The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown

This week’s ride on the Countdown takes us straight back to Kingston, where the Hip story really begins. I’m joined by Mike — a fan whose Hip journey stretches from pub shows in the band’s early days to the heavy resonance of their final bow. Mike’s got a gift for tying his own life’s turning points to the music, and our conversation goes places both unexpected and deeply familiar to anyone who’s ever carried a Hip song in their bones.We talk about restless youth, chance encounters that reshaped careers, and the strange way music keeps showing up right when you need it most. Mike shares stories from working life, his brush with CBC journalism, and how following the band’s trail across Canada opened him up to adventure. It’s less about nostalgia and more about recognizing how Gord and the boys kept nudging us to live a little bigger, a little braver.This episode is a reminder that Hip fandom isn’t just about the music — it’s about where those songs take us. Sometimes that’s a sweaty Kingston bar, sometimes a mine in Northern Ontario, sometimes it’s right back home, realizing how much has changed and how much hasn’t.“It was this sense of adventure — like Gord was off having all the fun, and I thought, maybe I need to find some of my own.”About Our GuestMike is a Kingston native, longtime Hip fan, and veteran storyteller. His professional path wound through economics, CBC journalism, and documentary film — but the Hip have always been a compass point. His stories carry the grit, humour, and tenderness of someone who’s lived through the same soundtrack we all share.Get InvolvedWe’re counting down to A Celebration of The Hip for ALS on October 4th at The Rec Room in Toronto. Silent auction, The Strictly Hip live, and the grand finale of this very countdown. Grab your tickets: bit.ly/TTHALSOct4th.Follow + Stream📲 Instagram: @tthtop40📺 YouTube: @dewvre1974🌐 Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40SupportEvery ticket, every donation, every listen pushes us closer to raising money for the ALS Society of Canada in honour of our friend Matt Rona. Chip in, share, or just show up — it all matters.Kingston’s own Mike shares his Hipstory with jD — a journey through music, work, and life shaped by The Tragically Hip.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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 episodesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, the Countdown goes visual. Joining me is Richard Beland, concert and music photographer, Hip historian, and all-around good dude from Bright’s Grove. Richard’s camera has been a witness to some of the most iconic moments in The Hip’s career — from sweaty club gigs at Fanshawe Pub, to international festival stages alongside Metallica and Neil Young, to that final August 20th show in Kingston. He’s shot Gord, Rob, Paul, Johnny, and Sinclair from every angle, and he’s here to share his Hipstory.Richard takes us through his early days sneaking into pubs on a scratched-up license, the serendipitous connections that led him to London and Europe with a camera in hand, and the near-miss that almost kept his work out of the book and the doc. He shares the story behind his most iconic photograph of Gord Downie — the toque shot that’s since been tattooed on bodies, blasted on TSN, and memorialized in magazines. And yes, he tells us about the time Rob Baker rode shotgun on a milk crate while the band’s own song played on the radio. (Waffle butt confirmed.)From the Grateful Dead to The Hip, from fish-eye lenses to stage risers, from Sudbury snowstorms to late-night alleyway portraits — Richard’s journey is a reminder of how music, photography, and fandom intersect to tell stories bigger than any one of us.And then comes the big reveal: Song #4 on the Countdown. It’s a track that swells with atmosphere, memory, and melody — one Richard says feels like “warm water filling a cold glass.” It’s the song that can soundtrack both a snowy walk into Sudbury Arena and a lazy summer night at the cottage, arm around a friend, eyes to the stars. You know it. You love it. And now, you know where it landed.This episode is loaded with Hip history, fan parallels to the Dead, and stories you’ve never heard before. And if you want even more, Richard will be joining us live on October 4th at A Celebration of The Hip for ALS at The Rec Room in Toronto, opening the night with a special photo presentation before The Strictly Hip take the stage.Next WeekWe head into the Top 3. One more regular episode before the live finale. Get ready.Get Involved:🎟 Tickets for Oct 4th – A Celebration of The Hip for ALS🎧 Email your Hipstory or Top 20 list: tthtop40@gmail.com🏒 Enter the Hockey Night in Canada Raffle: Leafs vs Oilers, Dec 13Follow + Stream:Instagram: @tthtop40Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40YouTube: Dewvre1974Podcast feed: The Tragically Hip Top Forty CountdownSupport:This show is powered by community. Become part of the membersHIP, grab raffle squares, or bid in the silent auction. Together, we’re raising money for the ALS Society of Canada.