Roadshow: Landscape with Drums

Many of you do not know that I love to read.  When I was growing up, I had series upon series of various Science Fiction novels lining bookshelves in my bedroom.  I spent my spare time reading about grand journeys and swashbuckling adventures with swords and pirate ships and dragons and space cruisers.  As I’ve gotten older, gotten married, became a dad to a wonderful growing young man and opened my businesses in music (that has become my obsession).  My focus turned from fiction to an expansive variety of subjects by an even more diverse list of authors.  So I think that it befits this blog to review my most recent accomplishment in reading with you.

The book is entitled: “Roadshow: Landscape with Drums, A Concert Tour by Motorcycle” by Neil Peart.  For those that do not recognize the author, Neil Peart is the drummer for the Canadian Progressive Rock Band “Rush”; whose nickname is “The Professor”, and whose last name is often mispronounced ‘Pert’; however it is “‘Pere’ rt”.  Rush was formed in 1968, but grew more popular in 1974 when Peart joined the group and replaced the original drummer, John Rutsey.  The band, who has yet to be inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has been a member of the Canadian counterpart for years.

This book, Peart’s fourth, is part musical journey through the band’s 2004 R30 tour to celebrate their 30th year, and part travel journal.  The reader gets an informative, raw view of life on the road with a full time working band, but more interesting is Peart’s taste and reviews of dining establishments, hotels, highways, and event our national parks.  The majority of the book is spent on his motorcycle in North America.  I found it to be not only entertaining as he takes you through the back roads on America, but informative.  It made me want to visit these places and experience the views that he describes with my family.  The European tour near the end of the book, while almost an afterthought gives readers a peek into Europe’s rarely seen landscape.

“Landscape with Drums” is a great read that will open your eyes to a seasoned musician and a well traveled one.