and be his victim” the ringmaster’s voice echoed through the arena

you smiled in the middle of all that hot craziness once his eyes found yours for the first time that night

he only motioned his head towards the stage and you already knew what to do

so you followed the staff and got up on stage once again with him

“ready?” he smiled and you felt your legs shaking seeing him so confident and so good looking and so, so close to you

you swear you felt heat radiating from his body

“yes” you answered trying to remain cool 

“yesterday you promised an unforgettable performance, so I’m counting on it” you provoked him

“don’t worry, Spear B never disappoints” he winked and you wish you could just grab him right here and now

but the staff came in and placed you safely on the wooden apparatus in the same Vitruvian Man position with your arms and legs wide open

you could feel the heat from the flames surrounding the target tingling your skin, and it made your heart beat faster

this was already different from the day before

you saw him picking up four spears and putting one on his right hand while the others he kept on his left hand

he turned his back to you and a staff came behind him while the crowd cheered loudly

you couldn’t quite see what they were doing, but as soon as he turned around again you regretted coming tonight

he was blindfolded

WHAT?!

“are you kidding me?” you asked almost screaming

“this isn’t even my final form” he mocked smiling, and it hurt to see that his smile was even more prettier with his eyes covered

the spear on his right hand caught on fire out of nowhere and you felt your stomach trying to get out of your body through your throat

but to make it even worse, you felt yourself moving

the staff was spinning the wooden circle with you attached on it

FREAKING HELL!!!!

you could only scream, even though you weren’t spinning too fast

the fact that you’re stuck with a blindfolded guy aiming a flaming spear in your direction made your life flash before your eyes

you led a beautiful, yet monotone life so far, but with no regrets

except for tonight

you shouldn’t have come back here

you’re so dead

you closed your eyes when the crowd began cheering

a loud thud was heard and your heart felt like it dropped to your belly

one down, three to go

Lord have mercy!

you pleaded silently, praying to the universe to allow this to finish soon

another thud and loud screams, but you were sure no one was screaming louder than you right now

you felt your consciousness slowly slipping away, this was taking too long for your liking

two more loud thud and the wooden target finally halted its movement

but you didn’t have enough courage to open your eyes

“give it up for Spear B!” the ringmaster shouted while the staff untied you from that wheel of hell

your legs were wobbling, but you were able to keep yourself straight with the help of the spears stuck on the target

when you slowly opened your eyes, you saw Spear B with his arms open in front of the crowd receiving his well deserved applauses

he took a few steps back, and out of the blue huge flames engulfed the stage again, just like he did in the beginning of his act

you shut your eyes quickly, afraid of the sudden fire so close to you

you also felt remarkably hot with drops of sweat running down your spine

“scared?” Spear B’s voice was soft near your ears

you opened your eyes and almost lost control of yourself

he was right in your face, protecting you with his body while the flames were still burning hot behind him and the circus song played loudly

it was overwhelming standing so close to him, especially with his huge arms next to your head and his taunting lips within your reach

“was this unforgettable enough for you or should I try again tomorrow?” Spear B gave you a smirk and you didn’t even know how to react, you felt like putty right now

“I’m sweating” was all you could say, and it made him laugh wholeheartedly

the flames on the stage disappeared once he snapped his fingers and could breath a little better now

“you still haven’t answered me” Spear B raised an eyebrow

“are you out of your mind?” you asked feeling all the rush of adrenaline hitting you at once

“YOU TIED ME UP, SPUN ME AROUND AND THREW SPEARS BLINDFOLDED ALL WHILE THIS THING CAUGHT ON FIRE” you screamed staring at him

you took a couple of deep breaths, using your back of your hand to wipe the sweat from your face

“so… I guess this is a yes?” you gave him an angry look, but his expression caught you off guard

he looked a little nervous, and even though you wanted to kick him for doing this without any heads up, you couldn’t actually blame him

you’re the one who accepted going on stage, and you’re the one that was expecting a mind-blowing performance from him

he delivered it, you can’t deny it, so you really didn’t have to be so mean to him

“I was just trying to impress you, I’m sorry” he apologized with his head down and your heart shattered like it was made of glass

“don’t apologize, you were great” you smiled a bit seeing his lifting his head to look at you

“you think so? I scared you” he placed his hands behind his back, and although his arms flexed lusciously, the fear in his gaze was all you could focus on

he asked you if you were scared, but now you know he’s the scared one

“you didn’t scare me, you just took me by surprise, that’s all” you gave him a comforting smile and he nodded, seeming to regain his confidence back

“may I know your name or should I just call you Spear B?”

“my name’s Changbin, but you can call me cutie if you want to”

“Changbin is fine” you laughed

“Then I’ll call you cutie” he winked, making you blush a little

“this is my first time visiting your city, can you show me around?” Changbin asked

“is this your smooth way to ask me on a date?” you teased

“it was just my way of asking you out, I know it wasn’t smooth at all” he placed his right hand behind his neck and let out an awkward laugh

“it wasn’t, but I liked it” you replied “this is a small town, but I can show you some fun places”

“I’ll get changed real quick and be back, you can wait me outside” Changbin said cheerfully and ran backstage

you laughed at the situation and got off the stage

you didn’t even noticed everyone was gone because Changbin fogged your mind with his presence

you went outside and sighed in relief after breathing the fresh night breeze

there were still some children with their parents taking pictures and chatting with the hybrid performers, and you thought of Changbin

he was able to play with fire so easily, but was he also a hybrid?

there were no records of hybrids that can control fire, so what was he?

“psst” you turned your head to see Changbin’s head peeking from a small spot near the tent and you smiled walking towards him

“shall we?” Changbin put on a black cap matching the rest of his black outfit

he was just in regular loose clothes, but he looked so good it was unfair

the two of you began walking away from the tent, bodies so close that your hands were slightly rubbing together

after a small silence, you decided to speak

“I’m sorry if this sounds rude, but I need to ask… what are you?”

“I’m a hybrid” Changbin told you

“yeah, I figured that out” you replied “but I still don’t know what kind of hybrid you are”

“can’t you tell?” he opened his arms so you could take a better look at him

damn, he was fine

“no, I mean.. you look like a normal human being”

“no, I look like a hot human being” yeah, you couldn’t deny it

“and how are hot human beings created?” you asked raising your eyebrow

“crossbreeding with fire-breathing dragons, cutie” he winked

“what?!” you laughed aloud in the middle of the street, he was totally messing with you

“c’mon, please, I need to know, I’m dying of curiosity”

“I’m serious” he said laughing as well

“ah, stop it” you lightly pushed him to the side and continued walking

“why do you think I can control fire?”

