mhammer
07-22-2008, 03:30 PM
I'm about halfway through this tome, and it is a terrific read ( http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780771014659.html ). Every bit as good as Bidini's "On a Cold Road" book. In this case the road stories are from Bidini's post Rheostatics days playing in China, Russia, Finland, and Africa, among other places, as opposed to Canadian rock legends' stories about bizarre bars in rural Saskatchewan. I don't know that I share all of Bidini's sensibilities, but I do share a great many of them, and most of the heartbreaks and transcendant moments he describes in the book resonate with me completely. Sadly, some people I have long admired don't fare too well in some of the backstage anecdotes, but then we love these performers for the works we know them by not for their offstage persona. I think Dave accepts that too. he has a real gift for capturing the sorts of things about travel that happen when your gaze wanders away from what everyone else is looking at.
Another terrific book I picked up for peanuts last year is Don Nix's "Road Stories and Recipes" http://www.amazon.com/Road-Stories-Recipes-Don-Nix/dp/0825672171 This book makes a fine companion to "Soulsville", Rob Bowman's erudite history of Stax/Volt. Much briefer and first person, rather than 3rd person, Nix tells his story from the early days of Stax/Volt playing in the Mar-Keys ("Last Night") as well as playing with and behind many of the Stax greats, touring with Cocker/Russell on the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, and working with so many other greats. He has his own low points in his life and career and describes them concisely and honestly without wallowing in misery before he gets back on the good foot. A delightful retelling of some of the greatest and absolute worst gigs in history. If that weren't enough, the last 1/3 of the book is recipe's from many musicians you know and love. These are the sorts of things musicians make for themselves in their hotel rooms or the moment they finally get back home.
Another terrific book I picked up for peanuts last year is Don Nix's "Road Stories and Recipes" http://www.amazon.com/Road-Stories-Recipes-Don-Nix/dp/0825672171 This book makes a fine companion to "Soulsville", Rob Bowman's erudite history of Stax/Volt. Much briefer and first person, rather than 3rd person, Nix tells his story from the early days of Stax/Volt playing in the Mar-Keys ("Last Night") as well as playing with and behind many of the Stax greats, touring with Cocker/Russell on the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, and working with so many other greats. He has his own low points in his life and career and describes them concisely and honestly without wallowing in misery before he gets back on the good foot. A delightful retelling of some of the greatest and absolute worst gigs in history. If that weren't enough, the last 1/3 of the book is recipe's from many musicians you know and love. These are the sorts of things musicians make for themselves in their hotel rooms or the moment they finally get back home.