By Steve Newton I only chose songs from Clapton’s official solo albums, nothing from collaborations or Cream or Blind Faith or Yardbirds or Derek and the Dominos. If I hadn’t, “Layla” would have been #1, obviously, and “Crossroads” #2. 20. “It’s in the Way That You Use It” (August, 1986) 19. “Cocaine” (Slowhand, 1977) 18. … Continue reading Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 4, 1984 By Steve Newton Gazing out the 32nd-floor window of his Denman Inn suite onto an early West End evening, 22-year-old Corey Hart seems happy and at ease with himself. And well he should be. Eastern Canada’s answer to Bryan Adams, Hart is a singer/songwriter with enough talent and time … Continue reading Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 8, 1994 By Steve Newton This two-hour-long double CD is basically a digitally remixed and remastered version of the 1973 Derek and the Dominos double-album In Concert, which is a good thing in itself, but the bonus is that it includes five previously unreleased performances, all culled from the October 23 … Continue reading Album review: Derek and the Dominos, Live at the Fillmore (1994)
By Steve Newton Way back in September of 1985 I did my one and only interview with blues legend Albert Collins, the “Master of the Telecaster”. He was getting ready for a tour that would bring him to Vancouver for two nights at a Gastown nightclub called the Town Pump. At one point in the … Continue reading That time I asked Albert Collins which blues artists he liked listening to, and he mentioned three biggies
Paul Pigat and Kevin Breit play Blue Frog Studios By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of director Ari Aster’s deeply disturbing 2018 horror flick Hereditary, about an American family suffering a nightmarish breakdown. TUESDAY: rootsy Vancouver folk-rock band Just a Season, featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Scott Smith from Terminal Station, plays tunes … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, April 17 to 21
By Steve Newton I saw a tweet from my blues-rockin’ buddy David Gogo a couple days ago, in which he sent “love and healing vibes” to Buddy Guy as the 87-year-old blues legend deals with the health issues that have postponed his farewell tour. That got me thinking about how much I’ve appreciated Buddy myself, … Continue reading Hoping the best for Buddy Guy and revisiting my latest interview with the blues legend
By Steve Newton Long John Baldry had a huge influence on the British blues scene in the sixties. In fact, when I interviewed Baldry back in 1985, he confirmed that none other than Slowhand himself was urged to take up the guitar after seeing him perform. Have a listen: To hear the full audio of … Continue reading That time Long John Baldry told me that he inspired Eric Clapton to take up guitar
Matt Andersen plays the Hollywood By Steve Newton Matt Andersen: blues-roots singer-songwriter and guitarist from the Maritimes plays two shows with his band the Big Bottle of Joy, with guests the Hello Darlins. April 5 and 6 at the Hollywood Theatre. Big Sugar: Toronto blues-rock band led by singer-guitarist Gordie Johnson. April 15 at the … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in April
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 31, 1990 By Steve Newton It was only a few short weeks ago that Stevie Ray Vaughan was in Vancouver for a Pacific Coliseum concert with British blues belter Joe Cocker. In advance of the show I interviewed him, and the Texas blues and rock guitarist seemed reflective, even pensive. At … Continue reading Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tragic death marked by ironies and premonitions
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
kevin statham photo By Steve Newton I can barely believe the shocking and terrible news. I just heard that Jeff Beck died yesterday after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. That is surely one of the most profound losses the music world has ever suffered. Jeff Beck’s guitar playing spoke to me more than any other player. … Continue reading Jeff Beck, the world’s greatest rock guitarist, dead at 78
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 23, 2002 By Steve Newton You’ll rarely find Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Jr. without his trusty Hohner accordion—or the mile-wide grin that comes whenever he plays it. But the 54-year-old musician wasn’t always so enamoured of the instrument. When he was a youngster in Lafayette, Louisiana, Dural couldn’t stand … Continue reading Buckwheat Zydeco says everybody has a different vibration, man
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 13, 2003 By Steve Newton Wire & Wood, the latest CD by New Brunswick blues-rockers Glamour Puss, features a photo of guitarist-vocalist Travis Furlong’s 1979 Gibson ES-347 laid out on a bar. If you look closely, you can see that it has been signed by such legendary pickers … Continue reading Glamour Puss guitarist Travis Furlong wanted David “Honeyboy” Edwards to sign his Gibson ES-347