“dragons are mythical creatures, they don’t exist” you stated

“tell science that”

“then how? how are you possible?” you pointed at him

“my grandpa was an experiment, his lab was trying to create legendary hybrids for selected people to own”

“the scientists somehow managed to encode a fire ability into a lizard-like gene and ta-da! my grandpa was created”

to say you were in shock was an understatement, but he continued explaining anyways

“my grandpa was the only one who survived, his brothers and sisters all had weird mutations and faced horrible deaths”

“but he didn’t show any signs of being a hybrid, he wasn’t immune to fire, he couldn’t control it, he didn’t have scales, he just looked like a normal boy”

“and that’s why the scientists tried to kill him, cause he was flawed and reminded them of their failure, but luckily he managed to escape and found refuge in the circus”

“he was just a regular juggler until puberty came, then black scales grew on his torso, arms, and neck, fire could not harm him and he could not only control fire but produce it as well”

“then my grandpa knew the lab had succeeded creating a dragon hybrid, but they never knew”

“he became the main attraction of the circus and everyone everywhere came to see him. Some people even tried to buy him, but the circus is a huge family and we don’t sell our own”

“he made a lot of money and the circus was thriving, those were happy days as they tell me”

“my grandpa met my grandma, they had my mom, but she didn’t had the dragon gene”

“my grandpa was disappointed that he couldn't pass on his abilities, until baby Changbin was born” you laughed of the way he said this

“I mean, I didn’t come out of my mom’s womb spitting fire, but I was never burnt, so my grandpa thought that I must be special like him, and he was right, but we only found it when I hit puberty as well”

“yeah, I’m a man now, you can tell that, right?” he wiggled his eyebrows making you laugh again

“my grandpa taught me all the tricks he knew and here I am, trying my best to build my legacy as a legendary hybrid too”

wow… you’d never guess this is his family’s story

“is your grandpa alive?” you asked

“yeah, and he’s still performing” he smiled proudly “he’s with the main circus in another town, this circus is actually a side one, he says I need to practice in front of people and there’s no better way to practice if not in front of someone special”

“you didn’t practice in front of me, you practiced with me” you laughed

“but I did alright, didn’t I?”

“yeah, you did” you gave him a fond smile

“here we are” you smiled seeing the bright neon plaque of the only ice cream parlour in your town

you both got inside, and since the owner knew you too well, he promptly began preparing your order

“this is really small, but I swear they have amazing flavors” you said “but if you want to stick to the traditional ones, they have it too”

“here you go” the owner handed you the single scoop of chocolate ice cream with melted chocolate on top and your mouth watered

“thank you, can you put it in the tab, please?”

“I can pay” Changbin reached for his back pocket, but you stopped him

“it’s okay, I have an open tab here, I’m a regular” you explained

“you won’t have anything?” you asked already tasting your ice cream

“no, I’m cool” Changbin quickly replied “can we…?” he pointed outside and you nodded, even though you thought his behavior was a bit odd

you both resumed walking and you began sharing with him some funny stories about the ice cream place 

“I’ve never had ice cream” Changbin confessed unexpectedly and you stopped on your tracks

“why not?!” you were confused

“it’s too cold, I can’t eat it”

“really?”

“yeah, it hurts if I drink, eat or stand too close to something extremely cold” Changbin sounded a bit disappointed

now it made sense why he was so eager to leave the ice cream parlour, he wasn’t feeling well

“so you have no idea what is like to have ice cream? seriously?” he nodded

you had to show him somehow what ice cream tastes like, so you got closer to him, holding his neck tightly and pressing your cold lips on his

Changbin let out a bit of smoke through his nostrils, making you laugh and breaking the sweet kiss

“I was just regulating my body temperature” his cheeks were reddened

“I’ll take that as a compliment” you smiled

he licked his lips and smiled too

“chocolate ice cream is really good, by the way” Changbin said “but now I wonder what strawberry ice cream tastes like”

“why don’t we find out?” you smiled even more, intertwining your fingers with Changbin’s, pulling him back to the ice cream shop

thankfully, there were many flavors for you to show him tonight

[lokislytherin]

burn the stage pt.1 // circus!bts

pairings: jeon jeongguk x park jimin, min yoongi x jung hoseok, kim namjoon x kim seokjin

summary: the infamous cirque du blindé arrives in town.  but one night, everything goes horribly, wrong… and it’s up to rookie reporter and photographer jeon jeongguk to find out why.

word count: 1902 + 

a/n: well hello there! i came up with this whole idea because i thought jimin would make a very pretty trapeze artist.  that’s basically it.  there are various references to different things in this, but i’m not gonna point them out and i’ll see who’s smart enough to spot them.

also, happy birthday jeongguk! 

enjoy!

part 1 / 2 / 3 (to be added)

FRIDAY, NIGHT

la cirque du blindé arrives during the night, like it always does.

soundlessly, it creeps into the city of busan in its darkest hours, bringing with it shadows of caravans, dimly lit by rattling lanterns and flickering light bulbs.  if you look closely, you can see the silhouette of an elephant in its trailer, briefly illuminated by the faintest shine of moonlight.

nobody quite knows what happens then - they know the circus best during the day, a shining, shimmering, splendid phenomenon, with the sole purpose that is to entertain them.

they see the roaring lions leaping through blazing hoops of flame, led by their daring trainer j-hope who loves the lions as much as they love him; v, who silently entices children and adults alike with the way he seemingly weaves magic with his fingers, tricking the audience into seeing what he wants them to no matter how close they look.

(the closer you look, the less you see, he likes to say with an enigmatic smile that drives the ladies absolutely wild.)

they see rm, the ringmaster, whose hypnotic gaze and charismatic smile never fails to amaze and astound as he guesses the audience's thoughts with ease; the dashing escape artist jin, who seems to cheat death at every turn, who is as skilled at his craft as he is good looking.

(and mind you, he is very good looking.  he's a fan favorite, clearly not without reason.)

last but most definitely not least, they see jimin.

they see jimin, the trapeze artist in his sparkling tuxedo, the solo star attraction of la cirque du blindé.  jimin, with his hands white with chalk, with corded muscles under a slim build.  jimin, who soars above the crowd, a picture of elegance and agility, a balance of strength and beauty.

sights like this is exactly why jeon jeongguk loves the circus - he loves the way the colors flutter in the breeze, as if they are shouting their presence to the world; the way the circus defies reality and brings all into a whole new world of wonder far away from the troubles of their daily lives.

like almost every child, he's had dreams of running away with the circus; enchanted by the low growl of the motorbike as the stuntman revs the motor in preparation for his tricks, amused as the circus monkey screeches in the unfortunate ringmaster's ear.

as the lead photographer of 'busan daily', it's jeongguk's job to capture the magic in action, wherever it is.  he could be at a sports tournament, or standing in the middle of the street, but he has the power to freeze special moments in time forever, to make something so mundane seem so powerful at the same time.  he's been sent to photograph various different things before - butterflies, taxis, singers on stage.

this time, he's in charge of capturing the mystique of the circus.  la cirque du blindé has only been to busan once before; it was at least twenty years ago, a few years before jeongguk was born.  briefly, he wonders why they're returning - perhaps it's the fact that the trapeze artist jimin was born in busan, as he's heard from one of his journalist colleagues.

jeongguk has just turned twenty-two, and is the youngest lead photographer that 'busan daily' has ever had, but strangely enough, he's excited for the circus.  his good friend min yoongi knows that all too well - as photographer and journalist respectfully, he and yoongi are covering the circus together.

