The wait is over—Sara J finally sits down with Craig Rogers: co-host of Discovering Downie & guitarist for Gift Shop (West Coast’s ultimate tribute to The Tragically Hip) In typical DATC Pod fashion, this chat is so good it had to be split into two parts! In part one, Craig takes us through his musical journey (with his guitars as our guide)—from the influence of his father’s own musical career, to grade six band and playing saxophone, to picking up a guitar and being sought out to play with his favourite band. He shares the perils of touring Canada, playing side stage at Lollapalooza ’95, and his first G&L guitar. We also dive into the music that shaped him: the album that changed everything for him, why he thinks The War on Drugs is the best live band right now, and the time he had tickets to two shows at once. Plus, Craig recalls his first encounters with The Tragically Hip, gives us a peek into his fandom, and explains how Gord Downie left him unsure what to think at first. And that’s just part one. Buckle up—we’re going deep.