When I ring up John Butler in Byron Bay, Australia, he sounds so relaxed that it’s hard to tell if he's even into talking or not.
Category: Aussies
Aussie blueswoman Mia Dyson loves Bonnie Raitt and the guitars her dad makes
"I'm not a real guitar-head...but I love playing his guitars, and I've never had any inclination to go anywhere else."
Australia’s the Living End does more than just play 12-bar blues songs at 100 miles an hour
“We spent a long time crafting the songs as opposed to just tryin’ to nail the energy,” says Chris Cheney of the new Living End CD.
Xavier Rudd says that he went within himself and unlocked some doors on Dark Shades of Blue
When Xavier Rudd picks up the phone in Bells Beach, Australia, he sounds a lot healthier than he did the last time I called him.
Kiwi tunesmith Liam Finn comes by the DIY ethic honestly
On his debut CD 24-year-old Liam Finn plays nearly every instrument on the disc and, apart from two cowritten tracks, penned all the music.
Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst embodied all that is great about old-school Aussie rock ‘n’ rollers
Back in the summer of 1986 I traveled to Australia and happened to see Midnight Oil kicking butt at a Melbourne-area pub called Fosters.
Xavier Rudd says that he has a lot of questions for Peter Garrett at the moment
Saskatchewan in the middle of February isn’t a place where a fellow raised on the balmy beaches of Australia can feel too cozy.
Xavier Rudd says that his two worlds are Canada and Australia
Rudd holds both Australian and Canadian citizenship, and one need only scan the artwork on his new CD for an illustration of that dual status.
INXS’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
When I interviewed 23-year-old Michael Hutchence back in 1983 I had no idea how many great tunes INXS had in its future.
Angel City’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
The were known as the Angels in their native Australia, but here in Canada they were always Angel City, and man were they great. AC/DC great.
Aussie new-wavers Real Life lucked out getting producer Steve Hillage to helm new Heartland LP
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton "That was the first thing we ever recorded," says Real Life guitarist/vocalist David Sterry of his group's current hit, "Send Me an Angel". Over the phone from Melbourne, Australia, Sterry outlined how the band's first tune also became its first single. "A radio programmer from L.A. … Continue reading Aussie new-wavers Real Life lucked out getting producer Steve Hillage to helm new Heartland LP
Folk-roots artist Kim Churchill skips the didjeridu, shuns comparisons to fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 16, 2011 By Steve Newton Transcontinental phone connections being what they are, it’s not always easy hooking up with someone halfway around the world, but when the person you’re trying to get a hold of still has his butt in bed, it’s particularly tricky. After numerous attempts to reach Kim Churchill … Continue reading Folk-roots artist Kim Churchill skips the didjeridu, shuns comparisons to fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd
That time Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes raved to me about all the hot gigs he was doing with Vancouver musicians
By Steve Newton I interviewed legendary Australian rock vocalist Jimmy Barnes in April of 1986, when he was opening for ZZ Top on the Texas blues-rock trio's Afterburner Tour. At the time the former Cold Chisel frontman was showcasing tunes from his third solo album, Freight Train Heart, which I remember for its wicked version … Continue reading That time Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes raved to me about all the hot gigs he was doing with Vancouver musicians