yoongi's teasing criticisms aside, jeongguk is hyped for the circus, and he's determined to do well.  photography is his passion, but it's his job and source of money, too.

~~~

SATURDAY, AFTERNOON

jeongguk and yoongi stand in line for entry to la cirque du blindé, the latter holding a portable fan to his face for dear life as the sun mercilessly beats down on them both.

unfortunately for the duo, the shadow of the big top falls on the other side of the crowd, missing them completely.  jeongguk stares mournfully at the shade.  they stand out, and painfully so - two (very single) grown men awkwardly queuing up among a herd of parents, some of them with their children, others by themselves as their children explore the surroundings.

"jeongguk-ah," yoongi groans as beads of sweat roll down his face, "remind me again, why the hell are we here?" he wipes off some of the liquid with a tissue, but more takes its place.

jeongguk can feel his shirt clinging to his skin, the mere heat of the day frying his brain cells.  his hair is burning hot.

around them, little kids run around, childish glee painted on their young faces as they chase the balloon man and nag him for free balloons.  obviously, the balloon man can't let that happen - he needs to get paid.  but the children can dream, can't they?

"we're getting paid for this, hyung," jeongguk reminds yoongi with a small smile, "besides, it's gonna be great."

yoongi sniffs disapprovingly.  "yeah, we'll see about that later."

yoongi has never been a fan of people anyway.

"la cirque du blindé is open now! please enter through the front gates!" a voice booms out of the loudspeakers.  much to jeongguk's amusement, yoongi jumps a little as a clown on a tricycle honks loudly next to him and almost knocks him right over.

"you never saw that," the older man mutters grumpily, straightening his jacket.

jeongguk cackles.  "sure thing, yoongi-hyung."

yoongi scowls and sulks in silence as they trail in behind the crowd, finally walking into the shade of the circus house.  overhead, a large fan blasts cool air at them, and jeongguk sighs delightfully, closing his eyes in bliss.  it's far too hot outside.

they settle in at the front row - as media, they have advantages, which includes getting the best view of the circus (for free, which both young men are grateful for).  yoongi whips a pen and notepad out of his pocket, and jeongguk readies his camera.

"ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please put your hands together for rm!"

the crowd squeals with glee as the ringmaster steps out onto the stage, all the lights focused on him, casting a tall shadow across the wooden floor.  his ringmaster's coat is red and black, complimenting his dark hair and dark eyes, sparkling faintly under the stage lights.  he carries a cane too, but jeongguk doubts he needs it - the man on the stage looks young and athletic, younger than yoongi but slightly older than jeongguk.

jeongguk takes in rm's remarkable stage presence; the stage is larger than many would be comfortable with, but the ringmaster stands like he owns the whole damn place, his stride confident.

there's a mischievous looking monkey perched on his shoulder, and jeongguk holds his camera a little tighter as he snaps a few quick shots of the ringmaster and his companion.  he's not entirely sure why, but the monkey seems to have quite a vested interest in his camera.

"hello everyone, and welcome to la cirque du blindé!"

the audience claps and whoops.  rm bows, coat fluttering.  

the monkey snatches the cane out of rm's hands and runs off with it, and the ringmaster has to chase after the furry devil in order to get it back.  he almost trips, causing a wave of laughter from the audience.  even yoongi cracks a smile.

"as you all know," continues rm, looking a little disgruntled as he nudges the monkey away from his hat, "i'm rm, the ringmaster, and i'll be your best friend today."

the creature by his side shrieks at him loudly.

"ignore the monkey, he has no manners and doesn't make friends easily.  i'm sure you all can see why." rm says with a playful shrug.

the cheeky creature yanks on rm's ears in response, hard.  jeongguk can't help but laugh at the pained expression on the ringmaster's face as he grabs the monkey by the torso and sets it on the floor before gently shooing it away with his foot.

"speaking of animals, let's welcome j-hope!"

rm steps back and disappears behind the curtains as flaming hoops rise out of the ground, loud roars echoing behind the flaps.

the crowd cheers as a pride of lions prowl out of the darkness.  they all wear darkly glimmering headgear, which matches the shimmering suit of the man at the head of them all.  jeongguk can only assume it's j-hope, the lion tamer.

shifting slightly to the side, jeongguk takes a picture of the scene.  it's a truly majestic sight - the lions look like they've accepted the man as their leader, and the lions look like they're j-hope's pride (pun fully intended).

the young man waves towards the audience, and the lions roar, circling around him almost protectively.  "hi everyone! i'm your hope, you're my hope, i'm j-hope!"

the crowd screams just as loudly as the lions roar.  true enough, j-hope's happiness and energy are infectious, as even yoongi smiles, a rare genuine smile.  jeongguk nudges the older man with a suggestive wiggle of his brows, knowing the journalist well enough to tell that he doesn't pay such close attention to somebody else often.  yoongi shoots him a threatening glare.

(their interaction is not missed by j-hope, who smiles and winks at yoongi, much to the journalist's embarrassment.)

the lion tamer picks up a large hoop, kneeling down in the center of the stage and holding the hoop above his head.  "who thinks this is going to work?"

the crowd screams their support, rooting for the young man and his pride of lions.  true enough, one of the lions leaps through the hoop, sharp claws narrowly missing j-hope's head.  jeongguk catches it in motion, but the angle isn't good.  he'll have to try again.

the hoops get progressively higher and higher, j-hope tossing chunks of meat at the lions when they perform the stunt correctly.  jeongguk watches yoongi scribble something into his notebook, but he can't read what it says; most journalists have developed their own special style of shorthand, and yoongi is no different.

soon, the flaming hoops are introduced.  this time, jeongguk has a good angle for the shot; he makes sure that the image is focused.  if he manages to get the timing right, this could very well be one of the best photos he's ever taken.

true enough, with j-hope's gentle coaxing, the biggest male manages to leap through without singing fur.

click!

jeongguk checks the picture, mentally clapping himself on the back.  true enough, he's got it - j-hope at the side, the lion front and center of the shot.  he's caught the lion mid-leap; half of him through the hoop, the other half behind.  he squints a little.  is it just him, or is there a dark figure at the back? he passes it off as one of the stagehands.

he squints a little.  is it just him, or is there a dark figure at the back of the photo? he passes it off as one of the stagehands.  it’s probably nothing special.

suddenly, everything seems deathly silent.

"jeongguk," a familiar voice tells him, "whatever you do, do not move."

[themindfulword]

THE LAST HURRAH: The Tragically Hip's

Downie's diagnosis and the latest album

April 2016. Whether or not The Tragically Hip had been informed of Gord Downie’s diagnosis isn't certain. What's certain is that the band’s label sensed, as with previous recent releases, that Man Machine Poem would be a challenging record to market. The label was well aware that there'd been a steady decline in sales over the past few years and that even another gold album would be cause for concern. Which is why they were getting an early start. On April 22, nearly two months ahead of the album’s release date, the first single “In a World Possessed” was released to mixed but largely positive reviews that accentuated the more daring aspects of the song. As a whole, the Canadian radio market wouldn't be overly impressed. The song managed a good-but-not-great No. 22 on the Canadian Alternative chart, but didn't crack the formal Canadian Singles Chart. This would prove to be the highest position, as follow-up singles “Tired as Fuck” and “What Blue” failed to chart. In the meantime, behind the scenes, The Tragically Hip were wondering how to handle Downie’s illness and present it to the public. And what would they do about the expected tour to follow the album’s release? Knowing that the news would eventually leak out, the band decided to announce Downie’s cancer in a formal press conference on May 25. As it would turn out, going on tour would be a tougher challenge. The typical Hip show was a strenuous, physically taxing exercise in normal instances. But in Downie’s present state, there were other issues to consider. The operations and chemotherapy procedures had weakened Downie to the point where it was questioned what kind of performance he was capable of over what could typically turn into a three-hour show. Memory issues were another concern. Downie had admitted in The Globe and Mail that, as recently as six weeks before the start of any proposed tour, he was having trouble