ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 29, 1985 By Steve Newton George Thorogood hasn't changed much since his first album was released in 1978. On that LP he recorded an eight-minute version of John Lee Hooker's homage to alcohol, "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer". On his new record, Maverick, he begins side two with Carl … Continue reading Album review: George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Maverick (1985)
Win a signed copy of my new book, Gord Downie
By Steve Newton My coffee-table book on Gord Downie comes out on Tuesday, but one lucky person will get by without having to pay the suggested list price. I'm doing a contest, with the prize being a copy signed by yours truly. I could even inscribe "in Gord we trust" on it if the winner … Continue reading Win a signed copy of my new book, Gord Downie
Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jay Gonzalez steals the show from Patterson and Cooley in Vancouver
photos by Jeff Sutherland By Steve Newton The Drive-By Truckers, probably my fave band at the moment--unless I'm in a heavy Gov't Mule mood--played the Imperial in Vancouver last night, and man were they smokin'. Touring behind their latest album, American Band, they played some of the finest tracks from that disc, including the … Continue reading Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jay Gonzalez steals the show from Patterson and Cooley in Vancouver
Silly Winchester proves a weak platform for Helen Mirren’s horror debut
By Steve Newton Three-and-a-half months ago Jigsaw, the eighth entry in the Saw torture-porn franchise, was released. Not too surprisingly it was a mostly mediocre affair, although it included one memorable scene near the end where a guy's head got sliced lengthwise into several pieces by a barrage of high-tech laser scalpels. Lasting moments are also rare in … Continue reading Silly Winchester proves a weak platform for Helen Mirren’s horror debut
Album review: Chaka Khan, I Feel For You (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 13, 1985 By Steve Newton Like Tina Turner and Patti Austin, Chaka Khan is one of those commanding vocalists who--no matter how great a song is--always make their singing the best thing about it. Chaka Khan has been making beautiful music for many years now, both on her … Continue reading Album review: Chaka Khan, I Feel For You (1985)
Album review: David Lee Roth, Skyscraper (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 12, 1988 By Steve Newton Old Diamond Dave had his hands full surpassing his 1986 LP Eat 'Em and Smile, but with this new one, Skyscraper, he's certainly done just that. In his first endeavour as producer Roth has come up with a brilliantly played and varied hard-rock album that should turn … Continue reading Album review: David Lee Roth, Skyscraper (1988)
The Tragically Hip causes traffic havoc before getting messy with a surprise gig at Vancouver’s wee Railway Club
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 20, 1995 By Steve Newton Canadian guitar-rock heroes the Tragically Hip took all of Vancouver by surprise on July 12 when they announced a last-minute concert that night at the wee Railway Club (capacity 176). When word went out over local rock station 99.3 the Fox that 75 wristbands for the … Continue reading The Tragically Hip causes traffic havoc before getting messy with a surprise gig at Vancouver’s wee Railway Club
Album review: Spirit, Spirit of ’84 (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 28, 1984 By Steve Newton With an all-star lineup that includes Howard Leese (Heart), Alan Gratzer and Neil Doughty (REO Speedwagon), Jeff Baxter and Keith Knudson (former Doobie Brothers), and Bob Welch, the ghost of Spirit has made a successful materialization in the 1980s. The late-sixties L.A. band reunited last year … Continue reading Album review: Spirit, Spirit of ’84 (1984)
Caught on tape: that time Strat fanatic Yngwie Malmsteen trash-talked Ibanez and Les Paul guitars
By Steve Newton The most popular story I ever posted on Ear of Newt--until I broke the news about AC/DC being spotted in Vancouver back in 2018--was the one from 2014 with the headline Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars "a bad copy" of the Strat and says Les Pauls are "furniture". For some reason people--mostly guitar … Continue reading Caught on tape: that time Strat fanatic Yngwie Malmsteen trash-talked Ibanez and Les Paul guitars
Album review: Krokus, The Blitz (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 14, 1984 By Steve Newton Metal maniacs could do a lot worse than pick up the latest vinyl from Swiss headbangers Krokus. Recorded at Vancouver' s Little Mountain Sound and engineered by Payola$ guitarist Bob Rock, The Blitz captures better than any of their previous LPs the raw fire … Continue reading Album review: Krokus, The Blitz (1984)
The Rainmakers bring a Tornado of rockingly righteous sounds to Vancouver
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 29, 1988 By Steve Newton It didn't have quite the flat-out crash 'n' burn effect of Aerosmith's show five nights earlier, but the Rainmakers' gig at the 86 Street Music Hall last Monday (January 25) did sport a fair amount of energy--most of it coming from the stage, and not the small … Continue reading The Rainmakers bring a Tornado of rockingly righteous sounds to Vancouver
Album review: Deep Purple, Perfect Strangers (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 14, 1984 By Steve Newton Some things are too good to be true, and for lovers of hard rock, the resurrection of Deep Purple is one of them. The original Mark II lineup--guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Jon Lord, and singer Ian Gillan--is … Continue reading Album review: Deep Purple, Perfect Strangers (1984)
Aerosmith is reborn as a killer live act on the Permanent Vacation tour
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 29, 1988 By Steve Newton Prior to Aerosmith's local appearance last week, I'd seen the Boston band in concert three times, including a show on the massive Rocks tour that saw them headlining over Jeff Beck at the Kingdome in Seattle. Each time before, they had performed more raggedly than singer Steven … Continue reading Aerosmith is reborn as a killer live act on the Permanent Vacation tour