White Cowbell Oklahoma declares a war of attrition against boredom and shit

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 6, 2003 By Steve Newton Bands like Nashville Pussy and Southern Culture on the Skids came to prominence pushing the white-trash, hicks-from-hell angle, but there’s a new batch of inbreds in town, and they’re called White Cowbell Oklahoma. These Toronto-based hooligans have a shot at taking over the … Continue reading White Cowbell Oklahoma declares a war of attrition against boredom and shit

Former Police-man Stewart Copeland still “bangin’ shit” at 70

By Steve Newton Stewart Copeland remembers well when he first discovered his love of music. He was around seven years old, living in Beirut, Lebanon, and gazing intently at the Persian rugs that his mother had bought in Iran. “I was listening to Carmina Burana,” he explains on the phone from his home in L.A., … Continue reading Former Police-man Stewart Copeland still “bangin’ shit” at 70

Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2000

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 14, 2000 By Steve Newton Sometimes I feel like I don’t know anything at all about popular music. Maybe you feel that way too—like I don’t know anything at all about popular music. I just don’t understand how a hate-filled sicko like Eminem can be revered by millions. … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2000

Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1995

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 1995 By Steve Newton I must have gotten tired of listening to rock vocalists in 1995, because the majority of my top picks for the year turned out to be instrumental releases. Who needs to rack their brain deciphering lyrics when a well-handled guitar can do all the … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1995

Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1997

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 18, 1997 By Steve Newton There were a lot of things that sucked the biggie in the world of music this year. From a local angle, the major disappointment was the continued vacancy of the once-fabulous Commodore Ballroom. Nationally, the lack of a new studio album from the … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1997

Southern Culture on the Skids’ Rick Miller loves Link Wray and Danelectros

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 8, 2001 By Steve Newton True to its name, Southern Culture on the Skids has always endeavoured to promote the stereotypical lifestyles of the culturally challenged dwellers in the former Confederate states. On previous CDs like Dirt Track Date and Plastic Seat Sweat, the North Carolina roots-rockers told … Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids’ Rick Miller loves Link Wray and Danelectros

Southern Culture on the Skids: the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock since 1985

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 16, 1995 By Steve Newton “High-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock.” That’s how singer-guitarist Rick Miller describes the œuvre of his band, Southern Culture on the Skids. And he’s mighty proud of it, too. Miller’s been striving to produce the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock ever since forming the … Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids: the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock since 1985

Pimped-out La-Z-Boys, shotguns, and crackheads colour S.C.O.T.S.’ Plastic Seat Sweat

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 9, 1997 By Steve Newton Some rock musicians search high and low for inspiration, while others just find it cruising around with a tow-truck driver high on crack. That’s what happened with “40 Miles to Vegas”, one of the wildest tracks on the new Southern Culture on the … Continue reading Pimped-out La-Z-Boys, shotguns, and crackheads colour S.C.O.T.S.’ Plastic Seat Sweat

Southern Culture on the Skids tones down the white-trash shtick

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 6, 2004 By Steve Newton When the Straight connects with Southern Culture on the Skids guitarist-vocalist Rick Miller, he’s on a cellphone in his band’s van, cruising through the Pennsylvania countryside en route to a Pittsburgh gig. The vehicle is a late-model Ford Econoline, a replacement for the trio’s previous set … Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids tones down the white-trash shtick

Patterson Hood on the Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera and the true meaning of Skynyrd

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 30, 2003 By Steve Newton It doesn’t seem likely in today’s musical climate that any band would record a 90-minute concept album about 1970s rock and southern U.S. culture, focusing on the legend of doomed Dixie rock act Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s even more unlikely that such a CD would get critical … Continue reading Patterson Hood on the Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera and the true meaning of Skynyrd

My interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most hated man on earth

By Steve Newton It’s a weird feeling, realizing that you’ve spent several minutes of your life casually chatting with a young man who, as it turns out, is one of the most vile human beings alive. You may have already heard the news about Ian Watkins, the former frontman of ’90s rockers Lostprophets, who admitted … Continue reading My interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most hated man on earth