remembering the names of The Hip’s albums and that forgetting lyrics at a critical point in a show was a real possibility. Neurologist Dr. James Perry would reiterate that Downie had been cleared to perform, that medical contingencies would be in place to avoid exhaustion and that the singer would be closely monitored. In a band statement released May 25, the group stated, “After some 30 years together as The Tragically Hip, thousands of shows and hundreds of tours, we’ve decided to do another one. This feels like the right thing to do for all of us.” For his part, Downie would acknowledge several times in the coming weeks that he wanted this tour to be a celebration that would take people away from the sadness. Those looking for the reported “final tour” to be a lengthy one would be disappointed. The announced tour would be a total of 15 shows between July 22 and August 20, 2016. All the shows would be in Canada and would include stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Toronto, Hamilton and finally, a return to their roots with the last show in Kingston. Other particulars of the tour would be announced along the way. There would be no opening act. And while never completely verified, it was reported that, owing to his memory lapses, Downie would be using a teleprompter. Suddenly, what had been shaping up as just another Hip album and tour had morphed into an unexpected event for the ages, which meant the band and journalists were working overtime to set the record straight with fans. Man Machine Poem was written and recorded well before Downie’s cancer diagnosis, not after. It's a bit premature to proclaim this as The Hip’s final tour and album with the band cautiously saying that, owing to Downie’s condition, the band would consider recording and touring again. But at the end of the day, it would all boil down to what the fans felt. Man Machine Poem was released on June 17, 2016. The album immediately shot to No. 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart and landed at a rather dreary No. 178 on the U.S. chart. Critics seemingly bent over backwards to be even-handed in their assessments but, truth be told, the spectre of Downie’s disease was never far from their thoughts. Reviews were generally positive, with the occasional mediocre or negative review given grudging points for bravery in the wake of the disclosure.

Ticket sale controversy

Tickets for the tour almost immediately went on sale with the announcement of the shows and, as it turned out, would cast a pale on the good cheer. Ticket scalpers and resale agencies swooped in and grabbed up all the tickets, which were instantly put up for resale at outlandish prices, well out of reach of The Tragically Hip’s most loyal and least well-off fans. Fans complained, and several news reports chronicling the unfair laws on the books, allowing agencies to gouge fans, appeared in the media throughout Canada. Eventually, the bad vibes made their way back to the band, who did their best to alleviate the problem by reconfiguring the shape of their performing stage to free up more seats. Unfortunately, those additional seats were quickly scooped up as well. An exasperated Rob Baker addressed the controversy with The Toronto Sun. “We’re sad and concerned about the situation. We make every effort to make sure it’s fair but much is beyond our control. We want fans rather than just the connected.”

The first stop: Victoria, B.C.

There was a lot of nervous energy and excitement in The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on July 22, the first stop on the Man Machine Poem tour. In the sold-out audience, emotions were running wild as fans screamed out the band’s name, reminisced freely about memories of seeing the band for the first time and, yes, broke into spontaneous tears as they dissected Downie and The Hip’s future. Backstage, it was reportedly all smiles and nervous anticipation. The Tragically Hip were ready to go. It was their time. Downie came out to thunderous applause, resplendent in his shiny performing finery. The audience responded to his mere presence as a second coming. He was not a saviour, but on this night, an argument could be made. The band reared up behind him in a fiery rock-and-roll blast and The Tragically Hip was off and running. The two-hour, 26-song retrospective of their career was wired on true passion, giving new life to songs they hadn't played in years and offering hard and emotion-filled renditions of newer material. It was one long party, with Downie the ringmaster and whirling dervish, giving no indication that he was a man on borrowed time. In fact, Downie’s current life and death struggles were nowhere to be found in the show, with only a quip of “shit happens” tossed off by the singer at one point as even a hint of his real-life challenges.

At the conclusion of the show, The Tragically Hip stood at centre stage, bowing and smiling broadly as they received the accolades. Downie ended the night quite simply when he said, “Goodbye. We love you. Thank you.” The Vancouver shows that followed were a conglomeration of the tour's opening show and new sights and sounds. Stories were once again told. People had come from everywhere to experience the band and to share stories of the importance that The Tragically Hip and their music had played out as signposts and cornerstones in their lives. Families spanning several generations hugged and cried. One audience member, old and grey, danced with abandon, rocking out and singing along. If the band had any rust in the first show, and yes, there were some timing issues and missed lyrics which would occasionally surface throughout the tour and which would be smoothed over with the help of strategically placed teleprompters, they were quickly forgotten and chalked up to being part of the experience. The band knew their place in Vancouver, flexing considerable muscle throughout the 30-song set as the perfect backdrop for Downie’s manic, passionate performance. And on those occasions when Downie seemed to temporarily lose his way, they were quick to blast out an impromptu bridge or solo to allow Downie to catch his mental breath. “It smells like dope in here,” the singer yelled early in the show, escaping into the vibe and the crowd. “It’s almost unsettling.” As each of the Vancouver shows concluded, the band took their expected group bow. Then the band left the stage, leaving Downie alone to soak up the adulation. “Thank you. Thank you. It means a lot.”

Avoiding media distractions throughout the tour

The band was so intent on making the best of what might well be their last tour that they didn't want any outside distractions getting in the way, especially when it came to the media. Consequently, the band did no interviews and had very little photo access during the tour. Some in the press complained, but not really that hard. They kind of understood the sanctity and purity that had developed in the band’s world at this moment. And even if they didn’t, The Hip could care less. They were working hard to make this tour perfect and they weren't going to let prying eyes get in the way. The Hip appeared to be hitting their stride during their Edmonton shows. The band provided some truly masterful rock moments in the two-hour plus shows and worked hard at making what could be the last time a truly magical night. Downie, during the first of the shows, seemed keenly aware and, reportedly, cognizant of how his mortality was playing into the show. When not belting out manic and heartfelt lyrics while owning the stage in an electric, dramatic way, Downie would acknowledge the songs with reverence and good cheer. He'd been emotionally on fire all through the tour, but when it came time to call it a night, there seemed to be an extra edge and no small amount of tears. “Walk to the horizon! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Behold! The end! The motorcycle gang member! The son of the chameleon! We’ve had a wonderful night here tonight and every night. Love you.” Winnipeg brought back some ironic memories. Early in The Hip’s career, the group had a tough time catching on in that neck of the woods and, as Downie reminded the sold-out audience that night, they'd been fired at least half a dozen times. But when the crowd responded to that bit of history in a boisterous, negative manner, the singer played peacemaker when he said, “It's OK. It’s time to forgive and forget.” Significant in the tour had been The Hip’s insistence on changing up the set list literally every show. Those hoping for all the hits and favourite album cuts were often met with obscurities and whole albums being excluded from the concert. The Winnipeg show would be no exception and led to one frustrated member of the audience to "tweet" about the worst set list ever. But those isolated complaints were more than compensated for by the pure majesty, the good time rock-and-roll vibe and no small amount of humility coming from the band. The London show was typified by never-ending good cheer: people meeting old and new friends amid Hip tales of first times and long-distance travels to see the band. Obviously, the band was the main attraction, but the real-life energy made for a more than admirable supporting cast. There was also an unbridled urgency as each song unfolded. This could very well be the last time the band appeared live and people were determined to enjoy and embrace every second of it.

