I did my first interview with Jason Isbell in July of 2007, while he was touring behind his debut solo album, Sirens of the Ditch.
Category: american made
That time I asked Cracker’s David Lowery about the possibility of a Camper Van Beethoven reunion
I did the first of my three interviews with David Lowery in 1998, four days before the release of Cracker's fourth album, Gentleman's Blues.
Stevie Wonder’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Apologies in advance to any Stevie Wonder fans who were hoping to see "I Just Called to Say I Love You" on the list.
The Bottle Rockets’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
The Bottle Rockets have to be one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. I freakin' loved those guys.
God bless Louis Johnson’s bass playing on Quincy Jones’s “Ai No Corrida”
Legendary record producer Quincy Jones passed away yesterday at the age of 91, so I pulled out my vinyl copy of his 1981 album, The Dude, and cranked it up.
That time I asked R&B legend Booker T. Jones a question from blues-rocker David Gogo
Before I called up Booker T. Jones for an interview I sent out a tweet asking if anybody had a question for the American music great.
That time Miles Zuniga told me that he thought Fastball’s big hit “The Way” was just another song at first
Back in November of 1998 I called up Fastball guitarist-vocalist Miles Zuniga at an Illinois hotel while his Austin-based band was touring behind its second album.
The Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik overcame teenage grief and learned how to Let Love In
Goo Goo Dolls singer-guitarist and main songwriter Johnny Rzeznik had it pretty rough as a kid growing up in Buffalo, New York.
That time Live’s Chad Taylor told me that the beauty of music is that it’s not held back by anything
By Steve Newton Back on February 24, 1997, I interviewed guitarist Chad Taylor before his band, Live, played a sold-out show at a Vancouver nightclub called the Rage. That was nine days after the release of the band's fourth album, Secret Samadhi, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over … Continue reading That time Live’s Chad Taylor told me that the beauty of music is that it’s not held back by anything
That time Dave Alvin told me what it was like being in the Pleasure Barons with Country Dick Montana and Mojo Nixon
By Steve Newton I've interviewed American singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Alvin, a founding member of the Blasters, four times over the years, 'cause he's just plain great. This is the first time, back in November of 1991, when he was touring behind his second solo album, Blue Blvd. At one point in the conversation I … Continue reading That time Dave Alvin told me what it was like being in the Pleasure Barons with Country Dick Montana and Mojo Nixon
Illuminating Mike Cooley’s songwriting brilliance through four Drive-By Truckers tunes
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 2010 By Steve Newton Just got back from a family vacation to Powell River, and man, if you ever get the chance to go kayaking in Desolation Sound's Okeover Inlet, take it. The scenery is stunning and you can get up close and personal with bald eagles, seals, and huge … Continue reading Illuminating Mike Cooley’s songwriting brilliance through four Drive-By Truckers tunes
That time I asked Jim Heath of Reverend Horton Heat if rock ‘n’ roll paid the bills
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1995 I did the first of my four interviews with Jim Heath, singer-guitarist and main songwriter for the Texas psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat. When I called him up at his home in Dallas he told me that he was just hangin' around the house, dealing with some paperwork, … Continue reading That time I asked Jim Heath of Reverend Horton Heat if rock ‘n’ roll paid the bills
R.I.P. Eric Carmen, who wrote and sang one of the greatest power-pop tunes of all time
By Steve Newton Sad news making the rounds tonight, that American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen has passed away at the age of 74. Carmen's wife Amy announced his death on his website today, giving neither a cause nor a specific date of death. "It is with tremendous sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the … Continue reading R.I.P. Eric Carmen, who wrote and sang one of the greatest power-pop tunes of all time