TORONTO -- Canada Day doesn't arrive for another week.

But celebrations began early last night at Massey Hall as the country's premiere rock band, The Tragically Hip, made a rare appearance at a small venue, bringing out full-scale patriotism in a rowdy and rambunctious crowd.

The audience even sang the national anthem before The Hip played a single note.

And what about that girl in the bra covered in maple leafs?

"You are Canadian," said impressed, suit-wearing frontman Gord Downie, in reference to the omnipresent "I Am Canadian" beer ads.

Obviously, people were just jazzed about the fact they got to see their beloved rockers in such an intimate setting.

It was, in fact, the first time since 1992 that the Kingston, Ont., band have played the classy hall -- the best in the city for such special events.

They decided to give a little something back to their well-known frenetic fans -- on their feet from start to finish last night -- before embarking on a U.S. tour with opening acts Chris Brown & Kate Fenner joining them on stage.

And since The Hip aren't expected to tour Canada until at least the fall, or more likely winter, those attending last night's gig got a sneak preview of what's to come.

The band, who get much of their manic intensity from the head-and-hip-shaking Downie, offered up seven new songs from their barely two-week-old album, Music @ Work.

And surprise, surprise, most people in the audience seemed to know all the words.

That is when they weren't chanting, "Gord-ie! Gord-ie!"

Downie, for his part, was an exhilarating presence during the opener, Something On, and its follow-up, My Music At Work, the first single from the new album.

But some momentum was lost after that one-two punch until the jazzy jumpstarter, Springtime In Vienna, came along, and Downie threw off his blazer, leading to a scream-fest that rose again and again during such songs as Fireworks, Nautical Disaster, Fully Completely, Little Bones and Poets.

Bobby Baker should also be singled out for both his electric and acoustic guitar playing on Bobcaygeon, At The Hundredth Meridian, Poets and the new song, Tiger The Lion -- that last one complete with green strobe lights -- while rhythm guitarist Paul Langlois harmonized sweetly on both Lake Fever and Ahead By A Century.

Not all of the new songs worked as well in concert as they do on the album. For example, Toronto #4 and The Completists, which both benefit from female harmonies on record, went largely without in concert due to volume problems on Fenner's microphone.

A blond, thin, Grace Kelly kind of beauty, she was lovely to look at, but you could barely hear her voice, that is until Flamenco, the second-to-last song of the night, during which the crowd loudly cheered her on.

And despite the concert promoter's best efforts to prevent scalping -- with tickets going on sale at the venue June 12 at midnight -- one Toronto radio station was reporting that single tickets were going for as much as $400 apiece outside Massey Hall.

If you weren't lucky enough to go to the concert, The Hip are playing their first-ever Intimate & Interactive tonight on MuchMusic from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

Apparently, they enjoyed similar promotional shows last week in the U.S. so much that they returned home ready for the I&I treatment, which will see them perform songs and answer questions.

Set List

Something On My Music At Work Gift Shop Putting Down Springtime In Vienna Toronto #4 Fireworks The Completists Nautical Disaster Don't Wake Daddy Freak Turbulence Bobcaygeon Fully Completely Lake Fever At The Hundredth Meridian Encores: Tiger The Lion Ahead By A Century Little Bones Flamenco Poets