Acknowledging reality

The Toronto shows appeared to reach a creative apex. Good times and good music were the order of the day, and it wasn't just for the fans. Beginning with the first show, there seemed a solidarity, an unspoken comradery in the way the band members stood close together and played their parts. It was a sign that more than 30 years together had forged a closeness that couldn't be broken apart. To this point in the tour, the notion of Downie being terminally ill had seemed to vanish from the equation. But there was a moment during the first show that indicated that reality was still uppermost in their minds. Downie had just completed a manic bit of business and the band was about to launch into a monster jam. But it appeared that Downie wasn’t finished, as he danced over to where Baker was playing and continued to gyrate and scream out some scat vocals. Suddenly, Baker reached out and tapped Downie on the shoulder. As it would turn out, it was a signal employed when Downie seemed to forget that part of his regimen was to take intermittent breaks during the show to keep his energy up. Downie got the picture and went offstage as the band continued to rock. Downie was definitely energized during the second Toronto show. At one point, early in the show during a frantic bit of song and dance, he admonished the crowd to get politically and socially active, especially as it pertained to Canadian First Nations rights. “Let’s get some f*cking courage!” he railed. Moments later, he'd bring down the house when he pretended to urinate on drummer Johnny Fay’s kit. The show was a musical and emotional rite of passage as hugs, kisses, memories and tears formed a literal rainbow over the stage and the band as The Hip continued the tour policy of playing their hearts out. Like previous nights, the show ended with Downie on the stage, soaking up the adulation and taking his bows. His final words this night were cryptic but no less touching. “And it just disappears. It just disappears. And that’s OK too.” By the time The Hip got to Hamilton, one began to wonder if it was the same group of diehard fans that had been following the band from show to show. The emotions and memories seemed the same, as did the laughs and cries. The show was long and inclusive of just about every album in the band’s catalogue. The performance was alternately joyous and poignant. The notion that this could, indeed, be the last Hip tour was very much in the thoughts of the band and those in the sold-out arena. These would be thoughts that were very much in the air when Downie stood alone at the end of the show. “It was a lot of fun,” he told the cheering crowd. “That is the main idea. None of it will last much longer than the particular phone you’re shooting it on. And that’s OK. It'll be the little feelings that will pop up here and there.”

The last show in Kingston

Even before the Man Machine Poem tour started, the vibe was definitely on August 20, 2016's final show in Kingston. The notion of The Tragically Hip literally and spiritually bringing it all full-circle to where the band began reeked of the best possible nostalgia. Sure, on a certain level, it seemed so corny and, perhaps, a bit cheesy. But, at the end of the day, it was just so damned right and appropriate and had captured the hopes, dreams, support and dedication of the town that just couldn't be denied. With the show long since sold out and millions across the country hoping for either another or a first chance at seeing the band, the fairy godmother of Hipdom strategically appeared. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the prime broadcaster of television and radio content in the country, stepped in with an offer too good to resist. The CBC would simulcast, commercial-free, The Tragically Hip’s Kingston concert to all of its major television and radio outlets under the title The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration. Subsequently, several live-stream viewings ran, including one in Kingston’s Market Square. The city of Kingston finally made the band’s homecoming official when it voted to declare the day of the concert Tragically Hip Day. A reported 11.7 million people would take advantage of the CBC’s generosity.

Kingston's Brock St., one of four streets bordering the Springer Market Square Crowds began gathering outside the concert hall hours before the show was scheduled to start. Those with the prized tickets mixed and mingled joyously, with a large dose of sentiment in and around the city proper, talking in highly personal and often tearful terms of how their lives had intersected with the band’s over the years and what the impact of a Canadian band carrying the banner for their country meant to them. Among them was the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who'd been a fan of The Hip since high school and, over the years, had formed a strong bond with the band. For Trudeau, protocol and influence went out the window on that day. He walked the streets of Kingston in a joyous daze, celebrating with fans and being beseeched by media for his feelings on the day and the band. His responses were true and heartfelt. The man who ran the country was a fan for the day. Indifferent to the growing crowds, the doors opened two hours early and those with tickets walked happily through, alternately delighted and subdued at what they were about to see and hear. Backstage, the band reportedly was reflecting similar thoughts, making small talk and welcoming well-wishers with hugs, smiling and nervous laughter. And, most certainly, acknowledging, inwardly, that the time had certainly come and that Kingston might really be their "last hurrah." A stirring rendition of “O Canada,” sung by thousands of fans, welcomed the band to the stage. Then it was on to the last hurrah, a two-hour plus set of nearly 30 songs that, collectively, had meant so much to so many. One didn't have to stretch to realize that The Hip were trying extra hard for the hometown folks. The band kicked each tune into overdrive with monstrous riffs and runs—just that little bit extra that translated into so much more. Downie was on fire throughout. His interpretation of songs he'd sung countless times were reaching that much higher, as he was wringing every possible bit of emotion, drama and sentimentality out of them. His demeanour on stage was loose but nonetheless passionate. Downie knew the score. He wasn’t going to give what could be his last shot anything but everything he could muster.

Final words from Downie

Downie stood centre stage, alone, for what may well have been the final time. There were tears in his eyes. “Thank you for a great tour and a great show. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Thank you for keeping me pushing. Thank you for listening, everybody. Thank you for listening, period… …”Have a nice life.” image 1: Fireflyer87 via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons BY-SA / Cropped from original); image 2: Moyia Misner-Pellow (Creative Commons BY-SA); image 3: JustSomePics via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons BY-SA)   Click to Post

[straynstay]

Changbin - Hybrid AU!

you hated the circus

what’s the point of seeing people on weird makeups making a fool of themselves to be laughed at?

but here you were anyways since it was the only entertainment you had in such a small town where you lived

the guy on the ticket booth looked like he wished he was doing something else instead, and his attempt to smile almost freaked you out

you bought the ticket and entered the Big Top, cursing yourself mentally for willingly coming to this horrifying place

you sat as far from the stage as you could on a plastic chair that felt like it could break at any moment

the lights were barely on, so the gloomy atmosphere and the not so big tent sent shivers down your spine

and it didn’t help when they began playing that maddening circus theme song to excite the public that was coming inside

oh how much you hated the circus!

when you got up thinking that maybe it was best to leave, the lights went out and the ringmaster’s voice echoed through the small arena

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages… WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS!”

you had to sit again because the kids behind you were complaining about you blocking their view

you took a deep breath, feeling uneasy when two clowns suddenly showed up messing with the crowd

you closed your eyes wishing this would all be over soon

after quite some time and some lame jokes, the clowns were replaced by acrobats

but not common acrobats

cat hybrids that were spinning in circles in the ‘curtains’, meters away from the ground

and you felt a bit sad for them, although they were smiling while performing on air

hybrids were some sort of a different “pet” you could own if you had money to purchase them from specialized labs

they were custom made as half human and half the animal of your preference, which was kinda weird because they still looked human, except for some furry ears, tails and animal-like behavior sometimes  

most hybrids were well taken care of by their owners, but those who got discarded for whatever reason usually ended up as beggars, sold themselves to science or found refuge on the nearest circus

