On a Cold Road

On a Cold Road chronicles David Bidini's experiences touring with his band Rheostatics across Canada. The book combines Bidini's personal narrative with accounts from other Canadian musicians who navigated the challenges of life on the road. The text follows the physical journey through Canada's vast landscape while documenting the realities of touring life - from equipment breakdowns to long drives between venues. It presents an insider's perspective of Canadian rock music in the 1990s, capturing both the practical and personal elements of life as a working musician. Musicians' stories are woven through the narrative, providing context about the broader Canadian music scene and touring circuit. The book was nominated for Canada Reads 2012 and continues to serve as a key document of Canadian rock music history. The work examines themes of perseverance, artistic dedication, and the unique challenges faced by Canadian musicians trying to make it in their home country. It stands as both a personal memoir and a cultural record of a specific time in Canadian music.

Readers appreciate Bidini's unvarnished look at touring Canada as a musician, with many noting the book captures both the tedium and excitement of life on the road. Multiple reviews mention the effective mix of Bidini's personal stories alongside interviews with Canadian musicians who toured in the 1970s and 80s. Readers liked: - Authentic portrayal of Canadian music scene - Historical context from musician interviews - Details about specific venues and towns - Humor in describing band dynamics Readers disliked: - Scattered narrative structure - Too many side stories - Some find the interview sections disrupt flow - Limited focus on Rheostatics' music Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (162 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.3/5 (11 reviews) "Captures the reality of touring across Canada in winter better than any other book" - Goodreads review "The musician interviews add depth but sometimes distract from the main story" - Amazon review

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🎸 The book's title was inspired by the frigid conditions musicians faced while touring Canada in winter, with temperatures often dropping below -40°C. 🚐 David Bidini logged over 800,000 kilometers on Canadian highways during his touring career with Rheostatics before writing this book. 🎵 The Rheostatics, Bidini's band, have the unique distinction of being the only group to perform their own soundtrack live during a Gord Downie poetry reading at the National Arts Centre. 🗺️ Canada's touring circuit in the 1990s (when much of the book takes place) included venues separated by drives of up to 16 hours between shows - the longest regular tour route in North America. 📚 For research, Bidini conducted interviews with over 30 veteran Canadian musicians, including members of Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, and Rush, creating a comprehensive oral history of Canadian touring life.