The Tragically Hip on Web 2.0

David Bowie has long been regarded as one of the recording industry's greatest innovators both artistically and technologically. Not only has Bowie consistently reinvented himself and adapted to the changing face of music for going on forty years, he was one of the first recording artists to recognize the value of using the Internet (or the World Wide Web, as it was commonly called at the time) as an alternative medium to reach his fan-base.

Many readers may be aware that the original David Bowie website went on-line in late 1996 but few may realize that the The Tragically Hip , Canada's greatest contribution to modern music was right behind Bowie, going live with TheHip.com within weeks of Bowie's Internet debut. In those early days, unless you were 'connected' to the band the only information available was typically released by the label's marketing people or limited to postal mailing lists, and not every band had such a list. Early Internet users, mostly techies, discussed their favorite bands on Usenet in simple plain text messages but any substantial content wasn't available until bands and record labels started building actual websites.

In early August on my ModBlog, I briefly discussed recent and planned changes to The Tragically Hip's website that would be initiated by a new Webmaster who had been given unprecedented access to The Hip's inner circle. With the encroaching November 1st release of The Hip's multi-media box set, Hipeponymous, MAv has leaked a little taste of what we can expect when the redesigned website goes live in the coming weeks. The full-size screen-capture provides a glimpse at the visual aspects of the new design but the actual content and interface are what's really intriguing.

First, The Hip Club which was established in 2002 with the release of In Violet Light and poorly tended by The Hip's former management company will become all that it was intended to be and more. MAv says:

"While a couple of things are still being finalized, it will be something a long the lines of Pearl Jam's Ten Club, with a few twists from the hip and a few more by me, or, you could say I am double twisting the hip twist. . . . you'll be able to get a yourname@thehip.com email address, for one thing, then there are the extra incredible sessions that I have recorded, at the board in Bath house, of some of the darndest music you ever heard. Then there will be the surprises - the stuff I have in store for you, the stuff the band has in store for you."

Taking a cue from Lance Robinson's phenominal Tragically Hip Concert Database at Hipbase.com, MAv's also building "a database and a mechanism to archive fan and band assets" using a cutting edge technology for storing and retrieving digital media under a Creative Commons License so fans can use it as well.

Additionally we can expect to see an interactive photo album "with the  structure to turn into something completely crazy down the road" as well as access to Hip music, as explained by MAv:

"Then there is the media player, then sample's of all the songs, links to buy all the songs - for you know, new fans - all the lyrics are there, then there is a post card engine and the stuff that you would expect to find in a regular site . . . except different, cause it's The Hip and they're letting me create the ultimate band site, and they have the patience to deal with me and they see the vision and are letting me run with it . . ."

I encourage everyone to bookmark TheHip.com and check back periodically as MAv and The Tragically Hip unveil The Hip's vision of Web 2.0. I have a feeling that it will eclipse any and every band site we've ever seen.

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