The Ballad Of Wendel Clark by Rheostatics

[marchky]

I have been a diehard Habs fan over 20 years and even I like this. Props to Dave and the band eh?

[velocipedjones]

if there's a band that's more proudly canadian...

[TheGreenMark]

Wendel was a REAL hockey player.

[mojomohambo]

Leafs rock and Wendel is till the best EVER.

Props to the Rheostatics for capturing the Canadian mood perfectly. Totally takes me back to the 80's

[gpoop23]

Gotta love silly yet awesome bluegrass ballads.

[lord9691]

I wanna love the Rheostatics, but whenever I try......no hooks? no riffs? just lyrics ain't enough (nice HNIC theme quote tho!)

[elanmak]

Canada has no hooks or riffs

[Giles4200]

are you kidding? its so incredibly unique, who needs to conform the the same format of ever other band, there amasing as is, really man, but yeah good tribute to the former HNIC song, TSN has it now i believe, buet hey man, rheos all the way, u will love them soon enough

[RyanTheComedyKid]

@Giles4200 THANK YOU!!!! They are the most unique band that I have ever heard. "Row" from Introducing Happiness has a mixture of Canadian sound and yodelling at one point and they made that sound incredible too.

[marchky]

Not a Leafs fan (GO HABS GO) but this tune is too cool for school. I still remember the first time I saw it on Much at the recommendation of a Mic'macq friend in Truro, N.S.

[Aggiechilds]

Love Clark. Hate this song.

[atomicbolt]

I didn't really know much about the Rheostatics til I read "On a cold road" by Dave Bidini. Awesome book if you can pick it up, crammed with crazy stories of Canadian rock

[SomeProudCanadian]

@atomicbolt ...YESS.. read it and it's an awesome book. Bidini is a better writer than a solo artist.. 1 out of 2 ain't bad ;)

[FOWLMUSIC]

@SomeProudCanadian

So false it's ridiculous! Land is Wild is an awesome album!

[SomeProudCanadian]

@FOWLMUSIC You're right. I might have been a bit harsh. There are some good elements to his album and there's definitely talent there. I probably would have ate this all up back in my uni days. He's still an awesome live performer. I wouldn't hesitate to see him. But now that I'm a bit older, I guess I'm expecting more from Bidini because I know he can do it. Something like Martin Tielli's latest works (particularly his Ghost of Danny G albums), which are just daring and brilliant.

[FOWLMUSIC]

@SomeProudCanadian

Well Dave is Dave and Martin is Martin. I don't think it's the least bit fair to expect Bidini is going to produce an album like Ghost of Danny G. That is not his strength or character. LIW is totally Dave, and strong and cohesive on its own. We all know that Martin singing a Dave song like Dope Fiends or Stolen Car is pretty much as good as it gets, but it should not detract from the fantastic songs on LIW.

[marchky]

"Mama only listens to the radio. Papa only watches hockey games." =)

[anulhyf34]

"I see green sprouts coming from the ground!"

Dave Bidini is one witty character...so had they already written the song green sprouts at this point?

[anulhyf34]

Upon further investigation, I believe that was Martin Tielli who said that.

[ninkly]

I'm Canadian originally & I once had such hope for these guys till I heard this song...sorry everyone...

[olearyp]

maybe it's best you left canada then

[ninkly]

maybe it's best you quit condemning people like a fascist just because they disagree with you...that's not very Canadian.

[olearyp]

Oh I'm sorry. You're always welcomed in Canada even if you dont like "The Ballad Of Wendel Clark"

[ninkly]

it's cool. Thanks or something.

[unigod1]

@olearyp why you say maybe its best you left canada when there from t.o maybe you should leave canada i bet you dont like the matthew good band either,anyway canadian bands are the best and dont know if you will get this but if ya do think b4 ya speak??????

[crazenate]

Rheostatics are amazing. Go listen to some Nickelback if you don't like them..

[persona19]

Nickelback is the greatest thing to ever come out of Canada.

[crazenate]

I can only hope you're being sarcastic.

[bannor99]

@crazenate They're both very, very mostly a bit above average

[ScreamerWantsWetFood]

kind of like how a Texas accent must sound more American than a regular American accent to someone from Canada? Maybe? I wouldn't know.

[ScreamerWantsWetFood]

their accents are so funny. They sound extremely Canadian, more Canadian than most Canadians, it's like an exaggeration. lol.

[1CupidandPsyche]

Oh man - so glad this is posted! Loved this growing up...and that such a great group honoured one of the most underappreciated hockey players ever.

I've seen Dave a few times over the years around my neighbourhood but never struck up the courage to acknowledge him. Rheostatics seriously rule.

[fitboyslob]

Dont know why I looked for this but very glad. Saw these guys a million years ago in TCD Dublin, great lads. Still have the cassette...yeah the cassette. Can Anyone post Peoples Republic of Dave?

[littleone30]

Oh my! They look so young here! Very awesome video.

[Leadingnorth]

Love it!!

[Maebashi]

I like when Martin throws his hit into the air and it turns into an airplane at 00:52

[Tiberius1776]

You think these guys are Canadian??

[crazenate]

uh...cause they are.