The Good Old Days

December 19, 2008 @ 12:15

I was working out of the Brampton office this morning as I monitored the fine two radio stations that I program in Peteborough, and I also took the opportunity to spin the dial and check out Humble's Christmas Show on EZ Rock 97.3

I call it Humble's Show for two reasons. First of all it takes too long to list all the people he works with now , and secondly, I know what happened on EZ Rock this morning was probably Howard's brain child.

A Christmas show was always very important to Humble, something we initiated way back in the early 90's in the CFNY studios in Brampton. Howard had the idea to invite our families and close friends into the studio one morning and it grew from there.

Eventually we were doing the show from our satellite studio at Bathurst and Bloor, and from there it went to the Horseshoe Tavern.

We changed locations because every year it grew. The Barenaked Ladies were the first band to hop on board and to their credit, even though they became a huge North American act, they never forgot the Humble and Fred Show and always made an appearance.

They even made an appearance at the two Humble and Fred Christmas Shows while we were at the Mix, but we'll forget about those shows because like everything else that happened at the Mix, they were a mere shadow of what Humble and Fred were all about.

Somebody paid us not to be us. Go figure.

Instead of an earthy bar and passionate fans crammed into the venue in a fun way, at the Mix we ended up at a pretentious nightclub with a more than lovely breakfast buffet of healthy stuff and an indifferent crowd that made it quite apparent they were there more for the free stuff than the "spirit" of it all. One guy fell asleep.

In the eyes of our faithful we had compromised. But I digress.

Listening to Humble's Show this morning I had to smile. It was warm and fuzzy in the usual Christmas way, Howard did a great job and it was fabulous for EZ Rock, but the texture was sure a lot different than the Edge days.

The last CFNY/Edge Christmas Show we did at the Horseshoe, which was in 2000 I do believe and it featured a packed room of passionate fans of all ages, pounds and pounds of wings and ribs, The Barenaked Ladies, the Headstones and if I'm not mistaken, Sloan, along with our good buddies the Doo-Wops.

These shows were down to earth, planned, but with a spontaneous feeling and warmth that would be hard to duplicate now a days because things are different.

Don't ask me how or why they're different. They just are.

I'm sure Humble didn't have a problem with a guest refusing to go on stage this morning unless he got a beer and a joint. That happened at the Horseshoe.

You know what they say, you can't "go" back. But you can sure "look" back.

Pic 1 - Humble and Fred listening to the Ladies. (92)
Pic 2 - The Ladies with my family. (92)
Pic 3 - Ed Roberton with my daughter Melanie (92)
Pic 4 - The Humble and Fred Mobile (not sure of the year / found the picture and thought I'd share it.)

Category: Radio

37 Responses to "The Good Old Days"

Megan
December 19, 2008 / 13:46

The Christmas show was always a highlight of the year. Loved hearing them! It was great hearing the Doo-Wops this morning. Made me think of the old shows! Good times.
Loving you!

Trish
December 19, 2008 / 15:38

You're a good guy, Freddie..... :D

That characature of you and Humble on the car is wonderful! Do you have a bigger view of it you can post?

Pam
December 19, 2008 / 17:00

Thank you for posting this Fred. I miss you and Humble together and I wish both of you and yours a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Toronto Mike
December 19, 2008 / 20:17

Let's call this the Good 'ol Days.

And yes, hook us up with a higher res pic of the H+F Wagon.

Looking forward to the H+F 20th Anniversary Podcast in 2009.

howard
December 19, 2008 / 20:27

Funny reading this, because even though this morning was great and all, at several times during the broadcast my mind wandered to you and the "old days." They say you can't go home again and I guess it means that you can't recapture those special moments. I've mentioned before that the problem with those moments in time is that you don't appreciate how special they are until you look back on them years later.
Freddie you would have loved it today, Jim Cuddy singing Bad Timing, The Doo Wops, sweet Kim Stockwood and her friend Damneit and of course Ed Roberston of BNL. I have to admit as well that at certain points I had a heavy heart, as I looked at the crowd and my now grown up family and thought, "Where did the time go?"
The Humble and Fred Xmas Show was really something and even though today had a lot of it's flavor, as you said, it was different. Good, but not the same.
Merry Xmas FP and all the fine folks that land on your words every day.

Buffalo Boy Mike
December 20, 2008 / 16:28

Freddie, You are so right! Those days were special and unfortunately the Mix didn't let it be the way it should have been. Merry Christmas!

Boomer
December 22, 2008 / 12:37

Loving the Humble & Fred mobile. Is that Randy or Mr. Lahey driving?

TedNes
December 22, 2008 / 15:12

Humble and Fred Christmas at the Hard Rock, 2002. Pinball, Steve Paige, my buddy Chuckwagon and I, and 'Florcher' shirts for Humble and Fred. Ahhhh, Memories....

Phil Evans
December 22, 2008 / 20:16

I'd forgotten about the BiWay across from the Edge of Bloor and Bathurst.

Wayner
December 23, 2008 / 12:18

you've peaked my curiosity...perhaps you or toronto mike can provide us some information as to the "repackaging" of the humble and fred show on the mix?

Ball
December 24, 2008 / 12:07

Great memories Fred... I missed being there only one year.

Alex was mentioning it last night, that he missed the tradition of the Humble & Fred Christmas show... great friends, great music... usually the only time in the year I saw Donny Patterson, Dan Duran...

I recall the Horseshoe Tavern when the guy had to have a beer before he would perform... Alex was about 10 years old for that show and that same morning he was sitting on a stool on the stage and he turned to me in a panic and said "Dad, I'm gonna throw up" and 2 seconds later he barfed on the stage... I said "Don't worry Alex, I'm sure you are not the first person to barf on this stage"...

All in all great memories Fred.

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