Its not that the Hip aren’t that popular in the States its that its more regional and they probably have the same fan base as they do in canada. Considering your 10x the size the popularity is right on par and continue year after year touring the states and entertaining the masses (ex pats) with their straight forward brand of rock and continue to not only support up and coming bands from both sides if the border but influence kids and music all over the place. Pretty good for any band to consistently sell out NHL size hockey arena’s year after year unlike the US flavour of the week that goes from MSG to House of Blues after 2 albums… Hip Hip Hooray

its pretty bad that the emo loser refered to the hip as a bar rock band. if he knew anything about them he wouldn’t make such ignorant statements. the haven’t done the bar circut in over 10 years. maybe he should listen to some of their albums so he can find out what good musis sounds like.

Well, I love Death Cab, and I get the impression that when Walla says “No less of a Bar Band…” he is saying the Hip are like an Indie Band aka Band that has the kind of fans that come out to small smoky clubs, have a drink and dance at the shows. In other words, they play what I call “Road House Rock”. Not unlike another great Canadian Rock Hero NEIL YOUNG. When I heard the drift in 95′ circa Day for Night, I thought they sounded like I wished Pearl Jam sounded, and Gordon sung like I wish Michael Stipe could. Those were my points of reference, pre-being into Neil Young (Mirror Ball has also just came out, but I didn’t get into him until I got Decade, and as hooked). So… The US following for The Hip isn’t small, it just doesn’t compare the the Canadian one. I think Walla’s hip to it and just trying to make it clear, that down here, they Should be that big, at least in the press, cause their last records have been at their least as good as the Pearl Jam discs, and better than most of the last 10 years of REM. That’s just me though, cause I used to wake up everyday to either “Poets” or “Gift Shop”, and Day for Night, Trouble at the Henhouse, and Phantom Power is the best trilogy of records in my lifetime so far (in my Early thirties). Coming from St. Louis, I attest that they have made it this far south, and have fans, as I don’t have a music loving friend that isn’t a convert yet.

i think the fact that they don’t pander for american acceptance is what makes them so venerated by my fellow canadians.

Its the Canadian fans – drunken flag waving fools. That’s why the Hip don’t fare well in the states.

your right it is a regional fan base Americans that get Canadian radio where they are will be hip fans.

wow…shocking….I’m from the states and i have been a hip fan since i was about 13…i’m 34…”nothing more or less than a bar rock band”…quite comical coming from a band nothing more than an O.C/ tv show, teen, topic repetitive(yes i have listened to all of their music)band. They had a fleeting glimpse of moving/maturing past that image with “Plans”, but failed with recent albums. Since their first to this most recent, Hip have put out incredibly diverse, beautiful melodies, dark melodies, multiple layered, lyrical genius, political, massively thought provoking….and on and on, album after album. never disparage another talent…unless you would like too sound jealous, childish, and immature but i guess thats fitting for their music and their audience “Death Cab for Cutie” appeals too…what th hell knd of name is that anyway!!

Caught the hip at Fillmore 6.13.09.
‘We are the same,’ came with the tix order..Insert to play..can’t and won’t release from player..
Have turned many close r/r fiends
on..Total Balanced sound and lyrics make it a new joy and discovery..

Its so strange that because a band is big in one country and not as big in another, that it becomes the only talking point about the band. How about the fact that the tragically hip have never put out a bad album. Of course not, why would you be interested in that.

I love the Hip, and I’ve seen them a couple of times in Atlanta.

They are the best band that no one has ever heard of.