Super fans count down to Tragically Hip's concert in Winnipeg

Veronica Gagnon and Rory Young have never met in person before, but a shared passion for the Tragically Hip has brought them together the night before the band's latest show in Winnipeg.

Gagnon, who says she's spent a lot of money on souvenirs and paraphernalia from the iconic Canadian rock band, connected with Young through the band's fan club. Young has seen the band 36 times and has travelled back to his birthplace of Winnipeg from Halifax for the show this weekend.

"Every show has a memory. A different memory because they're all just one kind of one time capsule in and of themselves. Much as tomorrow night is going to be I'm sure," said Young.

The Man Machine Poem tour rolls into Winnipeg Friday night. The tour's final stop will be the band's hometown of Kingston, Ont. and for Young it just made sense to come back to his roots to see his favourite band.

"It was just natural to come back here and join all my old friends, come and see my parents," said Young who also brought his nephew and his 12-year-old daughter on the trip.

His daughter has never seen the Hip live and this is likely her last chance to catch the band up close and in person.

"It was just kind of a natural circle to bring them back here to see them at home, hopefully not for the last time," said Young.

Like Young, Gagnon has spent a 'long time running' after the Hip. She has seen the band more than 35 times.

In 2009, Gagnon saw the Hip live nine times including following the band from San Diego to Las Vegas. She says the passion of Hip front man Gord Downie — who announced  earlier this spring that he has terminal brain cancer — is second to none.

"He's just so genuine. He's stand-up. He's basically the Wayne Gretzky of music, all class. His passion, what you see is what you get," said Gagnon.

Gagnon and Young started seeing Hip concerts in Winnipeg in the early 1990's.

Young even started recording the audio of live shows he attended to document and share with other fans. He says every Hip show sounds different and he gets requests from hundreds of other fans for the recordings.

The Tragically Hip themselves even once requested his recording of a show they performed in Woodstock, Ont. in 1999. After he sent them the recordings, the band sent him personal autographs. He believes it's those little things the band does that connects them to Canadians.

"That's kind of what makes this band amazing. They make their fans feel like family. They make their fans feel like it's worth coming out to experience this show with them. They don't play for us, they play with us," said Young.

On Thursday night Young handed off a collection of 30 live shows he's recorded throughout the years to Gagnon, including one show from the old Winnipeg arena in 1996.  

During the show, Downie makes a reference to the original Jets franchise and the Queen's portrait in the rafters of the old rink.

Both Gagnon and Young say the show Friday night is a can't-miss for fans and they are 'fully completely' excited for it.

"I think there is going to be a lot of tears. I've been told to prepare for a very emotional ride," said Gagnon.

"The other 30 odd shows that I've been to, it's always been either a party or just going to see them somewhere I've never been before in my life. There's always been a festive mood going to a Hip show. You're going to a Hip show and it's a time capsule but this one is an event," said Young.

After the stop in Winnipeg on Friday the band hits the stage in Hamilton, Ont. on Aug. 8.

They wrap up their tour on Aug. 20 in Kingston, Ont. and that final show will be broadcast live on CBC television.