What a snort!

After mentioning above that Rob Baker, guitarist with the Tragically Hip. is my nephew (son of my older sister, Mary), yesterday my younger sister, Pat, called, and told me that she just got a call from Rob. He was in town! The Tragically Hip is in Seattle to do a gig, and while he's here he wanted to get together with us all.

So yesterday, Pat and Barbara picked him up at the hotel, and the four of us spent the day together. I hadn't seen Rob in about twelve years and he looks the same. Tall, slim, good-looking guy with beard and mustache and very long hair (CLICKY). I'd forgotten how deep his voice is. Low baritone or bass, maybe.

And I'd forgotten what a really bright, intelligent person he is!

We sat around in our living room and talked about all kinds of things, mostly music. The Hip has performed for audiences as large as 150,000 people. I, on the other hand, did most of my singing in coffee houses and house concerts, with some fairly big concerts (largest crowd I sang for was 6,000, at one of the Seattle Center Hootenannies in 1963). Rob commented that when singing for huge audiences, there is this great, anonymous sea of faces, and you just go out on stage and do it. But he felt that it was much more intimidating to sing for smaller audiences, such as a house concert.

Also, in addition to working with the Hip, Rob's got a few individual projects going. We talked a lot about home recording studios, equipment, mics, software and such. I picked up a lot of excellent information!

Great conversation!

Later, the four of us adjourned to the dining room and scarfed down a couple of pizzas we'd sent out for, then about five p.m. or so, Pat and Barbara drove him to the gig site to get ready for the performance.

Most enjoyable get-together!

Don Firth