ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 12, 1985 By Steve Newton On Saturday night, in the wilds (well, not quite) of Chilliwack, Matrex were doing their best to make the natives restless. Their set at the Fiddler II Cabaret included about eight originals (some of which they’re currently putting on a 24-track demo at Pr0file Studio), as … Continue reading Matrex goes over big in Chilliwack with a little help from Deep Purple
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, MAY 27, 1981 By Steve Newton Casanova’s nightclub was the scene last week of three nightly performances by touring Chicago-based rock band Lois Lane. The group, supposedly the top drawing band in the windy city, is not your average club act band and, in fact, has toured with such … Continue reading Chicago’s Lois Lane brings original tunes and flaming drumset to Chilliwack but calls small-town booking a mistake
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, APRIL 8, 1981 By Steve Newton Famous Canadian singer-songwriter Sylvia Tyson visited Chilliwack last Thursday for the first of three nightly performances at Huggy’s nightclub. Five years ago Tyson stepped out of ex-husband Ian’s considerable shadow, and since then has earned the reputation as a crowd-pleasing performer in her … Continue reading Sylvia Tyson and her Great Speckled Bird hit Chilliwack for a three-night stand at Huggy’s Cabaret
Chilliwack performs at Rock Maple Ridge on Friday By Steve Newton MONDAY: California hard-rock/metal band Avenged Sevenfold plays Rogers Arena, with guests Alexisonfire and Kim Dracula. MONDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of director Kathryn Bigelow’s hugely entertaining 1987 vampire flick Near Dark. “Shitkicker heaven!” MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Fashion Fictions exhibition, running until October 9 at the Vancouver … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, August 7 to 11
@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 10, 1990 By Steve Newton Whether you’re a big country music fan or just someone who enjoys partying in the sun with several thousand other folks, the Chilliwack Fairgrounds was the place to be over the long weekend. Twenty-four bands performed, much beer was consumed, and it … Continue reading Charlie Daniels brings his redneck fiddle noise to my old hometown for the Chilliwack Country Music Festival
Just came across an old newspaper ad for a run of shows by Ontario power trio Goddo at fabled Vancouver nightspot the Body Shop. That little clipping–which I found on the Facebook group Rocking Vancouver – A Visual Recollection Of Vancouvers Rock Concert Scene–got me thinking of that time I went to see Goddo at … Continue reading That time I went to see Goddo and got bonked on the head by a bass
By Steve Newton A few days ago I published a blog with the headline: Does the new Rolling Stones song suck, or is it awesome? I posted it just a few hours after the Stones had released the video for “Angry”, the first single off its upcoming Hackney Diamonds album. Since then, the clip–which portrays … Continue reading The votes are in: according to the Internet, the new Rolling Stones song doesn’t suck
Me ‘n Tom Cochrane, who plays Rock Maple Ridge By Steve Newton FRIDAY: B.C. rockers Chilliwack perform with Trooper and Harlequin at day one of the Rock Maple Ridge classic-rock festival at Albion Fairgrounds. “Fly at Night” baby! FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Fashion Fictions exhibition, running until October 9 at the Vancouver Art Gallery, explores … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, August 11 to 13
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 6, 1984 By Steve Newton “A lot of people figure, ‘Gee, you were in Trooper, you were in Iron Horse. I guess it’s a real snap’. But we’re struggling, I’ll be honest with you–have been for a long time. So it’s really encouraging that people are coming out and saying they … Continue reading Body Electric’s Frank Ludwig connects with street kids through rock ‘n’ roll
By Steve Newton After more than 40 years as a professional music writer, lord knows I’ve seen a lot of concerts. But one of the bands I really regret not seeing live was Van Halen with David Lee Roth. Oh sure, I saw them with Sammy Hagar a few times–at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium in … Continue reading Looks like my old buddy Ferg got to see Van Halen with David Lee Roth
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT ON APRIL 14, 2021 By Steve Newton I was born on April 14, 1957, so the Beatles‘ “When I’m Sixty-Four” is my favourite song today. Listening to that tune really takes me back…to a happier time? Maybe so. Not that I’m doin’ too bad right now, having just gotten … Continue reading When you’re 64, that old Beatles tune really means something
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 16, 2020 By Steve Newton The coronovirus pandemic is a global catastrophe that has led to massive death, economic ruin, and untold suffering. But it hasn’t stopped Scott Smith from rocking out. It did slow him down a bit, though, as he admits on the line from his … Continue reading Scott Smith was thinking about both Duane and Dickey on Terminal Station’s Allman-like tune
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 10, 2009 By Steve Newton Back in ’94 Missouri’s Bottle Rockets released their second album, The Brooklyn Side, which scored North American airplay for the rollicking, cops’ll-get-you single “Radar Gun” but is best remembered for infectious rockers like “Gravity Fails”, “I’ll Be Comin’ Around”, and the evocative ballad … Continue reading Album review: The Bottle Rockets, Lean Forward (2009)
