The Red Hot Chili Peppers play BC Place By Steve Newton MONDAY: the Rocket Revellers--vocalist Dennis Brock, guitarist Stephen Nikleva, pianist Mike Van Eyes, bassist Joseph Lubinsky-Mast, and drummer Paul Townsend--perform a mix of western swing, jump blues, and rockabilly at Guilt and Co. MONDAY: the 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden features over 7,500 plant species … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, March 27 to 31
Kingdom Come hopes to avoid Zeppelin comparisons with new In Your Face LP
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 30, 1989 By Steve Newton Diehard Led Zeppelin fans were either impressed or outraged when Kingdom Come's debut album came out two years ago. The LP--made here in Vancouver at Little Mountain Sound and produced by Bob Rock--sounded an awful lot like a tribute to (or cloning of) Messrs. Page and … Continue reading Kingdom Come hopes to avoid Zeppelin comparisons with new In Your Face LP
Album review: Kate Bush, Hounds of Love (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1985 By Steve Newton Hounds of Love, Kate Bush's fifth album (her seventh counting mini-LPs) entered the British charts at No. 1, and from the effect of its lead-off track (and first single) "Running Up That Hill", it's easy to see why. Over a backdrop of pattering drums and keyboards … Continue reading Album review: Kate Bush, Hounds of Love (1984)
David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1985 By Steve Newton When David Wilcox was 12 years old he played his first gig at a club for recently released convicts. As he recalls, the ex-cons weren't particularly impressed. "It was a good introduction to what came later," says Wilcox with a laugh. "It was pretty funky. I … Continue reading David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, March 24 to 27
La Chinga plays LanaLou's By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver Rock Shop presents the Canadian Pink Floyd tribute show Comfortably Numb at the Vogue Theatre. FRIDAY: Comedy Here Often?'s monthly standup showcase at 604 Studios features headliner Joe Hill from New York City and B.C. comics Cassidy Anhorn, Josh De Grandi, and Patti Savard. FRIDAY: triple-bill … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, March 24 to 27
Great White packs ’em in like sardines in Vancouver
me 'n Jack after the show ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 30, 1989 By Steve Newton They turned away several hundred rock-hungry fans at the doors but it was still Sardine City inside Club Soda when L.A.'s popular mainstream metallists, Great White, took the stage Monday night (June 26). People started lining up at one in … Continue reading Great White packs ’em in like sardines in Vancouver
Roger Hodgson recalls his split from Supertramp after the “miserable” Famous Last Words
doug kretchmer photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 2, 1998 By Steve Newton Life's full of memorable little firsts, and sometimes they even come in pairs. I can still recall one such double-whammy from my mid-70s high school days. A few pals had convened in a schoolmate's basement one night, and before you could say "Let's … Continue reading Roger Hodgson recalls his split from Supertramp after the “miserable” Famous Last Words
Honeymoon Suite forgets to add guts to the gravy in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1988 By Steve Newton I have mixed feelings about Honeymoon Suite. For one thing, I hate the name. I've always hated the name. What a dumb name. Okay, now that I've got that off my chest, I'll admit that I do like some of the band's songs. There's nothing wrong … Continue reading Honeymoon Suite forgets to add guts to the gravy in Vancouver
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, March 20-24
Ryan Adams plays the Vogue By Steve Newton TUESDAY: Vancouver alt-country singer-songwriter Jay Gavin ("Got Myself a Harley") performs at Guilt & Co. TUESDAY: North Carolina alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, former member of Whiskeytown, plays the Vogue Theatre. Please don't yell out "Summer of '69"! All Quiet on the Western Front screens at the Rio … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, March 20-24
Northern Pikes pack prairie punch on new Secrets of the Alibi
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 1988 By Steve Newton The percentage of rock 'n' roll bands that make it big--or even to the point of just being able to put records out and tour--has never been high enough to make a career in rock a likely one. And if you're from some place like Saskatoon, … Continue reading Northern Pikes pack prairie punch on new Secrets of the Alibi
That time I asked John Sykes if he thought Thunder and Lightning ranked among the best of the Thin Lizzy albums
By Steve Newton Back in May of 1989 I interviewed British guitar great John Sykes, who was promoting the debut album by his power trio Blue Murder. Six years earlier Sykes had played on Thunder and Lightning, the final studio album by Thin Lizzy. So at one point in the conversation I asked him rather … Continue reading That time I asked John Sykes if he thought Thunder and Lightning ranked among the best of the Thin Lizzy albums
Kick Axe guitarist Gillstrom helps Vancouver metalheads kick ass
Gillstrom with Kick Axe, second from right ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1988 By Steve Newton Heavy metal. The words strike fear into the hearts of Julio lovers everywhere. Luckily Larry Gillstrom isn't an Iglesias fan. The guitarist for local metal merchants Kick Axe prefers his music fast and hard, so, along with Club Soda … Continue reading Kick Axe guitarist Gillstrom helps Vancouver metalheads kick ass
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, March 17 to 19
The Residents play the Hollywood Theatre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of the 1993 horror flick Leprechaun, starring Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston in her feature-film debut. FRIDAY: Canadian indie-pop quintet Alvvays plays the Commodore Ballroom, with guests Big Rig. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Punkstravaganza VII at the Rickshaw … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, March 17 to 19