ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 21, 1990 By Steve Newton Halifax, Nova Scotia: Could those three words possibly conjure up images of a city full of alluring possibilities and untold enchantment? Well, when Mick Thomas of Australia’s Weddings Parties Anything first heard them, his imagination was piqued, and he couldn’t wait to see what the city … Continue reading WPA’s Mick Thomas recalls seeing AC/DC, Cold Chisel, and Midnight Oil play a pub in Geelong
Category: Aussies
24-year-old Xavier Rudd wants to touch as many emotions as he can
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 6, 2003 By Steve Newton I remember seeing a one-man band as a kid once, and if memory serves, it was some middle-aged joker in a funny hat, blowing on a horn, fingering a ukulele, manipulating cymbals and a bass drum with his feet. The music scene has improved a lot … Continue reading 24-year-old Xavier Rudd wants to touch as many emotions as he can
Neil Finn got passion from his dad and ability from his mom
"My dad was pretty passionate about music, too, so I got the fire from him and the actual ability from Mom, I think.”
The John Butler Trio just said no to American record labels
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 23, 2002 By Steve Newton It doesn’t take long to figure out that Australian singer-songwriter and slide-guitar ace John Butler is an issue-oriented kinda guy. In the CD booklet that accompanies his trio’s latest disc, Three, one page is loaded with facts detailing the ongoing destruction of his homeland’s old-growth forests. … Continue reading The John Butler Trio just said no to American record labels
Paul Kelly wonders if “Every F***king City” will go over in Vancouver
There are a couple of things that come to mind when I recall my five-week visit to Australia in ’86, one being the “drive-in bottleshops”.
Midnight Oil won’t forgo antinationalist songs in the wake of 9/11
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 2001 By Steve Newton Midnight Oil is one of the most politically motivated and socially conscious guitar-rock bands in the world. Although best known for embracing Aboriginal land-rights issues in its native Australia via the 1988 hit “Beds Are Burning”, the quintet has always kept an eye out for international … Continue reading Midnight Oil won’t forgo antinationalist songs in the wake of 9/11
The Hoodoo Gurus’ Brad Shepherd talks Aussie rock and Magnum Cum Louder
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 3, 1989 By Steve Newton The day afer the San Francisco earthquake, Hoodoo Gurus guitarist Brad Shepherd called me from Oxford, Mississippi. His band was scheduled to play the city by the bay in two weeks, and he wasn't even sure if the venue they were booked into was still standing. Although … Continue reading The Hoodoo Gurus’ Brad Shepherd talks Aussie rock and Magnum Cum Louder
Martin Bryant’s rampage inspired Jeff Lang’s gun-control plea on Cedar Grove
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 25, 1999 By Steve Newton Two years ago I was offered a free trip to Toronto to interview Aerosmith, who were tirelessly promoting their then-new CD Nine Lives. Since I’d never been to T.O., I put on my Media Slut From Hell cap and agreed to spend some of Sony Music’s … Continue reading Martin Bryant’s rampage inspired Jeff Lang’s gun-control plea on Cedar Grove
Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 24, 1998 By Steve Newton That big old vinyl collection of mine sure comes in handy sometimes. Up until last week I had no idea that it included anything by the Church, but in preparation for a chat with singer-bassist Steven Kilbey, I took a hopeful meander through the alphabetically arranged … Continue reading Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
Two years after saying goodbye to Crowded House, Neil Finn returns with solo debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 9, 1998 By Steve Newton After making the agonizing decision in 1996 to break up his world-famous Kiwi pop combo Crowded House, Neil Finn wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. An Aussie artist-musician friend of his suggested Finn try painting, so he spent two weeks at a beachside location doing … Continue reading Two years after saying goodbye to Crowded House, Neil Finn returns with solo debut
Aussie songwriting great Paul Kelly hits 40 and treads into Deeper Water
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 23, 1995 By Steve Newton Ever wonder what happened to the Aussie Invasion? Back in the early- to mid-’80s it seemed as if a band wasn’t on top unless it was from Down Under. Two-hit wonders Men at Work kick-started the worldwide interest in the music of koala country in ’82 … Continue reading Aussie songwriting great Paul Kelly hits 40 and treads into Deeper Water
Doc Neeson calls Angel City’s comparisons to AC/DC “a bonus”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 22, 1985 By Steve Newton "We were driving around L.A. yesterday," relates Angel City vocalist Doc Neeson, "and we passed this fantastic crowd of about 20 or 30 black guys--a conga band. So I stopped. Then one of them grabbed a hold of our lead guitarist! "And to us, culturally, you're … Continue reading Doc Neeson calls Angel City’s comparisons to AC/DC “a bonus”
Divinyls are attracted to the seamier side of things
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 11, 1991 By Steve Newton Mark McEntee first met Christina Amphlett, his partner in the Divinyls, after seeing her perform in a religious choir at the Sydney Opera House. That’s right—we’re talking about the same Christina Amphlett who melts TV sets everywhere by prancing lewdly and lasciviously stroking … Continue reading Divinyls are attracted to the seamier side of things