ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, By Steve Newton Methinks Colin James has been listening to a little too much ZZ Top of late. Don’t get me wrong—I can play the Texas boogiemeisters’ first five albums all day long and still have a hankering for more Tres Hombres. But on “Man’s Gotta Be a Stone”, the … Continue reading Album review: Colin James, Rooftops and Satellites (2009)
The White Album is deconstructed at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: eight-piece Vancouver band Zappostrophe’ plays favourites and lesser-known works from Frank Zappa’s eclectic recordings at Frankie’s Jazz Club. FRIDAY: local outlaw country-folk singer-songwriter Jay Gavin performs at the Princeton Pub, with friends the Unbranded, Cat Murphy Band, Rubarb, Sinead X. Sanders, and Leah … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, February 2 to 4
Colin James plays the Commodore By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Cinematheque of French director Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 feature debut, Breathless, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg. In French with English subtitles. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were selected to create 22 objects made from vintage mahogany for Reclaim + Repair: … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 29 to February 2
Colin James performs as part of the BlueShore at CapU 25th Anniversary Gala By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Kenny vs. Spenny at the Harbour Event & Convention Centre sees lifelong frenemies Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice using personal attacks and lifelong grievances to create cringe-inducing comedy. FRIDAY: soul, jazz, and R&B singer Krystle Dos Santos performs with her five-piece band at the ACT … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Oct. 14-16
Colin James performs at F**k Cancer 2 By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the BC Lions take on the Calgary Stampeders in Canadian Football League action at BC Place. FRIDAY: the Rogue Folk Club presents Vancouver acoustic folk-roots quartet the Fugitives performing tunes from its new album No Help Coming at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 20 to 22
Gov’t Mule plays the Vogue By Steve Newton Colin James: Vancouver blues-rock veteran (“Voodoo Thing”) performs with his Little Big Band. February 2 and 3 at the Commodore Ballroom. February 3 SOLD OUT. GDBC: Vancouver’s Grateful Dead cover band. February 3 at the Rickshaw Theatre. Paul Pigat plays the Shadbolt Centre Paul Pigat: Vancouver guitar … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in February
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1995 I interviewed Canadian blues-rocker Colin James, who I’d been a fan of since his self-titled 1988 debut album. At the time he was touring behind his fourth album, Bad Habits, which saw him playing quite a bit of slide guitar on tunes like “Real Stuff” and “Walkin’ … Continue reading That time Colin James told me that playing electric slide-guitar was a challenge for him
stewart copeland joins the VSO Friday and Saturday By Steve Newton Canadian blues-rocker Colin James plays the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Friday, with guests the Ally Venable Band. Japanese psych-rock quintet Kikagaku Moyo plays a SOLD OUT show at the Rickshaw on Friday, with guest Yu Su. The B.C. Lions take on the Ottawa Redblacks in CFL action at … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings play the Commodore By Steve Newton MONDAY: American singer-rapper Lizzo plays Rogers Arena on The Special Tour, with guest Latto. MONDAY: AEG and MRG Live present New Zealand’s Bret McKenzie–one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords–performing at the Vogue Theatre on his Songs Without Jokes Tour. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 11) things to do in Vancouver this week, Nov. 7 to 11
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 19, 1995 By Steve Newton Jerry Doucette said it best back in the ’70s when his hit boogie tune, “Mama Let Him Play”, urged parents to let their youthful offspring play some rock ’n’ roll. Fortunately for 18-year-old guitarist-vocalist Dallin Paul, his folks took this approach three years ago when he … Continue reading Teenaged Victoria blues-rockers Seventh Stone tour with Big Sugar and open for Jimmie Vaughan
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 24, 2003 By Steve Newton When you talk about the Winnipeg music scene, one name that tends to crop up repeatedly is Big Dave McLean. He’s a fixture of the city’s blues joints who’s been championed for years by the likes of Colin James. But Brent Parkin is … Continue reading Brent Parkin has worked the Winnipeg blues beat longer than Big Dave McLean
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Stevie Ray Vaughan in July of 1990, six weeks before his death, I asked him what he’d been listening to in his spare time–if he had any. “Well I really haven’t had time to look up!,” he declared, before adding that he’d been mostly paying attention to the record … Continue reading That time Stevie Ray Vaughan told me how much he liked Colin James
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 22, 2022 By Steve Newton As a youngster growing up in Guinea, West Africa, Alpha Yaya Diallo took in a lot of culture. His family moved around a lot, and he was exposed to musical influences from the Susu, Maninka, and his own Fulani people. He also spent time in nearby … Continue reading Alpha Yaya Diallo likes to hear millions of guitar players
