Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts

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

Album review: Derek and the Dominos, Live at the Fillmore (1994)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, 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 … Continue reading Album review: Derek and the Dominos, Live at the Fillmore (1994)

That time I asked Albert Collins which blues artists he liked listening to, and he mentioned three biggies

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

That time Long John Baldry told me that he inspired Eric Clapton to take up guitar

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

Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, April 17 to 21

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

Hoping the best for Buddy Guy and revisiting my latest interview with the blues legend

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

Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in April

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

Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

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

That time Kim Simmonds told me that Eric Clapton was the greatest white blues guitar player he’d ever seen

By Steve Newton I was a huge Foghat fan in the seventies. I couldn’t get enough of their hard-driving boogie-blues on albums like Energized and Rock and Roll Outlaws. When I learned that most of their original members had come from a band called Savoy Brown I went and checked them out as well, and … Continue reading That time Kim Simmonds told me that Eric Clapton was the greatest white blues guitar player he’d ever seen

That time I asked Albert Lee how it was different touring with the Everly Brothers than with Eric Clapton

By Steve Newton I interviewed British guitar legend Albert Lee back in July of 1986, when he was touring with the Everly Brothers as their musical director. After chatting with Albert about how he first got involved with the Everlys, I asked him how it was different touring with them than with Eric Clapton, whose … Continue reading That time I asked Albert Lee how it was different touring with the Everly Brothers than with Eric Clapton

Jeff Beck, the world’s greatest rock guitarist, dead at 78

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

That time I asked Robert Cray if he was surprised that Eric Clapton covered his song “Bad Influence” on August

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Robert Cray four times, ’cause I reckon he’s one of the tastiest guitarists who’s ever strapped on a Strat. This was the first time, back in January of 1996, when he was touring behind his Some Rainy Morning album. Ten years earlier Cray had gotten a bit of a boost … Continue reading That time I asked Robert Cray if he was surprised that Eric Clapton covered his song “Bad Influence” on August

Buckwheat Zydeco says everybody has a different vibration, man

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