By Steve Newton The Tragically Hip ruled my world in the ’90s, and I just think they were best when rockin’ out. Man, did they ever have a lotta great tunes. 20. “As Makeshift As We Are” (In Between Evolution, 2004) 19. “Fireworks” (Phantom Power, 1998) 18. “Born in the Water” (Road Apples, 1991) 17. … Continue reading The Tragically Hip’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton Penguin Random House Canada has just announced that it will release The Tragically Hip ABC, a picture book for young music fans, on October 24, 2023. “Decades of the band’s hit singles, iconography, and touchstones can be appreciated in a brand-new way,” reads a press release, which describes the book as “a … Continue reading The Tragically Hip to release children’s picture book this fall
By Steve Newton A few days ago I posted a list of The Tragically Hip’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome. Not all Hip fans agreed with my picks, though. I tried explaining in the intro to the Top 20 that, to me, the Tragically Hip were best “when rockin’ out,” but that … Continue reading Tragically Hip fans confirm that the band had too many great songs for just a “20 best” list
By Steve Newton Looking back on my over 40 years as a music writer, there’s one thing that I did pretty consistently that I’m really, really happy about. I kept almost all of the cassette tapes I used to record my interviews. I mean, I never thought, while I was recording my phone conversation with … Continue reading The Newt is psyched that bits of his old Gord Downie interviews will be heard in the Tragically Hip’s Amazon Prime docuseries
By Steve Newton Back in July of 1991 the Tragically Hip played five straight sold-out nights at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on its Road Apples Tour. The band was smokin’ hot–at least on the night that I saw them–but also impressive was the opening act, Flies on Fire, a little-known guitar-rock band from L.A. … Continue reading That time “Mess” Messal of Flies on Fire told me that the Tragically Hip were the best band in the world
By Steve Newton When New York’s Sterling Publishing first contacted me about writing a book about Gord Downie, I was obviously thrilled. I had interviewed Downie five times, and was a huge fan of his band, the Tragically Hip. But as writing progressed, I realized the finished product wasn’t going to be exactly what I … Continue reading Gord Downie in the raw: an unedited, unpublished chunk of my book about the Tragically Hip’s beloved frontman
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1999 By Steve Newton When you’re the drummer in Canada’s top rock band, there are quite a few perks available—and I’m not just talkin’ free flats of Labatt’s Genuine Draft. For Tragically Hip skin-basher Johnny Fay, the prestige of his position also gives him the chance to … Continue reading Finny McConnell says Johnny Fay couldn’t take the pay cut if he quit the Hip and joined the Mahones
By Steve Newton Since the Tragically Hip just put out several unreleased tracks from its 1990 Road Apples sessions, I figured I’d celebrate the occasion in my own little way. So for all the hardcore Hip fans out there who still hold the original Road Apples album dear, here’s an unedited excerpt from my 2018 … Continue reading Recalling the release of the Tragically Hip’s Road Apples in the wake of the new Saskadelphia
By Steve Newton Can’t think of anything else to blog about right now, so I’ll do this: On July 12, 1995, the Tragically Hip played a food-bank benefit at the Railway Club in Vancouver. Yesterday, to mark the 25th anniversary of that gig, I tweeted out a link to the short review of the gig … Continue reading The Tragically Hip’s rhythm guitarist figures I owe him 10 bucks because the Hip played a sloppy show 25 years ago
By Steve Newton As I mentioned yesterday, since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has just announced its seven inductees for the Class of 2023, my own little institution located in the wilds of British Columbia–Newt’s Rock Hall–is gonna counter with seven different inductees of its own. And of course mine will be better. … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats
By Steve Newton After ten years of my complaining about Link Wray not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the boneheads who run the high-falutin’ joint in Cleveland finally caved and decided to induct him, in the “musical influence” division. It’s about freakin’ time. Wray, who pretty well invented the raunchy guitar … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?
photo by the newt By Steve Newton It’s good to have hobbies. Several years ago I found a new hobby in which I’d spend a fair amount of time lobbying for the inclusion of Link Wray, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was astonished and, frankly, disgusted … Continue reading One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF
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
