ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB, 27, 2021 By Steve Newton There's been some amazing double albums released in the history of rock. Looking through my vinyl stacks, I spot fine examples like the Beatles' White Album, the Who's Quadrophenia, and Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti. The new Strippers Union double album, The Undertaking, is amazing as well, … Continue reading Craig Northey calls his Strippers Union cohort Rob Baker a very deep musician
Category: canuck rock
Lee Aaron projects a feminine power figure on new Metal Queen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 1984 By Steve Newton Many a sideways glance and inquisitive gaze came our way as heavy metalist Lee Aaron and I strolled down Burrard Street recently, enroute to a mid-day snack and chat. It was a sunny afternoon and, to the mostly suit-and-tie crowd returning from lunch, … Continue reading Lee Aaron projects a feminine power figure on new Metal Queen
Shaun Verreault deploys three slides at once to explore new ways of playing guitar
christopher edmonstone photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 16, 2021 By Steve Newton Over the last few months I've been checking in with Vancouver's top guitar players to find out how, as professional musicians, they've been coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in October Scott Smith of Terminal Station explained how he was recording artists at … Continue reading Shaun Verreault deploys three slides at once to explore new ways of playing guitar
The Ramblin’ Ambassadors’ Brent J. Cooper called in a favour from his Shadowy pal Brian Connelly
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 9, 2003 By Steve Newton Calgary’s Huevos Rancheros were one of Western Canada’s best-loved instro-rock acts for nearly 10 years, but that didn’t stop guitarist Brent J. Cooper from disbanding the twangy trio in 2001. Strangely enough, he put the group to rest because he wanted to gig … Continue reading The Ramblin’ Ambassadors’ Brent J. Cooper called in a favour from his Shadowy pal Brian Connelly
Glamour Puss guitarist Travis Furlong wanted David “Honeyboy” Edwards to sign his Gibson ES-347
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 13, 2003 By Steve Newton Wire & Wood, the latest CD by New Brunswick blues-rockers Glamour Puss, features a photo of guitarist-vocalist Travis Furlong’s 1979 Gibson ES-347 laid out on a bar. If you look closely, you can see that it has been signed by such legendary pickers … Continue reading Glamour Puss guitarist Travis Furlong wanted David “Honeyboy” Edwards to sign his Gibson ES-347
Luther Wright & the Wrongs go country and punkgrass on new Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 11, 2003 By Steve Newton Luther Wright & the Wrongs raised a few eyebrows—and tweaked a lot of ears—with Rebuild the Wall, their 2001 country-bluegrass adaptation of Pink Floyd’s epic concept album. On their new CD, Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs, the Canadian roots performers continue to draw attention with … Continue reading Luther Wright & the Wrongs go country and punkgrass on new Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs
Ray Bonneville crawls inside a spider’s mind on new Roll It Down album
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 1, 2003 By Steve Newton Ray Bonneville’s fifth CD, Roll It Down, features an entrancing little ditty called “Tiptoe Spider”, a bluesy, J.J. Cale–style tribute to the soundless movements of the wily arachnid. On the phone from his Montreal home, the singer-songwriter-guitarist explains that he got the idea … Continue reading Ray Bonneville crawls inside a spider’s mind on new Roll It Down album
Alannah Myles gets lewd for the dudes in Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1994 By Steve Newton I'm pretty sure the booze wasn't free at the Commodore last Saturday, but there sure seemed to be a lot of half-inebriated partyers in the crowd, which was going nutzoid for opening band Nine Below Zero's version of Canned Heat's … Continue reading Alannah Myles gets lewd for the dudes in Vancouver
White Cowbell Oklahoma declares a war of attrition against boredom and shit
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 6, 2003 By Steve Newton Bands like Nashville Pussy and Southern Culture on the Skids came to prominence pushing the white-trash, hicks-from-hell angle, but there’s a new batch of inbreds in town, and they’re called White Cowbell Oklahoma. These Toronto-based hooligans have a shot at taking over the … Continue reading White Cowbell Oklahoma declares a war of attrition against boredom and shit
The first album Andy Stochansky ever purchased was The Beatles: 1967-1970
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 31, 2002 By Steve Newton If you want to hear simply beautiful—and beautifully simple—pop tunes, look no further than Five Star Motel, the new CD by Toronto singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andy Stochansky. When developing the material for the major-label follow-up to his two indie discs, While You Slept … Continue reading The first album Andy Stochansky ever purchased was The Beatles: 1967-1970
Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson picks Black Sabbath over Led Zeppelin
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 27, 2001 By Steve Newton The cover of the new Big Sugar CD, Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?, features a classic hard-rock image of a skinny, longhaired fellow flailing away on a doubleneck Gibson guitar. If you didn’t know the guy was Big Sugar singer-guitarist Gordie Johnson, … Continue reading Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson picks Black Sabbath over Led Zeppelin
That time “Mess” Messal of Flies on Fire told me that the Tragically Hip were the best band in the world
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
The Lowest of the Low’s Ron Hawkins thinks the Weakerthans’ John Samson is the best lyricist in Canada
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 10, 2001 By Steve Newton After releasing just two albums—1991’s Shakespeare My Butt… and ’94’s Hallucigenia—Toronto guitar-rockers the Lowest of the Low called it quits on a career that was fast making them one of Canada’s most popular club acts. The breakup was sudden and acrimonious, and partially … Continue reading The Lowest of the Low’s Ron Hawkins thinks the Weakerthans’ John Samson is the best lyricist in Canada