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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 episodesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Production #636 | Song #5 | Guest: Chris JerichoWinnipeg to WorldwideThis week’s countdown takes us into the sacred territory of the Top 5, and who better to usher us in than Winnipeg’s own Chris Jericho? Yes — that Chris Jericho: wrestler, rock frontman, podcaster, and lifelong music obsessive.Jericho drops by to share a Hipstory that winds through Winnipeg clubs, Red River Community College, college-gig security shifts, and even a chance backstage beer offer from a young Gord Downie. He recalls the moment someone predicted, “These guys are going to be Canada’s Rolling Stones,” and how right that turned out to be. From there, the stories spill — touring abroad, rediscovering the band after Gord’s illness, and parsing just what makes The Hip feel so distinctly Canadian no matter where you’re standing in the world .From Prairie Bars to Packed ArenasTogether, we dig into how a song can hit like a cannonball — and how riff, lyric, and swagger combined to propel the band from campus bars to multi-night arena stands. Jericho marvels at the way Gord slipped surreal imagery into a rocker, at the joy of lyrics that morph each chorus, and at the Hip’s rare ability to stay intact as a five-piece gang from the first EP to the final tour .There’s wrestling talk, there’s band-life talk, there’s even pool-hall humidity trivia. And threaded through it all is the sense that The Hip weren’t just a band — they were, and are, a measure of what Canadian rock could mean when it refused to be anything but itself.Next WeekWe’re down to #4. Think myths. Think shadows. Think of a song that reshaped the way we listen to The Hip forever.“I met Gord in ’89 before they broke big. He was tall, skinny, and had this presence — even then. They offered me a beer, and I said I was working. Just regular guys. And then? Boom. A year later they’re everywhere.”— Chris Jericho About Our GuestChris Jericho is a Winnipeg native, wrestling legend, and frontman of Fozzy. He’s also a music lifer whose fandom runs from Iron Maiden to The Hip, with stories that stretch from Prairie bars to sold-out New York clubs. He’s been called many things in his career — champion, showman, podcaster — but here, he’s simply a Canadian kid telling the truth about a band that mattered.Get InvolvedThis countdown is by the fans, for the fans:🎟 Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS (Oct 4 in Toronto): bit.ly/TTHALSOct4th🏒 Hockey Night in Canada raffle: bit.ly/TTHHNIC👑 Vote for your SuperFan: bit.ly/TTHUS_VOTEFollow + StreamSubscribe to the pod wherever you listen.Follow @tthtop40 on Instagram.Hear The Hip 24/7 on SiriusXM Channel 757.SupportWant to keep this rolling? Join the membersHIP. Pay what you can, get a few perks, and know you’re fueling something real. dewvre.com/tthtop40Abacus tally this week:a prairie beer rider, a pool-hall cue finger, and the ghost of Shockley himself.So there’s that.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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 episodesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode SummaryAs we close in on the Top 5, the conversations get heavier, funnier, and more personal. This week, jD welcomes Keith from Calgary—drummer, GEDfest founder, and long-haul Hip fan—for a ride through the moments that shaped his fandom. From the spark of discovery, to sweaty live-show floors that move as one, to building something new for the community with GetFest, Keith’s stories capture the essence of what it means to belong to The Hip’s orbit.About the GuestKeith first stumbled into The Hip through a mix of MuchMusic, Columbia House roulette, and the kind of tapes that never left your Discman. Decades later, he’s still hooked—and now he’s part of the engine keeping the flame alive. As the founder of GEDfest, Keith has helped create a multi-city tribute festival raising funds for cancer charities, proving that fandom can ripple outward into real impact.Why It MattersWhat starts with one song, one show, one memory—becomes a community. Keith’s Hipstory is proof of how the band’s catalogue doesn’t just soundtrack our lives, but stitches them together with others. Whether it’s a packed bar, a festival stage, or a room full of fans swapping stories, it’s that shared electricity that keeps The Hip alive long after the amps are turned off.Episode