The Rheostatics / "The Tarleks"

Thanks for introducing me to another great band!

Ahhh Merlin Mann. Again you have proven your love of the Canadian music scene. I often forget, having lived within hours of Toronto most of my life, just how diverse our music industry is here. I was the lucky one. I got to work in an independant music store for 3 years, and loved EVERY unexpectedly cool moment of it (with the exception of when "Millenium" by the Backstreet Boys came out. That's a little too much sonic disturbance for one obscure music fan to take. And the album was schlock). Rheostatics are amazing, and have been for a long time. IF you get a chance, (not that there is any link between "The 'Statics" and this band), get your hands on some albums by a Canadian band (From Guelph, Ontario. About 1 hour west of Toronto), called King Cobb Steelie. Doesn't really matter which one, but Junior Relaxer is my fave. Unusual mix of indy rock, experimentation and reggae (at times). REALLY good. You won't find much new from them, but during their brief history, they were very good.

Getting back to the Rheostatics, Dave Bidini (guitar player in the band), has written many books in the past few years. "On A Cold Road" is about the 'Statics being the opening act for Canada's legendary group, The Tragically Hip. "Tropic of Hockey" is his book about hockey being played in unexpected areas of the world. "Baseballissimo" (my personal fave, as a baseball nut), is about Dave's summer playing baseball in the Italian baseball league. And "The Best Game You Can Name" is his return to hockey, and more specifically what it means to Dave and Canada in general. All books are written with Dave's great sense of humour, and from the original standpoint, that he brings to the Rheostatics. Good read's, if you can get them (I'm sure some of them are available through Amazon.com, but when in Canada, get Sean to point you to a Chapters, and you'll find them).

Oh and finally, "Whale Music" by the Rheostatics, for my money, is their Sgt. Pepper (if they even really have a standout album from the rest. Even bad pizza is still good, if you catch my drift).