ZZ Top’s reliance on bodacious babes overshadows its musical talents on the Antenna World Tour

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 9, 1994 By Steve Newton “Those babes gotta go,” said my pal Lindy as our gang of ZZ Top fans strolled from the Coliseum to the PNE beer garden last Saturday (September 3), the sonic blast of Billy Gibbons’s down ‘n’ dirty guitar still ricocheting … Continue reading ZZ Top’s reliance on bodacious babes overshadows its musical talents on the Antenna World Tour

ZZ Top’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton God bless that little ol’ band from Texas. 20. “Just Got Back from Baby’s” (ZZ Top’s First Album, 1971) 19. “She’s a Heartbreaker” (Tejas, 1976) 18, “Just Got Paid” (Rio Grande Mud, 1972) 17. “Tube Snake Boogie” (El Loco, 1981) 16. “Master of Sparks” (Tres Hombres, 1973) 15. “PCH” (Antenna, 1994) 14. … Continue reading ZZ Top’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell

By Steve Newton Night Ranger bassist-vocalist and main songwriter Jack Blades called me up from a truck stop in New Mexico back on January 13, 1984. At the time–two months before the band released its big hit “Sister Christian”–Night Ranger was opening for ZZ Top on the hugely successful Eliminator Tour, with sold-out shows all … Continue reading That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell

Versatile Michelle Malone just as comfortable touring with ZZ Top as with Indigo Girls

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 26, 1998 By Steve Newton I wasn’t expecting to uncover any local angles as I scanned the liner notes to Georgia singer-songwriter Michelle Malone’s latest CD, Beneath the Devil Moon, so I was surprised to find that it was mixed here at Armoury Studios on Pine Street. The … Continue reading Versatile Michelle Malone just as comfortable touring with ZZ Top as with Indigo Girls

Album review: Too Slim and the Taildraggers, Tales of Sin & Redemption (2004)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 27, 2004 By Steve Newton Blues-rock fans who yearn for the down ‘n’ dirty rock ZZ Top plied during its mid-’70s heyday should check out the eighth release from this Seattle-based trio. Led by singer, songwriter, and primo guitarist Tim “Too Slim” Langford, these veteran boogiemen go hog-wild … Continue reading Album review: Too Slim and the Taildraggers, Tales of Sin & Redemption (2004)

Album review: Colin James, Rooftops and Satellites (2009)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, By Steve Newton Methinks Colin James has been listening to a little too much ZZ Top of late. Don’t get me wrong—I can play the Texas boogiemeisters’ first five albums all day long and still have a hankering for more Tres Hombres. But on “Man’s Gotta Be a Stone”, the … Continue reading Album review: Colin James, Rooftops and Satellites (2009)

Honeymoon Suite forgets to add guts to the gravy in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1988 By Steve Newton I have mixed feelings about Honeymoon Suite. For one thing, I hate the name. I’ve always hated the name. What a dumb name. Okay, now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’ll admit that I do like some of the band’s songs. There’s nothing wrong … Continue reading Honeymoon Suite forgets to add guts to the gravy in Vancouver

Album review: Paul Dean, Machine (1994)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1994 By Steve Newton I first heard the Texas blues-style rhythm intro and moaning lead surge of Paul Dean‘s “Couldn’t Get Arrested” on the radio while mixing margaritas in my kitchen one sunny afternoon a month or two ago, but I had no idea who it was until the announcer … Continue reading Album review: Paul Dean, Machine (1994)

50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands

By Steve Newton 1973 sure was a stellar year for guitar-based rock. Maybe the best one ever. Mind you, that opinion has a lot to do with how old I was back in ’73 (which just happened to be the same year that Bob Seger released Back in ’72, the one with “Rosalie” and “Turn … Continue reading 50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands

That time I asked Billy Gibbons what the glue was that kept ZZ Top together for so long

By Steve Newton Being a teenaged devotee of guitar-driven boogie in the seventies put me directly in line with what was required to be a hardcore ZZ Top fan. I have vivid memories of the band, like that time I walked into the Chilliwack Second Hand Store and found a near-mint copy of the Tres … Continue reading That time I asked Billy Gibbons what the glue was that kept ZZ Top together for so long

That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel

By Steve Newton When I went to Australia for my little sister’s wedding in 1986 I managed to see two wicked Aussie bands–Midnight Oil and the Angels (aka Angel City)–play killer shows in Melbourne-area clubs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Cold Chisel play a killer show in a Melbourne-area pub because they’d already broken … Continue reading That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel

The Barstool Prophets’ Graham Greer hopes to model his life after producer Joe Hardy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 5, 1998 By Steve Newton Last month’s ice storm back east took no prisoners, but Barstool Prophets singer-guitarist Graham Greer got off pretty easy. The native of Cornwall, Ontario, was residing in “the fortunate end of town” when the storm hit, so he only lost power for three … Continue reading The Barstool Prophets’ Graham Greer hopes to model his life after producer Joe Hardy

Johnny Diesel & the Injectors got boosts Down Under from Angel City and Jimmy Barnes

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 22, 1989 By Steve Newton Australian-raised singer/guitarist Johnny Diesel has covered a lot of ground for a young man of 22. From Fall River, Massachusetts to Perth, Australia, from London to New York, and from Sydney to Memphis, the road to rock has been a long one mileage-wise for Diesel, whose … Continue reading Johnny Diesel & the Injectors got boosts Down Under from Angel City and Jimmy Barnes