HighlightsFirst sparks: the early singles and tapes that hooked a generationThe magic of the live show: when the floor moves as oneThe community connection: parallels between Hip fans and DeadheadsHow GEDfest grew into a cross-Canada event with charitable impactThe records and Gord solo cuts Keith is spinning right nowPull Quote: “It’s not about us on stage—it’s about the music, the memories, and how it transports people back to their own golden ages.”ClosingBig thanks to Keith from Calgary for the laughs, the memories, and the work he’s doing to keep the spirit of The Hip alive through GEDfest. We’re getting dangerously close to the Top 5—Song #5 drops next Monday. Got a Hipstory of your own? Send us a note or a voice memo—we’d love to share it on the show.Promos / CrosslinksSunday Evening Jam (Sundays 8pm ET): News, banter, and Hip chatter with Sara J & jDA Celebration of The Hip for ALS (Oct 4): Live finale + online silent auction supporting ALS Society of CanadaDiscovering Downie: A curated tour through Gord’s solo catalogConnect with UsFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40Instagram: @tthtop40Email: tthtop40@gmail.comWebsite: dewvre.com/tthtop40YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974Meta Description (SEO, 160 chars):jD and Keith from Calgary unpack discovery, live-show magic, and building community through fandom—plus how GEDfest channels Hip love into real impact.SEO Tags: Tragically Hip podcast, The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown, Gord Downie, Hip fandom, Canadian rock podcast, Tragically Hip fan stories, GEDfestSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode SummaryThis week, jD welcomes Jeremy from Buffalo — frontman of The Strictly Hip — for a conversation that blends fandom, performance, and a lifetime spent studying Gord Downie’s words. From the band’s early days to their lasting legacy, Jeremy shares how The Hip became his passion, his career, and his way of connecting with audiences on both sides of the border.Together, Jeremy and jD unpack what it means to live inside these songs, to carry them night after night on stage, and to explore the magic of The Hip’s catalogue from a fan’s and performer’s perspective.About the GuestJeremy Hoyle is the lead singer of The Strictly Hip, the Buffalo-based tribute band that has been celebrating The Tragically Hip’s music for decades. With hundreds of performances under his belt — including symphonic collaborations and cross-border tours — Jeremy has built a career around keeping this music alive and vital for fans everywhere.Why It MattersThis episode digs into what it means to be more than a fan — to be a steward of the songs. Jeremy reflects on his first encounters with The Hip, the spark that drew him in, and how he channels Gord’s spirit in performance while still making the music his own. It’s about memory, community, and the ways we keep the band’s voice resonating long after the final encore."These songs aren’t just something you play — they’re something you live inside of. Every night, they mean something new.”ClosingA huge thanks to Jeremy from Buffalo for joining the Countdown and sharing his story. If The Tragically Hip have changed your life too, we want to hear your Hipstory. Send us a voice memo or a message — your story might make it onto a future episode.We’ll be back next Monday with Song #6 and another unforgettable conversation with a fellow fan.Connect with UsJoin the TTH Top Forty Facebook GroupFollow us on Instagram @tthtop40Email us: tthtop40@gmail.comWebsite: dewvre.com/tthtop40YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974Don’t MissSunday Evening Jam – live every Sunday night with jD & Sara JThe Ultimate SuperFan Search – nominations open until Aug 25!Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS – Oct 4, TorontoMeta Description (SEO):jD is joined by Jeremy from Buffalo, lead singer of The Strictly Hip, to talk fandom, performance, and the lifelong impact of The Tragically Hip’s music on both sides of the border.Tags: Tragically Hip podcast, Gord Downie, Canadian rock podcast, Hip fandom, The Strictly Hip, Tragically Hip tribute band, Tragically Hip countdown.