The Current Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics on the band's new album
Dec 8, 2025
Dave Badini, a founding member of the Rheostatics and an influential Canadian musician and author, dives into the band's new album and their evolution over 45 years. He shares inspiration drawn from the Great Lakes and the impactful collaborations with artists like Tanya Tagaq and Gord Downie. Badini discusses the importance of including Indigenous voices in their music, reflecting on Canada's identity and advocating for local stories. The conversation highlights the joy of touring Canada and capturing the essence of shared experiences in their sound.
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Choosing A Radical New Direction
- Dave Badini says the Rheostatics decided to “make a hard right” after 45 years and create something completely new instead of replaying hits.
- The Great Lakes Suite grew from impressions, memories, and a desire to do something different after legacy celebration shows.
Poetry Shapes The Musical Landscape
- The record uses an impressionistic, abstract approach and embeds spoken-word poems to directly address the lakes.
- Poems by Liz Howard, Anne Carson, Gord Downie and Chief Stacey LaForme weave a narrative layer into the music.
Including Gord Downie’s Water Story
- Matt plays Gord Downie’s near-drowning piece and Dave recounts hearing Gord read it at a Waterkeepers gala.
- With family approval the band looped the story in studio and performed to Gord's recorded voice on the album.