Based in Ontario, Canada The Tragically Hip is an alternative rock band that has been active since 1983. The band signed a long-term deal with MCA in the late 1980s and released its first record, a self-titled EP, in 1987 before dropping its debut album Up to Here, in 1989. With catchy melodies and solid instrumentation, The Tragically Hip saw early critical and commercial acclaim, snagging multiple Juno Awards along the way. After four more studio albums, the band made the switch over to Universal Records and released its sixth studio album Phantom Power, in 1998. Despite never having expanded into an international audience, The Tragically Hip has become one of the most beloved alternative rock acts in its home country, earning the nickname The Hip by its close-knit fan base.