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode SummaryWhat happens when a music video director with a front-row seat to Hip history joins the countdown? This week, jD is joined by Pete from Toronto — the filmmaker who, alongside his creative partner Sean, brought to life some of the most iconic visuals in The Hip’s career. Together, they revisit the magic, the chaos, and the sheer serendipity of making the video for this week’s #8 song. Expect stories of grain elevators, red turtlenecks, and the moment the band finally found their visual identity.About the GuestPete from Toronto is a veteran music video and commercial director who cut his teeth at Revolver Films in the early ’90s. His Hipstory runs deep: from documenting the band on the road in the U.S. to co-directing a trio of pivotal videos, Pete’s camera helped define how the world saw Gord and the boys at their creative peak.Why It MattersThis isn’t just another fan perspective — it’s an insider’s look at the band’s transition into a new era. Pete’s stories highlight Gord Downie’s creative restlessness, the band’s willingness to embrace vulnerability, and how a handful of videos helpped to shape their legacy. For fans, it’s a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes energy that matched the music note for note.Big ThanksMassive thanks to Pete for digging deep and sharing stories that remind us why this band mattered — not just in sound, but in vision. If this episode made you want to revisit those videos, tell us your memories at tthtop40@gmail.com. Next Monday, we’re back with song #7 and another special guest.Connect with UsFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40Instagram: @tthtop40Email: tthtop40@gmail.comWebsite: dewvre.com/tthtop40YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974Promos & Crosslinks🎥 Missed last night’s Sunday Evening Jam? Catch the replay on YouTube.👑 Nominations are open for the Ultimate Hip SuperFan Search.🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS — October 4th, 2025 in Toronto: Get Tickets.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode SummaryWhat happens when one of Toronto’s most recognizable voices on Canadian culture sits down to talk about his favorite band of all time? This week, jD is joined by Mike from Toronto (you know him better as Toronto Mike) for a heartfelt countdown conversation. From first spins on Q107 to life-changing live shows, Mike opens up about what The Tragically Hip have meant to him — and why one song in particular brings him to tears every time.Along the way, we revisit Road Apples, the magic of New Year’s Eve 1999 at the ACC, and the emotional weight of Gord Downie’s final performances. And in a moving moment, Mike shares how he processed the day Gord passed, sitting alone in his basement studio and pressing record. You can still hear that raw, unfiltered tribute, For Gord, right here: Toronto Mike on Gord’s passing.About the GuestMike is the host of the long-running Toronto Mike’d podcast, where he’s interviewed hundreds of cultural figures, musicians, and storytellers. A lifelong Hip fan, his Hipstory began in 1989 with Blow at High Dough blasting from the Mighty Q — a one-two punch with New Orleans Is Sinking that sent him racing downtown to buy Up To Here. Since then, The Tragically Hip have been a constant through his life, from weddings to Y2K countdowns to the bittersweet goodbye of the Man Machine Poem tour.Why It MattersEvery fan has that first song that changed everything. For Mike, it was Blow at High Dough on the radio. For countless others, it was another track, another moment, another show. This episode reminds us why The Tragically Hip aren’t just a band — they’re a soundtrack, a touchstone, and sometimes, a mirror for our deepest emotions.Next WeekBig thanks to Mike for bringing his Toronto heart and Hip soul to the countdown. Next Monday, we’ll be back with song #8 and another fan whose Hipstory will keep this ride rolling.Connect with Us🎥 Join the Sunday Evening Jam live stream every Sunday at 8pm ET: Watch here👑 Don’t miss the Ultimate SuperFan Search — voting is open now!🎟 Support our live finale event, A Celebration of The Hip for ALS: dewvre.com/tthtop40Follow + StreamFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40Instagram: @tthtop40YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974Email: tthtop40@gmail.comSupportWant to join our inner circle? Become part of the membersHIP — where fans pull the same rope together in honour of Gord and Matt Rona. All proceeds go to the ALS Society of Canada. Any amount, any frequency. Join here.Meta Description (SEO)jD welcomes Toronto Mike to the Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown. Hear fan stories, Road Apples memories, and a moving tribute to Gord Downie.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & 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/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 chillsAlso 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 MichiganGet InvolvedNominate yourself or someone else for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate SuperFan Search! Details on our socials.Follow + StreamInstagram / Facebook / YouTube: @tthtop40Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40Support the ShowHelp us raise funds for the ALS Society of Canada in memory of Matt Rona: bit.ly/TTHTop40membersHIPSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy