Pete n’ Dave in ’87 By Steve Newton The vast majority of my interviews with rock legends have been over the phone. The idea is to catch the artist on tour when they’re headed to town and get the story published in time to help sell some tickets–and maybe a few albums to boot. But … Continue reading 17 minutes in a hotel room with Peter Frampton on David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour
By Steve Newton David Bowie would have turned 75 today. Man was he special. 20. “Time Will Crawl” (Never Let Me Down, 1987) 19. “Panic in Detroit” (Aladdin Sane, 1973) 18. “The Secret Life of Arabia” (Heroes, 1977) 17. “Young Americans” (Young Americans, 1975) 16. “The Man Who Sold the World” (The Man Who Sold … Continue reading David Bowie’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer plays the Hollywood By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Chicago alt-rock band Smashing Pumpkins plays Rogers Arena on the Spirits on Fire Tour, with guests Jane’s Addiction. FRIDAY: Vancouver blues-rock duo the Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer play the Hollywood Theatre, with guests History of Gunpowder. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker joins the Vancouver Symphony in a … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Nov. 11-13
By Steve Newton I interviewed John Mellencamp for the first time when he was still called John Cougar. Back in May of 1983 he was touring behind his latest album, American Fool, but for some reason the Vancouver show got canceled and the interview I did with him never ran. At one point in the … Continue reading That time John Cougar told me that he was looking forward to the US Festival (but then he didn’t go)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 27, 1994 By Steve Newton From his early-’70s glory-and-glitter days as the muscular, platinum-haired axeman in David Bowie‘s Spiders from Mars to his workmanlike late-’80s club gigs with Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson always proved himself a rock guitarist of the highest order. When Ronson succumbed to cancer on … Continue reading Album review: Mick Ronson, Heaven and Hull (1994)
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
Moonage Daydream screens at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Geekenders host a screening at the Rio Theatre of director Jim Sharman’s 1975 rock musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Alex Flock plays Guilt & Co. FRIDAY: Alex Flock’s Funk Brigade, featuring Vancouver guitarist Alexander Flock, presents its take on classic funk hits at … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Nov. 4 to 6
Rock N’ Roll Circus plays Seymour’s Pub By Steve Newton FRIDAY: ’70s-style Vancouver rock band Rock N’ Roll Circus plays North Van’s Seymour’s Pub & Grill in celebration of singer Chris Woudstra’s 50th birthday. FRIDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of the extended director’s cut of director William Friedkin’s supernatural horror classic, The Exorcist. FRIDAY: … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Oct. 28-30
The Eastside Culture Crawl kicks off Thursday By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of Moonage Daydream, director Brett Morgan’s documentary exploring David Bowie’s creative and musical journey. MONDAY: Organ.ic Chemistry–a Vancouver jazz-funk quartet composed of organist Jason de Couto, saxophonist Tom Keenlyside, guitarist Adam Rohrlick, and drummer Nick Bracewell–performs at Guilt & Co. TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, Nov. 14 to 18
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
The Warriors screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: 50th anniversary screening at the Rio Theatre of director D.A. Pennebaker’s Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture, the concert film documenting David Bowie’s final performance as his musical alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, digitally restored with never-before-seen footage. MONDAY: British pop duo from … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 11) things to do in Vancouver this week, July 24 to 28
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1984 By Steve Newton When I first heard this album, two weeks ago, I thought it was good.s I mean really good. But after repeated listenings the LP’s initial impact deteriorated a little. The main reason is singer/bassist Lee Rocker‘s vocals. He did backup vocals in his former band, the … Continue reading Album review: Phantom, Rocker & Slick (1984)
Bowie Ball is at the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Regina folk-bluegrass quartet the Dead South plays the Commodore Ballroom, with guest Indigo Joseph. FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of Team America: World Police, director Trey Parker’s 2004 puppet comedy about heavily-armed marionettes out to stop North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s dastardly scheme. “America, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 6-8
