Vancouver shredder Dave Martone gets emotional thinking about his hero Eddie Van Halen

edgar barseghyan photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 2020 By Steve Newton When the global pandemic hit last March, Vancouver guitarist Dave Martone was doing pretty well financially. He wasn’t living in a mansion like the guy from Nickelback, mind you, but he was busy as hell, playing an average of 35 gigs a month, … Continue reading Vancouver shredder Dave Martone gets emotional thinking about his hero Eddie Van Halen

That time Canadian rock-guitar wizard Dave Martone got choked up talking about Eddie Van Halen

By Steve Newton Vancouver-based guitarist Dave Martone knows wicked guitar players. As well as having collaborated and toured with his good friend Joe Satriani over the years, Martone has managed to work with such acclaimed six-string slingers as Yngwie Malmsteen, Jennifer Batten, Tosin Abasi, Greg Howe, Paul Gilbert, and Marty Friedman. But when I interviewed Martone in November … Continue reading That time Canadian rock-guitar wizard Dave Martone got choked up talking about Eddie Van Halen

Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 9-11

Bob Log III plays the Biltmore By Steve Newton FRIDAY: blues-punk slide guitar one-man band Bob Log III plays the Biltmore Cabaret, with guests Spank Williams. Mr. Log wears a full-body human cannonball suit and a helmet wired to a telephone receiver. FRIDAY: mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb is featured in a program with the Vancouver Symphony that includes … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 9-11

Guitar wizard Dave Martone calls his mentor Joe Satriani a member of “the Good Guy Club”

By Steve Newton I interviewed Dave Martone last week for a story in the Georgia Straight‘s annual Best of Vancouver issue, because when I think about who might be the best guitarist in Vancouver, he always comes to mind. At one point in the conversation I asked Martone about his relationship with Joe Satriani, because … Continue reading Guitar wizard Dave Martone calls his mentor Joe Satriani a member of “the Good Guy Club”

Nickelback and guitar hero Dave Martone join forces on Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

By Steve Newton “Shitkicker heaven!” That’s what Bill Paxton’s vampire character hollers when he enters that redneck bar before chomping on necks in the horror flick Near Dark. It’s also what I thought as soon as I saw the promo for Nickelback’s version of Charlie Daniels‘ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, featuring Vancouver’s Dave … Continue reading Nickelback and guitar hero Dave Martone join forces on Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, November 18 to 20

Trace Bundy plays the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the Los Angeles Kings in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: the Vancouver Symphony performs live to a screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Orpheum Theatre. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: American comedian and actor Jay Mohr … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, November 18 to 20

That time primo Vancouver picker Paul Pigat told me about getting turned on to Danny Gatton

By Steve Newton Metro Vancouver has spawned quite a few wicked guitar players, and I’ve been lucky to have interviewed a bunch. Some of my faves include Shaun Verreault, Dave Martone, Scott Smith, Don Alder, Russell Marsland, Lindsay Mitchell, Todd Taylor, Erol Sora, Devin Townsend, Harris Van Berkel, the late Scotty Hall, and the ever-lovin’ … Continue reading That time primo Vancouver picker Paul Pigat told me about getting turned on to Danny Gatton

Shaun Verreault deploys three slides at once to explore new ways of playing guitar

christopher edmonstone photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 16, 2021 By Steve Newton Over the last few months I’ve been checking in with Vancouver’s top guitar players to find out how, as professional musicians, they’ve been coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in October Scott Smith of Terminal Station explained how he was recording artists at … Continue reading Shaun Verreault deploys three slides at once to explore new ways of playing guitar

God bless Hughie Thomasson’s guitar solo on the Outlaws’ “Hurry Sundown”

By Steve Newton I really, really enjoy guitar solos sometimes. When a geetar player hits just the right notes with just the right feel, it’s almost like a religious experience for me. That’s why I’ve asked God to bless exquisite guitar solos by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald “Buck … Continue reading God bless Hughie Thomasson’s guitar solo on the Outlaws’ “Hurry Sundown”

That time I asked Sonny Landreth what first got him into slide guitar

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Louisiana slide-guitar master Sonny Landreth four times between 1995 and 2016. This is the first time, when I called him up in Sacramento, California, where he was touring as the opening act for Chicago blues great Buddy Guy. Landreth was promoting his fourth studio album, South of I-10, which features a photo on … Continue reading That time I asked Sonny Landreth what first got him into slide guitar

That time Sonny Landreth told me about Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins taking him to breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Louisiana slide-guitar master Sonny Landreth four times, because he’s just awesome. This is the first time, when I called him up in Sacramento, California, where he was touring as the opening act for Chicago blues great Buddy Guy. Landreth was promoting his fourth studio album, South of I-10, which featured … Continue reading That time Sonny Landreth told me about Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins taking him to breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville

That time I asked Gary Louris of the Jayhawks how their tour was goin’ opening for Tom Petty

By Steve Newton I interviewed Jayhawks singer-guitarist and co-songwriter Gary Louris back in April of 1995, when his band was promoting its fourth studio album, Tomorrow the Green Grass. At the time the group was opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the Dogs With Wings Tour, so of course I had to ask … Continue reading That time I asked Gary Louris of the Jayhawks how their tour was goin’ opening for Tom Petty

10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988

By Steve Newton Aerosmith released their first five albums while I was teenager, so I freakin’ loved Aerosmith. I played a lotta air guitar to Joe Perry‘s licks back in the day, so it was a kick to interview him for the first time in January of 1988, after the Permanent Vacation LP came out. … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988