Rheostatics

Rheostatics formed in Toronto in the mid-1980s around Dave Bidini, Martin Tielli, and Tim Vesely. Their name came from the term for variable resistors, which fit their tendency to shift musical directions. They put out their first album, 'Greatest Hits,' in 1987, and followed it with records like 'Whale Music' in 1992 and 'Music is a Map' in 1995.

Their songs often mixed rock with folk and jazz touches, avoiding straightforward structures. Tracks like 'A Midwinter Night's Dream' and 'California Dreamline' showed their knack for winding, lyrical arrangements. They could be polarizing live, sometimes adding experimental sounds or theatrical bits that didn't sit well with everyone.

In 1999, they stirred some public debate over the song 'Whale Music,' which some listeners read as critical of female artists. The band kept recording through the 2000s, including 'The Ballad of Wendel Clark' in 2001. They called it quits in 2007, leaving a catalog that still draws listeners who appreciate their off-kilter approach.