Discovering Downie: 

Live at Six

 (Gord Downie + The Sadies + The Conquering Sun) — Track-by-Track on Release Day

On launch day, jD reunites with Craig Rogers, Kirk Lane, and Justin St. Louis to break down Live at Six, a newly released live record featuring Gord Downie, The Sadies, and The Conquering Sun. It’s an eight-track collection drawn from four shows (Sarnia, Fredericton, Cambridge, MA, and Dundas) spanning 2012 and 2014.

This episode is a full-on fan-and-musician conversation: play it loud, follow the rabbit holes, and enjoy a record that feels like you’re right up against the stage, even when it was recorded outdoors.

MVP picks, deep cover-song origins, live-record sequencing debates, and a whole lot of gratitude—plus a reminder that sometimes the point isn’t to decode everything. Sometimes it’s just rock and roll.

Episode Highlights

• The crew gets back together to cover Live at Six on release day
• Why this record feels like a sweaty club even when it isn’t
• The meaning behind the title Live at Six (and where “six” actually comes from)
• Major rabbit holes (including the story behind “If You Have Ghosts”)
• Covers that still sound unmistakably like Gord Downie + The Sadies
• Live energy: loose-but-tight, tempo shifts, extended outros, and why that’s part of the magic
• MVP picks from each host—plus what track people “need to hear” first

Tracklist Breakdown (as discussed)

1) “If You Have Ghosts” — recorded in Dundas, Ontario (Sept 1, 2012)

• Huge reactions to Dallas Good’s performance
• Deep dive into Rocky Erickson and the song’s backstory
• Why the lyric “If you have ghosts, you have everything” hits so hard

2) “So Sad About Us” — Sarnia (Aug 30, 2014) — a The Who cover

• Noted for harmonies and a vibe that recalls early rock/pop influence
• Discussion of how naturally it sits in Gord’s wheelhouse

3) “It Didn’t Start to Break My Heart” — (live version discussed as an all-time banger)

• Faster than the studio version; jam section praised heavily
• Described as completely over-delivering as a live performance

4) “Grey Riders” — Fredericton, New Brunswick (Sept 12, 2014) — Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival — a Neil Young song

• Strong praise for backing vocals and arrangement
• Conversation about preferring this version vs. the one they heard from Neil

5) “Generation” — Fredericton (Sept 12, 2014) — a Fucked Up cover

• Album title reference comes from Gord speaking right before/around this track (“at six o’clock”)
• Note: the group didn’t have as much time with this track due to a file miss

6) Cambridge, Massachusetts set (May 3, 2014) — a track originally by The Gun Club (from Fire of Love, 1981)

• Described as the most “Sadies-sounding” song on the record
• Talk of punk lineage and guitar swagger

7) “Demand Destruction” — revisited live (from the Sarnia show)

• jD’s MVP: the live performance hits harder than the studio version
• Favorite lyric noted: “Breakdown in the verse part / Dead spot in the lyrics…” (songwriting “fourth wall” moment)

8) “I Gotta Right” — The Stooges cover (closing track)

• Described as a “punch in the face” closer
• Leaves everyone wanting more; debate about wishing the album was longer
• Justin mentions being disappointed it wasn’t “Search and Destroy” (also performed by Gord + The Sadies in other live clips)

MVP Picks

• Craig: “If You Have Ghosts”
• Kirk: “Grey Riders” (and says “I Gotta Write” is the one people need to hear)
• Justin: “It Didn’t Start to Break My Heart”
• jD: “Demand Destruction”

Production Credits (as stated on the episode)

• Mixed by Ken Friesen (all tracks) except “Goodbye Johnny”
• “Goodbye Johnny” mixed by Dallas Good and Guillermo Sabatze
• Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova

Timestamps (approx. from transcript)

• 0:49 — Welcome + what Live at Six is + who’s on the mic
• 3:36 — Release context: 4 shows, 2012/2014, where the recordings come from
• 9:14 — Track 1: “If You Have Ghosts” deep dive begins
• 21:57 — Track 2: “So Sad About Us” (The Who cover)
• 33:11 — “It Didn’t Start to Break My Heart” (live version reaction)
• 38:27 — “Grey Riders” (Neil Young)
• 43:54 — Side B + “Generation” (Fucked Up) + title explanation
• 51:07 — Cambridge, MA track (The Gun Club origin discussed)
• 55:26 — “Goodbye Johnny” (live vs studio)
• 59:11 — Closer: “I Gotta Write” (The Stooges) + credits
• 1:09:24 — MVP picks
• 1:17:41 — Final thoughts + gratitude + community + live music plug

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