The Tragically Hip, Wayne @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston MI

What an awesome night. It never fails. This was the third show I've seen the Hip play at the DTE Energy Music Theatre (formerly Pine Knob... why did they change the name? It's so much easier to say Pine Knob) and it was again, the perfect night. A clear starry sky, a slight breeze to keep you just cool enough and 20,000 fans singing along to the best.

It was destined to be a good night. I'd won a pair of tickets from a local radio station, 89X. (Sound familiar? Yes, I won tickets from another radio station for the first Hip show at DTE.) Then my cousin won another pair from the same radio station. Then needing just one more ticket for my sister, we showed up at the box office intent on buying another lawn seat just in time to find a couple who was trying to get rid of two pavillion seats. I asked, "How much?" and he said, "Nothing, take them, the people we were waiting for didn't show up." MORE FREE TICKETS? The luck didn't end there.

Once inside, it was like a high school reunion. People you hadn't seen in years and people you just saw at the office were greeting you in equal droves. Then, just as the sun went down, the house lights under the pavillion dimmed and a roar rose from the crowd. And thanks to several strokes of luck and timing, I was under the pavillion for the first time in 3 shows at a reasonable distance from the stage, but with a perfect view right on the aisle. However I was intent on Getting Closer. Yes, it was (slightly) unethical to try to sneak past the ticket-checkerati, but I knew I just had to wait for my chance. I went back to the lawn a few times to check on my cousins, friend and sister (Dune, Lina, Kathy, Zaina), who were having a great time with the vibe up there and didn't share my passion for getting AsCloseAsPossible. I'd been on the lawn. I'd seen it, I'd danced it, I'd done it. I needed something new.

So back to the pavillion I went. And I sang along. And I waited. And I danced. And I waited some more. Til I saw my chance. She was gone, probably helping someone to their seat. That's when I dashed up about 10 rows and ducked into the crowd, just far enough in front of her that she didn't notice. Then after a song and a half, a couple of guys from the row behind me jumped into my row then into the row in front of me. But not before one of them bumped me slightly and quickly apologized. I watched them as they checked the aisle and started to make their way even closer. Without a second thought, I hopped quickly back out onto the aisle and followed them down as the three of us ducked into yet another unpopulated row. I thanked them for the "train ride" and looked up at the stage from where I was now standing. As my eyes grew large, my hands rushed up to cover my face in awe. I was centre-stage, ten rows back in a fixed-seat amphitheatre. There were literally, ten people in front of me. And once the initial shock died down and Gordie and co wrapped up the song that had been playing during my big move (forgive me, I can't remember what it was, I'll have to see a setlist), they started into the familiar strains of my favourite Hip song, Gift Shop. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Needless to say, I stayed put for the rest of the show. Friends be damned, they could stay up on the lawn if they wanted to. I was in the tenth row, soaking it all up and giving it all back, during songs like (in no particular order): Silver Jets, Music At Work, New Orleans is Sinking, Blow at High Dough, Bobcaygeon, Poets, Putting Down, Grace Too, Fireworks, Springtime in Vienna, Little Bones, Ahead By A Century, Dire Wolf, Dark Canuck, Are You Ready, It's a Good Life (If You Don't Weaken), Nautical Disaster, At the 100th Meridian, Wheat Kings and more than a few others I'm forgetting.

Two hours and two encores were finished off with a blistering version of Fire in the Hole and Gord wildly gyrating unlike I've ever seen him. And then picture this: the song ended, the lights went down and after his bandmates had exhaustedly said their goodbyes for the third and final time, Mr. Downie himself came to the front of the stage, blowing kisses to the crowd, smiling and saying his thank-yous to thunderous applause. It's a picture I'll never forget.