and that’s why you felt bad for them

the circus experience became ten times worse now, your stomach churning inside your belly from the terrible thoughts of what they must have been through

the acrobats finished their performance and everyone was applauding and cheering

soon after, two elderly men, an elephant hybrid and a lion hybrid, came out to show their juggling skills

it was your first time seeing these types of hybrids and you got really excited for the first time tonight

they were considered rare specimens because their animal part was too wild and too much trouble to handle, that‘s why over the years everyone preferred more domesticated animals to crossbreed

wow, maybe coming to the circus wasn’t so bad, after all, you got to see something new today

the jugglers thanked the crowd once finished, and you applauded for the first time

the acrobats came back with different clothing to walk the tightrope twice: by themselves, and then one standing on the other’s shoulders

it wasn’t as exciting as their first performance, but it was well executed nonetheless

you applauded too, feeling a bit better knowing that the show was coming to an end

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages... “ the ringmaster spoke again in the middle of the stage under a spotlight

“... you’ve laughed with our clowns, you’ve been thrilled by our acrobats, you were amazed by our jugglers, but now it’s time!” drum rolls filled the arena

“It’s time to be mesmerized by our main attraction of the night!” the spotlight began shifting its position, as if searching for someone

“Brace yourselves because it's gonna get hot in here! Make some noise for Spear B!”

the kids went wild when a young guy wearing black clothes with lots and lots of glitter stood where the ringmaster was before

he smiled politely to the crowd and got ready to begin his act

he first snapped his right fingers, which suddenly produced fire

what the hell? how?

he then snapped his left fingers a couple of times, but as nothing happened everyone started laughing, you included

the guy shrugged and clapped his hands, making them lit up with flames

wow, this was so cool! you’ve never seen anything like this before!

he picked up three regular juggling balls and began playing with them

one by one the balls were being engulfed in fire as he continued to juggle them

there must be something behind these fiery tricks, but the young guy was so entertaining you couldn’t quite see through his acts

everyone applauded and cheered him, and you realized your mouth was slightly open

but how could you not when he’s really good at controlling fire like this?

and he was kinda cute too, you must admit, the way his eyes sparked whenever he accomplished a trick and the smile that followed right after was sometimes more mesmerizing than the tricks themselves

the circus staff brought a huge wooden target that had already signs of being burned before

“And for Spear B’s last act, we need a brave soul to come up on stage and be his victim” the ringmaster announced unseen and the kids went crazy

they were screaming “Me! Me!”, raising their little hands and jumping up and down to call his attention

but his dark eyes found yours in the middle of all this craziness and your heart skipped a beat

he needed someone from the audience to help on his next trick and everyone was volunteering, but he picked you

why??????

WHY???????

the staff came straight to you after he pointed to your seat and helped you go up on the stage with him

“I'm not really comfortable with this” you stated as soon as he stood in front of you

“you'll be fine, just don't move. At all. I'm not joking. Don't move” he said taking you to the huge target and tying your hands and feet in a Vitruvian Man position

you weren't ready, you weren't even supposed to be here, why did you come to the circus?!

you pretty much freaked out when you saw the young guy getting six freaking spears and placing them on the floor next to him

WHAT THE HELL??

that's what you screamed trying to free yourself from the restraints

“Why do you think I’m Spear B?” he laughed at your scared face

“What does the B stand for?” you asked, still trying to untie your hands

“Beautiful, brilliant…” he shrugged smiling

“Batshit crazy!” you remarked when the spear in his hand caught on fire out of the blue

“Maybe a little” he was having fun with your despair, you could notice

“Now, don't move. At all! Please, I don't wanna hurt you”

oh God, you’re dying today!

if not from the spear or the fire, then from the guy in front of you cause he was even cuter than what you thought and this is weird cause you're probably dying by his hands, but maybe you are crushing on him???

the young guy raised the spear in your direction and you froze in fear

the arena was suddenly quiet and you closed your eyes

dear Lord, may You receive this poor soul that’s about to ascend to Heaven soon...

then a loud thud echoed in your left ear and you heard screams and applauses

you're still alive!

you opened your eyes and shut them tightly again cause there he was again ready to throw another freaking flaming spear near your head

you didn't even breath because you didn't want to move at all, scared that he might miss the target that's not you

another loud thud and more cheering

he then threw one on each side of your leg, one in the middle of your legs, and the last one on the small space on top of your head

he did it all without causing you any harm, not even a single hair was burned, and you thanked the heavens for it because you weren't ready to die today

“Give it up for Spear B!” the ringmaster shouted and the young guy opened his arms to receive the applauses

he thanked everyone and bowed politely towards the crowd before tilting his head back and shocking everyone when a stream of fire lit up the entire tent

like…. WHAT?????

he was actually fire breathing without any external help, how?? was he a hybrid? but he doesn’t look like a hybrid at all, what's going on?!

the staff came to untie you, but you didn't even move because you were mesmerized by his flame

the staff thanked you for taking part on his act, and after he finished breathing fire he came to grab your hand and thank the crowd with you

it felt amazing to stand by his side after what you just experienced

he was so fascinating, you felt as if he had bewitched you with his fire

yeah, maybe that's what the B actually stands for: bewitcher

cause there's no other explanation for your feelings right now

everyone cheered loud for both of you and soon you were getting off the stage to return to your place on the cheap plastic chair

you sat down knowing the ringmaster was talking, but you just didn't hear, your mind was on the backstage wondering what Spear B might be doing now, what was his name, how old was he, why he could do this with fire…

“excuse me” a parent tapped your leg and you got up right away

“sorry” you smiled shyly for not noticing the people around you leaving the arena

the show was over and you couldn't believe you were feeling sad

you walked to the exit and saw some kids outside taking pictures with the hybrids

“thanks for coming, we hope you enjoyed it” the ringmaster was greeting those leaving and he smiled at you

“great performance” he gave you thumbs up and you laughed

“thanks, I guess” you moved with the people around you, only dispersing when you reached outside

the buttery smell of popcorn suddenly filled your nose because of a small popcorn bag almost being shoved in your face

“thanks for helping me tonight” Spear B was in front of you with regular black clothes and a beanie, looking even more handsome than before

oh God, his smile was so genuine and pure and so brilliant and so cute… he was making you fall in love

“it's was nothing” that's what you managed to reply before taking the bag and start eating

“that's not what it looked like, you seemed really scared” he laughed mimicking your face

what a great first impression you left on him!

“well, you would be terrified too if you saw freaking spears on fire coming to stick you on a human target” you huffed

“I'm just messing with you, you were great, didn't move at all”

“that's because I froze facing my imminent death” you made him laugh

“c’mon, you don't trust my skills?” he faked being hurt

“I do now that I'm alive, but I wouldn't go there again”

“not even if I said ‘pretty please’”? he put his hands together and acted cute

holy shit, your heart felt like it was gonna get off you chest

you coughed trying to calm yourself and decided to change the subject

“by the way how do you do it?”

“well, I basically just aim and throw the spear, it's not that hard” he shrugged

“I meant the fire thing” you laughed seeing him open his mouth saying “ahhh”

he was messing with you again and usually you wouldn't be patient enough to stick around boys like this for too long

but since he was so different, he also made you feel different

and you were enjoying these new feelings

“hey, they want pictures!” one of the cat hybrids called the young guy, who said he'd be there in a minute

“I can't really tell you my secret powers, but I'll think about it if you come again”

“again? when?”

“tomorrow” he smiled. “I'll make a better performance just for you if you come”

better than what you saw tonight? quite impossible, but you were intrigued to say the least

