chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 2, 1989 By Steve Newton When a band has only one album out, it's tough for it to play a whole set--unless it plays a bunch of cover tunes, or maybe throws in a half-hour drum solo. In the Breit Bros.' case, they played a couple of songs … Continue reading Ontario’s Breit Bros. deliver the musical goods at the Town Pump
Category: vancouver concerts
Old-school Romantics revive the spirit of Cavern Club-era Beatles in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 26, 1989 By Steve Newton Before checking out he Romantics' show last weekend, I couldn't remember what their fourth hit single was. I could recall tunes like "Talking in Your Sleep", "One in a Million", and "What I Like About You", but that's basically it. I remember thumping my dashboard and … Continue reading Old-school Romantics revive the spirit of Cavern Club-era Beatles in Vancouver
Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in July
Nita Strauss plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton Nita Strauss: heavy-metal guitar virtuoso, formerly of the Alice Cooper band, with guests Lions at the Gate. July 2 at the Rickshaw Theatre. That lady can play! Scott Smith & the Evil Ways: Vancouver guitarist is featured in a celebration of the music of Santana, accompanied by … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in July
Burton Cummings sips his “medicine” and shows Vancouver that he’s got his own way to rock
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 27, 1982 By Steve Newton Evidently trying to shed his slick, Las Vegas-style approach to performing to get back to the more personal club and small-venues scene, Burton Cummings played two shows at the Commodore Ballroom last week, Wednesday and Friday night. Kicking off with his best-known honky-tonk tunes, "My Own … Continue reading Burton Cummings sips his “medicine” and shows Vancouver that he’s got his own way to rock
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts to see in the second half of 2023
Nita Strauss plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton There were some darn fine concerts to see in Vancouver during the first half of 2023--including gigs by Jason Isbell, Larkin Poe, John Mellencamp, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now here's my top 10 picks for the second half of the year. Rock on, people! Nita … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts to see in the second half of 2023
That time I went to see Goddo and got bonked on the head by a bass
Just came across an old newspaper ad for a run of shows by Ontario power trio Goddo at fabled Vancouver nightspot the Body Shop. That little clipping--which I found on the Facebook group Rocking Vancouver - A Visual Recollection Of Vancouvers Rock Concert Scene--got me thinking of that time I went to see Goddo at … Continue reading That time I went to see Goddo and got bonked on the head by a bass
Flowing pedal-steel lights up Leonard Cohen’s bittersweet songs in Vancouver
alexander w. thomas photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 24, 1985 By Steve Newton The mellow magic of singer-poet Leonard Cohen cast its spell on an enthusiastic crowd at the Orpheum last week. The concert was part of Cohen's first North American tour in ten years and featured songs from his new album Various Positions, as … Continue reading Flowing pedal-steel lights up Leonard Cohen’s bittersweet songs in Vancouver
Vancouver celebs groove to Animal Slaves’ primal funk at release party for Dog Eat Dog
bev davies photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 31, 1985 By Steve Newton Animal Slaves threw a record-release party at John Barley's last week to celebrate their new eight-song album Dog Eat Dog. It was the first time I'd seen the Animals Slaves--drummer Roscoe Hales, bassist Rachel Melas, and singer/keyboardist Elizabeth Fischer--but it didn't take long … Continue reading Vancouver celebs groove to Animal Slaves’ primal funk at release party for Dog Eat Dog
Toto’s gang of ace session players wows the crowd in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 10, 1985 By Steve Newton The Toto concert at the Queen E. last Monday (May 6) will have to go down in my personal record book as an all-time favourite. The group's members are some of the most-wanted hired hands in rock, and after Monday's concert I knew why. Toto is … Continue reading Toto’s gang of ace session players wows the crowd in Vancouver
Great White packs ’em in like sardines in Vancouver
me 'n Jack after the show ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 30, 1989 By Steve Newton They turned away several hundred rock-hungry fans at the doors but it was still Sardine City inside Club Soda when L.A.'s popular mainstream metallists, Great White, took the stage Monday night (June 26). People started lining up at one in … Continue reading Great White packs ’em in like sardines in Vancouver
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
NRBQ makes a Cabbage Patch Kid do a lowdown limbo after Tom Harrison’s BGM gets loud and tacky
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 24, 1986 By Steve Newton A few songs into their opening set for NRBQ last Thursday, Tom Harrison, lead singer for Bruno Gerussi's Medallion, commented. "We hope we're loud and tacky, like our namesake." Well, his hopes were answered. But despite loud and tacky tunes like their theme song, written by … Continue reading NRBQ makes a Cabbage Patch Kid do a lowdown limbo after Tom Harrison’s BGM gets loud and tacky
TrailerHawk’s intoxicating roots-rock lights up the new North Delta Centre for the Arts
photos by the Newt By Steve Newton As someone who's been an avid concert-goer since his teens--and has reviewed more than 300 concerts as a professional music writer--I used to dream about how cool it would be if I could just leave my house, walk a block or two, and see a show. Well, thanks … Continue reading TrailerHawk’s intoxicating roots-rock lights up the new North Delta Centre for the Arts