ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 18, 2002 By Steve Newton The leadoff track on the latest Reverend Horton Heat CD, Lucky 7, is titled “Loco Gringos Like a Party”. When I first heard it, I thought it was about a bunch of tequila-guzzling crazies that the Reverend (aka Jim Heath) and his bandmates … Continue reading Jim Heath says that he borrowed guitar licks from the same people Brian Setzer did
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 3, 2005 By Steve Newton Brian Setzer has always shown a propensity for being hip, with it, a real cool cat who’s up on the latest scene. That’s why, in the early ’80s, his trio the Stray Cats was at the forefront of the rockabilly revival. And when … Continue reading Album review: Brian Setzer, Rockabilly Riot Vol. One: A Tribute to Sun Records (2006)
By Steve Newton Lee Rocker is best known as the bassist for the Stray Cats, but he also made some great music with a band called Phantom, Rocker & Slick, which included guitar great Earl Slick and Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom. When I interviewed Rocker in March of 2007 he was touring behind … Continue reading That time Lee Rocker told me that the Stray Cats instantly connected with people, even in the early days
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 11, 2009 By Steve Newton Damn those blasted CDs scattered all over my desk! When I was searching the mess last week for potential entries to my Top 10 list of 2009 I somehow managed to overlook this stunning release by singer, songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire Damon Fowler. Whether … Continue reading Album review: Damon Fowler, Sugar Shack (2009)
By Steve Newton I’m a little show on the uptake sometimes. For example, just yesterday I was typing up my old interview from 1987 with Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, giving the article new life on the internet after being trapped on yellowing newspaper and stashed in a banker’s box for decades. In the … Continue reading 36 years later I finally got turned on to the rockin’ glory of Warren Zevon’s “Even a Dog Can Shake Hands”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 6, 2009 By Steve Newton If you’re the type of person who makes the rounds of Vancouver’s live-music joints there’s a good chance you’ve already heard a lick or two from guitarist Scott Smith. His blues-rock trio, Terminal Station, has enjoyed a residency at Capones in Yaletown; Bottleneck, … Continue reading Album review: Terminal Station, Rolling All Night (2009)
Geez, even Jimi knew Johnny ruled. By Steve Newton Back in September of 2010 Gibson.com posted what it felt were the 50 greatest guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it. Most conspicuous by his absence is Texas blues-rock legend Johnny Winter. I for one am getting sick and tired of … Continue reading Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it
adam pw smith photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 23, 2021 By Steve Newton When COVID-19 killed concerts last year, professional musicians who relied heavily on revenue from live shows were put in financial peril. That fact wasn’t lost on Vancouver guitar ace Paul Pigat, who normally chocks up plenty of gigs with his bands Cousin … Continue reading Paul Pigat has been told that Cousin Harley are like “the Motorhead of rockabilly”
By Steve Newton The Commodore Ballroom used to be the place to rock in Vancouver. As a kid growing up in Chilliwack in the ’70s, some of the best moments of my life involved cruising into the big city to see acts like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, KISS, Sammy Hagar, and Molly Hatchet rip … Continue reading 10 unforgettable concerts at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
jeff vinnick photo By Steve Newton When the Vancouver Canucks moved their home rink from East Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum to downtown’s GM Place in 1995, “the Garage” became the main place to see arena-rock shows in the city–at least until the name was changed to Rogers Arena in 2010. During that 15-year period I saw … Continue reading The 15 best rock concerts I ever saw at Vancouver’s GM Place
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 2, 2005 By Steve Newton Judging by the cover photo on the new Joe Perry solo CD, you might think that Aerosmith‘s guitar god has gone rockabilly or somethin’. He’s pictured shaking his hips in a slick black retro-’50s suit, posing with a big, Brian Setzer-type hollow-body slung … Continue reading Album review: Joe Perry, Joe Perry (2005)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 23, 1986 By Steve Newton For his first solo album, former Stray Cats guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer has surrounded himself with a crack band that includes former Derringer bassist Kenny Aaronson, Allman Brothers keyboardist Chuck Leavell, John Cougar Mellencamp’s drummer Kenny Aronoff, and a fiery guitarist by the name of … Continue reading Album review: Brian Setzer, The Knife Feels Like Justice (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 1986 By Steve Newton Before Brian Setzer went solo with The Knife Feels Like Justice, one of the most consistently fine rock albums of ’86, and before Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker joined up with guitar ace Earl Slick to produce two albums as Phantom, Rocker & … Continue reading Album review: Stray Cats, Rock Therapy (1986)
