ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 24, 2022 By Steve Newton The cover of Ben Harper's latest album, Bloodline Maintenance, appears to be a photo of a little kid poking the relaxed, shades-wearing Harper in the chest with a blue toy shovel. But when Harper calls in for an interview from Paris, France, where he's just finished … Continue reading Ben Harper found a way to deal with loss on Bloodline Maintenance
Month: December 2022
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, December 30 to January 1
The Big Lebowski screens at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Mad Riddim is a drum- and bass-led groove machine mixing classic dub sensibilities with the attitude of funk and the improvisation of jazz at Guilt and Co. FRIDAY: parody '80s hair-metal band Steel Panther ("It Won't Suck Itself") plays the second of two nights … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, December 30 to January 1
Ian Tyson’s passing reminds me of how much my dear old dad loved “Four Strong Winds”
By Steve Newton It's been a rough Thursday in the worlds of sports, fashion, and music. Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, British fashion rebel Vivienne Westwood, and Canadian country-folk singer-songwriter Ian Tyson all left us today. And to make matters worse, yesterday brought the awful news that Vancouver journalist Tom Harrison, a cherished fixture on the … Continue reading Ian Tyson’s passing reminds me of how much my dear old dad loved “Four Strong Winds”
Filmmaker Kier-La Janisse lays out the history of folk horror
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 15, 2021 By Steve Newton Back in 2005 I interviewed Kier-La Janisse at Black Dog Video, the Vancouver specialty-video shop she'd worked at for several years. At the time Janisse was curating her seventh and final installment of the CineMuerte Film Festival, which took place at the Pacific Cinématheque (now just … Continue reading Filmmaker Kier-La Janisse lays out the history of folk horror
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts to see in the first half of 2023
Jason Isbell plays the Queen E By Steve Newton Bowie Ball: the eighth annual tribute to David Bowie and fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation, featuring performances by local acts the Bad Beats, Rebel Valentine, Ophelia Falling, China Syndrome, Ford Pier, Cherry Maraschino, Mime, Left Spine Down, and Rat Silo. January 7 at the Rickshaw … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts to see in the first half of 2023
New York guitar ace Stephen Ulrich likes working with a gun to his head
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 2022 By Steve Newton Doing research for an interview with guitarist Stephen Ulrich can be a fun thing--especially if you're a Beatles fan. Searching around on YouTube, it doesn't take long to discover a version of the John Lennon-penned "Girl", off the 1965 Rubber Soul album. The tune, performed by … Continue reading New York guitar ace Stephen Ulrich likes working with a gun to his head
That time Buddy Guy told me how thrilled he was to finally record with B.B. King
By Steve Newton I did the second of my five interviews with Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy back in March of 1993. At the time Buddy was promoting his new album Feels Like Rain, so I called him up at a tour stop in Buffalo, New York. After clarifying that we were both definitely doin' … Continue reading That time Buddy Guy told me how thrilled he was to finally record with B.B. King
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Dec. 26-30
Jackie Brown screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY TO THURSDAY: SethFest celebrates the work of Vancouver movie star Seth Rogen with screenings at the Hollywood Theatre of Neighbours, Neighbours 2, Superbad, Pineapple Express (my fave), and This Is The End. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: the City of Vancouver’s annual Festival of Lights is a winter wonderland … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Dec. 26-30
That time Wang Chung’s Nick Feldman told me about recording the soundtrack for William Friedkin’s latest film, To Live and Die in L.A.
By Steve Newton I interviewed Nick Feldman of Wang Chung in March of 1987, the day after the British pop band played the 86 Street Music Hall in Vancouver. I mainly wanted to chat with him because I loved the soundtrack Wang Chung did for the 1985 William Friedkin thriller, To Live and Die in … Continue reading That time Wang Chung’s Nick Feldman told me about recording the soundtrack for William Friedkin’s latest film, To Live and Die in L.A.
Fanny: The Right to Rock shines a light on underdogs from the ’70s
By Steve Newton Fanny: The Right to Rock, a music documentary currently streaming on Crave, gets the inside scoop on the very first all-female rock band to get signed to a major label. If you've never heard of Fanny, don't be too surprised. The way the groundbreaking quartet was overlooked in the history of rock … Continue reading Fanny: The Right to Rock shines a light on underdogs from the ’70s
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Dec 23-25
It's a Wonderful Life screens at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: vocalist Dawn Pemberton and bassist/bandleader Jodi Proznick lead an all-star band in joyful holiday classics in O Come All Ye Soulful at New Westminster's Anvil Centre. FRIDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of Neil Young: Harvest Time, Bernard Shakey’s docu-film that takes an intimate … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Dec 23-25
Bestselling thriller novelist Linwood Barclay says Ross Macdonald is still his favourite writer
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 12, 2021 By Steve Newton Before he became an internationally bestselling thriller writer, Linwood Barclay spent many years in the journalistic trenches, first at the Peterborough Examiner and then at the Toronto Star, where he held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, Life section editor, and humour columnist. He figures that experience … Continue reading Bestselling thriller novelist Linwood Barclay says Ross Macdonald is still his favourite writer
That time I asked B.B. King why he chose guitar as his instrument
bev davies photo By Steve Newton Way back in January of 1984 I did my first interview with B.B. King. He was playing a string of shows at the Plazazz! Showroom in North Vancouver, so I drove my '66 Dodge Polara on over the Lions Gate Bridge to visit the blues great in his room … Continue reading That time I asked B.B. King why he chose guitar as his instrument