August 20, 2016 is a date that has become indelibly etched within the Canadian psyche. It was the day of The Tragically Hip’s final concert in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, an emotionally charged event that united their millions of fans from coast to coast.
Ontario alt-country/bluegrass band Cabin Fever is marking the 10th anniversary of the show in their own way by releasing a cover of “38 Years Old,” one of the key tracks from The Tragically Hip’s 1989 debut full-length album Up To Here. The brooding song tells the story of a prison escape—a not uncommon occurrence in Kingston back in the day—which helped establish Gord Downie’s poetic gifts that would soon captivate the nation.
Cabin Fever injects even more spookiness and menace into their version, bringing it closer to the sound of a 19th century murder ballad, something Downie surely would have approved of. Singer/guitarist Kyle Faulkner says, “Onstage, we always treasure our rare opportunities to cover and pay tribute to some of our favourite songs and artists, especially when we’re able to put our own spin on the style.
“‘38 Years Old’ is such a staple of Canadiana, and an almost sacred object from one of this country’s most revered bands, that changing a single note almost felt blasphemous; however, something about the lyrics, the story they were telling, just seemed to haunt my thoughts whenever I’d listen to it or play it. There’s a tragic tale in those words, and slowing down and scaling back the musical feel of the instruments really seems to bring the heartache and shame to the forefront. We feel honoured to humbly submit our take on one of Canada’s greatest works of art.”
Cabin Fever’s “38 Years Old” is available at Bandcamp and on all streaming services.