“then you should start practicing cause I'll be here on time”

“you won't be disappointed” Spear B smiled brightly watching you wave goodbye

[themindfulword]

THE LAST HURRAH: The Tragically Hip's

Downie's diagnosis and the latest album

April 2016. Whether or not The Tragically Hip had been informed of Gord Downie’s diagnosis isn't certain. What's certain is that the band’s label sensed, as with previous recent releases, that Man Machine Poem would be a challenging record to market. The label was well aware that there'd been a steady decline in sales over the past few years and that even another gold album would be cause for concern. Which is why they were getting an early start. On April 22, nearly two months ahead of the album’s release date, the first single “In a World Possessed” was released to mixed but largely positive reviews that accentuated the more daring aspects of the song. As a whole, the Canadian radio market wouldn't be overly impressed. The song managed a good-but-not-great No. 22 on the Canadian Alternative chart, but didn't crack the formal Canadian Singles Chart. This would prove to be the highest position, as follow-up singles “Tired as Fuck” and “What Blue” failed to chart. In the meantime, behind the scenes, The Tragically Hip were wondering how to handle Downie’s illness and present it to the public. And what would they do about the expected tour to follow the album’s release? Knowing that the news would eventually leak out, the band decided to announce Downie’s cancer in a formal press conference on May 25. As it would turn out, going on tour would be a tougher challenge. The typical Hip show was a strenuous, physically taxing exercise in normal instances. But in Downie’s present state, there were other issues to consider. The operations and chemotherapy procedures had weakened Downie to the point where it was questioned what kind of performance he was capable of over what could typically turn into a three-hour show. Memory issues were another concern. Downie had admitted in The Globe and Mail that, as recently as six weeks before the start of any proposed tour, he was having trouble remembering the names of The Hip’s albums and that forgetting lyrics at a critical point in a show was a real possibility. Neurologist Dr. James Perry would reiterate that Downie had been cleared to perform, that medical contingencies would be in place to avoid exhaustion and that the singer would be closely monitored. In a band statement released May 25, the group stated, “After some 30 years together as The Tragically Hip, thousands of shows and hundreds of tours, we’ve decided to do another one. This feels like the right thing to do for all of us.” For his part, Downie would acknowledge several times in the coming weeks that he wanted this tour to be a celebration that would take people away from the sadness. Those looking for the reported “final tour” to be a lengthy one would be disappointed. The announced tour would be a total of 15 shows between July 22 and August 20, 2016. All the shows would be in Canada and would include stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Toronto, Hamilton and finally, a return to their roots with the last show in Kingston. Other particulars of the tour would be announced along the way. There would be no opening act. And while never completely verified, it was reported that, owing to his memory lapses, Downie would be using a teleprompter. Suddenly, what had been shaping up as just another Hip album and tour had morphed into an unexpected event for the ages, which meant the band and journalists were working overtime to set the record straight with fans. Man Machine Poem was written and recorded well before Downie’s cancer diagnosis, not after. It's a bit premature to proclaim this as The Hip’s final tour and album with the band cautiously saying that, owing to Downie’s condition, the band would consider recording and touring again. But at the end of the day, it would all boil down to what the fans felt. Man Machine Poem was released on June 17, 2016. The album immediately shot to No. 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart and landed at a rather dreary No. 178 on the U.S. chart. Critics seemingly bent over backwards to be even-handed in their assessments but, truth be told, the spectre of Downie’s disease was never far from their thoughts. Reviews were generally positive, with the occasional mediocre or negative review given grudging points for bravery in the wake of the disclosure.

Ticket sale controversy

Tickets for the tour almost immediately went on sale with the announcement of the shows and, as it turned out, would cast a pale on the good cheer. Ticket scalpers and resale agencies swooped in and grabbed up all the tickets, which were instantly put up for resale at outlandish prices, well out of reach of The Tragically Hip’s most loyal and least well-off fans. Fans complained, and several news reports chronicling the unfair laws on the books, allowing agencies to gouge fans, appeared in the media throughout Canada. Eventually, the bad vibes made their way back to the band, who did their best to alleviate the problem by reconfiguring the shape of their performing stage to free up more seats. Unfortunately, those additional seats were quickly scooped up as well. An exasperated Rob Baker addressed the controversy with The Toronto Sun. “We’re sad and concerned about the situation. We make every effort to make sure it’s fair but much is beyond our control. We want fans rather than just the connected.”

The first stop: Victoria, B.C.

There was a lot of nervous energy and excitement in The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on July 22, the first stop on the Man Machine Poem tour. In the sold-out audience, emotions were running wild as fans screamed out the band’s name, reminisced freely about memories of seeing the band for the first time and, yes, broke into spontaneous tears as they dissected Downie and The Hip’s future. Backstage, it was reportedly all smiles and nervous anticipation. The Tragically Hip were ready to go. It was their time. Downie came out to thunderous applause, resplendent in his shiny performing finery. The audience responded to his mere presence as a second coming. He was not a saviour, but on this night, an argument could be made. The band reared up behind him in a fiery rock-and-roll blast and The Tragically Hip was off and running. The two-hour, 26-song retrospective of their career was wired on true passion, giving new life to songs they hadn't played in years and offering hard and emotion-filled renditions of newer material. It was one long party, with Downie the ringmaster and whirling dervish, giving no indication that he was a man on borrowed time. In fact, Downie’s current life and death struggles were nowhere to be found in the show, with only a quip of “shit happens” tossed off by the singer at one point as even a hint of his real-life challenges.

At the conclusion of the show, The Tragically Hip stood at centre stage, bowing and smiling broadly as they received the accolades. Downie ended the night quite simply when he said, “Goodbye. We love you. Thank you.” The Vancouver shows that followed were a conglomeration of the tour's opening show and new sights and sounds. Stories were once again told. People had come from everywhere to experience the band and to share stories of the importance that The Tragically Hip and their music had played out as signposts and cornerstones in their lives. Families spanning several generations hugged and cried. One audience member, old and grey, danced with abandon, rocking out and singing along. If the band had any rust in the first show, and yes, there were some timing issues and missed lyrics which would occasionally surface throughout the tour and which would be smoothed over with the help of strategically placed teleprompters, they were quickly forgotten and chalked up to being part of the experience. The band knew their place in Vancouver, flexing considerable muscle throughout the 30-song set as the perfect backdrop for Downie’s manic, passionate performance. And on those occasions when Downie seemed to temporarily lose his way, they were quick to blast out an impromptu bridge or solo to allow Downie to catch his mental breath. “It smells like dope in here,” the singer yelled early in the show, escaping into the vibe and the crowd. “It’s almost unsettling.” As each of the Vancouver shows concluded, the band took their expected group bow. Then the band left the stage, leaving Downie alone to soak up the adulation. “Thank you. Thank you. It means a lot.”

Avoiding media distractions throughout the tour

The band was so intent on making the best of what might well be their last tour that they didn't want any outside distractions getting in the way, especially when it came to the media. Consequently, the band did no interviews and had very little photo access during the tour. Some in the press complained, but not really that hard. They kind of understood the sanctity and purity that had developed in the band’s world at this moment. And even if they didn’t, The Hip could care less. They were working hard to make this tour perfect and they weren't going to let prying eyes get in the way. The Hip appeared to be hitting their stride during their Edmonton shows. The band provided some truly masterful rock moments in the two-hour plus shows and worked hard at making what could be the last time a truly magical night. Downie, during the first of the shows, seemed keenly aware and, reportedly, cognizant of how his mortality was playing into the show. When not belting out manic and heartfelt lyrics while owning the stage in an electric, dramatic way, Downie would acknowledge the songs with reverence and good cheer. He'd been emotionally on fire all through the tour, but when it came time to call it a night, there seemed to be an extra edge and no small amount of tears. “Walk to the horizon! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Behold! The end! The motorcycle gang member! The son of the chameleon! We’ve had a wonderful night here tonight and every night. Love you.” Winnipeg brought back some ironic memories. Early in The Hip’s career, the group had a tough time catching on in that neck of the woods and, as Downie reminded the sold-out audience that night, they'd been fired at least half a dozen times. But when the crowd responded to that bit of history in a boisterous, negative manner, the singer played peacemaker when he said, “It's OK. It’s time to forgive and forget.” Significant in the tour had been The Hip’s insistence on changing up the set list literally every show. Those hoping for all the hits and favourite album cuts were often met with obscurities and whole albums being excluded from the concert. The Winnipeg show would be no exception and led to one frustrated member of the audience to "tweet" about the worst set list ever. But those isolated complaints were more than compensated for by the pure majesty, the good time rock-and-roll vibe and no small amount of humility coming from the band. The London show was typified by never-ending good cheer: people meeting old and new friends amid Hip tales of first times and long-distance travels to see the band. Obviously, the band was the main attraction, but the real-life energy made for a more than admirable supporting cast. There was also an unbridled urgency as each song unfolded. This could very well be the last time the band appeared live and people were determined to enjoy and embrace every second of it.

Acknowledging reality

The Toronto shows appeared to reach a creative apex. Good times and good music were the order of the day, and it wasn't just for the fans. Beginning with the first show, there seemed a solidarity, an unspoken comradery in the way the band members stood close together and played their parts. It was a sign that more than 30 years together had forged a closeness that couldn't be broken apart. To this point in the tour, the notion of Downie being terminally ill had seemed to vanish from the equation. But there was a moment during the first show that indicated that reality was still uppermost in their minds. Downie had just completed a manic bit of business and the band was about to launch into a monster jam. But it appeared that Downie wasn’t finished, as he danced over to where Baker was playing and continued to gyrate and scream out some scat vocals. Suddenly, Baker reached out and tapped Downie on the shoulder. As it would turn out, it was a signal employed when Downie seemed to forget that part of his regimen was to take intermittent breaks during the show to keep his energy up. Downie got the picture and went offstage as the band continued to rock. Downie was definitely energized during the second Toronto show. At one point, early in the show during a frantic bit of song and dance, he admonished the crowd to get politically and socially active, especially as it pertained to Canadian First Nations rights. “Let’s get some f*cking courage!” he railed. Moments later, he'd bring down the house when he pretended to urinate on drummer Johnny Fay’s kit. The show was a musical and emotional rite of passage as hugs, kisses, memories and tears formed a literal rainbow over the stage and the band as The Hip continued the tour policy of playing their hearts out. Like previous nights, the show ended with Downie on the stage, soaking up the adulation and taking his bows. His final words this night were cryptic but no less touching. “And it just disappears. It just disappears. And that’s OK too.” By the time The Hip got to Hamilton, one began to wonder if it was the same group of diehard fans that had been following the band from show to show. The emotions and memories seemed the same, as did the laughs and cries. The show was long and inclusive of just about every album in the band’s catalogue. The performance was alternately joyous and poignant. The notion that this could, indeed, be the last Hip tour was very much in the thoughts of the band and those in the sold-out arena. These would be thoughts that were very much in the air when Downie stood alone at the end of the show. “It was a lot of fun,” he told the cheering crowd. “That is the main idea. None of it will last much longer than the particular phone you’re shooting it on. And that’s OK. It'll be the little feelings that will pop up here and there.”

The last show in Kingston

Even before the Man Machine Poem tour started, the vibe was definitely on August 20, 2016's final show in Kingston. The notion of The Tragically Hip literally and spiritually bringing it all full-circle to where the band began reeked of the best possible nostalgia. Sure, on a certain level, it seemed so corny and, perhaps, a bit cheesy. But, at the end of the day, it was just so damned right and appropriate and had captured the hopes, dreams, support and dedication of the town that just couldn't be denied. With the show long since sold out and millions across the country hoping for either another or a first chance at seeing the band, the fairy godmother of Hipdom strategically appeared. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the prime broadcaster of television and radio content in the country, stepped in with an offer too good to resist. The CBC would simulcast, commercial-free, The Tragically Hip’s Kingston concert to all of its major television and radio outlets under the title The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration. Subsequently, several live-stream viewings ran, including one in Kingston’s Market Square. The city of Kingston finally made the band’s homecoming official when it voted to declare the day of the concert Tragically Hip Day. A reported 11.7 million people would take advantage of the CBC’s generosity.

Kingston's Brock St., one of four streets bordering the Springer Market Square Crowds began gathering outside the concert hall hours before the show was scheduled to start. Those with the prized tickets mixed and mingled joyously, with a large dose of sentiment in and around the city proper, talking in highly personal and often tearful terms of how their lives had intersected with the band’s over the years and what the impact of a Canadian band carrying the banner for their country meant to them. Among them was the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who'd been a fan of The Hip since high school and, over the years, had formed a strong bond with the band. For Trudeau, protocol and influence went out the window on that day. He walked the streets of Kingston in a joyous daze, celebrating with fans and being beseeched by media for his feelings on the day and the band. His responses were true and heartfelt. The man who ran the country was a fan for the day. Indifferent to the growing crowds, the doors opened two hours early and those with tickets walked happily through, alternately delighted and subdued at what they were about to see and hear. Backstage, the band reportedly was reflecting similar thoughts, making small talk and welcoming well-wishers with hugs, smiling and nervous laughter. And, most certainly, acknowledging, inwardly, that the time had certainly come and that Kingston might really be their "last hurrah." A stirring rendition of “O Canada,” sung by thousands of fans, welcomed the band to the stage. Then it was on to the last hurrah, a two-hour plus set of nearly 30 songs that, collectively, had meant so much to so many. One didn't have to stretch to realize that The Hip were trying extra hard for the hometown folks. The band kicked each tune into overdrive with monstrous riffs and runs—just that little bit extra that translated into so much more. Downie was on fire throughout. His interpretation of songs he'd sung countless times were reaching that much higher, as he was wringing every possible bit of emotion, drama and sentimentality out of them. His demeanour on stage was loose but nonetheless passionate. Downie knew the score. He wasn’t going to give what could be his last shot anything but everything he could muster.

Final words from Downie

Downie stood centre stage, alone, for what may well have been the final time. There were tears in his eyes. “Thank you for a great tour and a great show. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Thank you for keeping me pushing. Thank you for listening, everybody. Thank you for listening, period… …”Have a nice life.” image 1: Fireflyer87 via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons BY-SA / Cropped from original); image 2: Moyia Misner-Pellow (Creative Commons BY-SA); image 3: JustSomePics via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons BY-SA)   Click to Post