The Tragically Hip Share 'Twin Peaks'-Inspired Video for "Ouch"

The 'Saskadelphia' visuals star Jay Baruchel, Rebecca-Jo Dunham-Baruchel and Rick Mercer

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jun 3, 2021

Last month, the Tragically Hip dug out Road Apples rarities from the vault for release as Saskadelphia, and they've now shared a music video for opening track "Ouch."

Directed by Sara Basso, the clip stars Jay Baruchel riding into the misty town of Saskadelphia by motorcycle, where he is greeted at a quiet local watering hole by the barkeep (Rebecca-Jo Dunham-Baruchel) and a friendly stranger (Rick Mercer).

While Mercer's character opts to nurse a can of the Hip's Road Apples cider, Baruchel's character instead opts for some happy hour shots of a "Trois Pistols" spirit, poured from an eerie looking bottle found higher up the bar shelf.

From there, Baruchel's character has what can only be described as an out-of-body experience. The Hip urge viewers to keep their eyes peeled for "over 30 'easter eggs' in the video," teasing that "something great might be in store for those who find them all...We will be watching until June 9th."

You can watch the video below.

"I wanted the video to be something that long-time fans of the Tragically Hip would appreciate but also create intrigue for a younger audience to connect with the historic moment when a small town Canadian band flipped everything on its head and got the whole world listening," director Basso shared in a statement. "The track has a rebellious and audacious tone, which I felt required an off-beat narrative; a tongue-in-cheek thriller, contemporary, with nods to 30 years ago."

In a statement of his own, Baruchel reflected, "The first concert I ever went to was the Tragically Hip at what used to be called the Molson Centre (now the Bell Centre) in Montreal, when I was in the eleventh grade. From well before that night, right on up to here, I can't remember a time where the Tragically Hip weren't part of the vital, every day soundtrack of my life...Getting to be in a video for one of said songs, with my wife (Dunham-Baruchel) and Rick Mercer to boot, is nothing short of a once in a lifetime moment."

On Sunday (June 6), the Tragically Hip will perform with Feist at the 2021 Juno Awards, at which they will also receive the 2021 Humanitarian Award.

Read Exclaim!'s review of Saskadelphia, and find out where Road Apples sits in Exclaim!'s Essential Guide to the Tragically Hip.

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