Gord Sinclair Of The Tragically Hip On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:
In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Michael Manring is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #122 – Gord Sinclair.

Gord Sinclair (making his second appearance on Groove) may have stepped into the limelight as a solo singer-songwriter with In Continental Drift, but he’ll forever be known to rock fans as the powerhouse bassist behind The Tragically Hip – a band that not only dominated stages for nearly four decades, but also pioneered a uniquely communal approach to songwriting. In our conversation, Gord reflects on how The Hip’s legacy has taken on new depth in recent years, culminating in the critically acclaimed four-part documentary No Dress Rehearsal, which peels back the curtain on the group’s evolution, creative process, and the profound impact of singer/poet Gord Downie’s passing. Alongside the film, there’s also a revealing anthology book, This Is Our Life, that offers fans a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the personal and artistic threads weaving through the band’s prolific career. Despite no longer being able to move forward with fresh music from the original five, The Hip have found a powerful new muse in their own vaults: unearthing recordings once thought lost, sifting through reels of two-inch tape, and reintroducing long-shelved tracks to a fanbase eager for more. This deep dive has spawned multiple box-set releases pegged to significant album anniversaries – milestones that, in Gord’s telling, have proven both celebratory and bittersweet (including the latest one in celebration of the album, Up To Here) . While the band always looked resolutely ahead, rarely revisiting abandoned cuts or older material in its heyday, these archival projects have not only fueled an outpouring of nostalgia but also rekindled a passion for the spontaneous, improvised spirit that defined songs like ‘New Orleans Is Sinking’ and ‘Fully Completely’. Gord offers candid thoughts on how each band member brought a different musical taste and temperament to The Hip, forging a signature sound that balanced raucous riffing with Gord Downie’s deeply poetic voice. Between the documentary’s emotional resonance, the captivating anthology, and these anniversary box-set drops – featuring demos, outtakes, and newly discovered gems – it’s clear that The Tragically Hip continue to surprise and inspire, even without Gord’s singular presence. For Gord Sinclair, the real gift has been the chance to reconnect with fans who never gave up hope of hearing more from a band that shaped Canada’s musical identity, and to welcome in new listeners who simply stumbled upon the group’s enduring catalog. It’s a testament to the timelessness of The Hip’s artistry, the devotion of its members, and the transcendent spark that only live performance – and a trove of new-old recordings – can deliver. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #122- Gord Sinclair.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends).