Tragically Hip Abroad: Bringing The Hip to the U.S. Midwest

I was always a huge promoter of Canadian bands in the Saint Louis University dorms. I’d blast Northern Pikes, 54-40, Headstones and Skydiggers. I’m sure it was super annoying. Nobody had heard of any of these acts in the U.S. Midwest. My favorite band however was American, or so I thought. I first heard “New Orleans is Sinking” on KISW “Seattle’s Best Rock” from my poster plastered bedroom in Victoria. I was completely drawn in by what I thought was a new, grungy hard driving southern rock band. I left for school in St. Louis without finding out more about my new #1 band The Tragically Hip. Cool name.

Got to St. Louis for the first time. The school lost my housing application so I ended up in a tough neighborhood in South City. The rent was $160 a month for a flat in a 2 story walk-up. Heavy bars covered every window of the soot stained brick building. There was no hot water. Gunshots rang out regularly, something I’d never heard in Suburban Saanich.

When I wrote about my experiences in South City, my journalism prof, who was the editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, pulled me aside to ask me if my story was fact or fiction. “Non-fiction sir,” I told him.  His response was short and his tone serious, “You’re lucky to be alive son.”

I didn’t know a soul in the city so I’d stroll the streets in the evenings by myself. I came across a little record store on Cherokee Street. First order of business, look for that Tragically Hip CD. I found it. “Up to Here”.  When the school found me a room in the dorms a few months later it was all I played. Mike Beatty, my roommate became a fan. So did Claudia, a sexy Nicaraguan exchange student who lived across the hall. I didn’t hear the Hip on local radio though.

This was pre-internet 1990 and long distance calling was expensive so Canadian contact was pretty limited. When I came home for summer break I was totally shocked to find out that the Hip was huge and that they were Canadian. Awesome, another Canadian thing I could tout when I got back to school. I already had Michael J Fox, John Candy, Rush and Brett Hull and Adam Oates.

The Hip’s lack of traction south of the border has been well documented but this worked in my, and I’m sure many other Canadians abroad’s, favour.  By 1993 the band was massive in Canada headlining arena shows and Another Roadside Attraction. I was about to graduate from SLU in May and The Hip were coming to Mississippi Nights, one of the best live music venues anywhere. Capacity, 1000. The show, three days before my birthday, was incredible and although their popularity south of the border has never been huge those American Hip fans are as passionate as we are. Of course, I told whoever would listen that night that “these guys are Canadian! I’m Canadian!”

~Michael Kuss

Paul & Kuss Show on JACK