Matthew Sweet channels Phil Spector, goes session-player crazy on In Reverse

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 4, 1999 By Steve Newton Matthew Sweet is best-known for stripped-down, three-and-a-half-minute pop-rock tunes that require no more than five people to perform. But on his new CD, In Reverse, the Nebraska native goes hog-wild in the personnel department, lining up as many as 17 musicians to play … Continue reading Matthew Sweet channels Phil Spector, goes session-player crazy on In Reverse

Finny McConnell says Johnny Fay couldn’t take the pay cut if he quit the Hip and joined the Mahones

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 1999 By Steve Newton When you’re the drummer in Canada’s top rock band, there are quite a few perks available—and I’m not just talkin’ free flats of Labatt’s Genuine Draft. For Tragically Hip skin-basher Johnny Fay, the prestige of his position also gives him the chance to work with his … Continue reading Finny McConnell says Johnny Fay couldn’t take the pay cut if he quit the Hip and joined the Mahones

Harmonica ace Carlos Del Junco’s first album purchase was The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 15, 1999 By Steve Newton The first blues harpist I really got into was Magic Dick of the J. Geils Band. Back in high school I used to play the live Full House LP for hours at a time, marvelling at Dick’s command of the instrument, especially when … Continue reading Harmonica ace Carlos Del Junco’s first album purchase was The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Jesse Cook puts a captivating nouveau-flamenco spin on Sting’s beautiful “Fragile”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 10, 1998 By Steve Newton During my formative years as a rock-obsessed reader of Circus magazine, my teenage world revolved around heavy ’70s bands like Aerosmith, Montrose, Alice Cooper, and Blue Öyster Cult. I’ve adored riff-driven guitar-rock ever since, but lately I’ve been opening myself up to mellower sounds. Maybe it … Continue reading Jesse Cook puts a captivating nouveau-flamenco spin on Sting’s beautiful “Fragile”

The Bomboras’ Farfisa-loving Gregg “Candy Land” Hunt says he’s an Animals fan to the end

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 1998 By Steve Newton I’ve been a horror fan as long as I can remember, so the new Bomboras CD, Head Shrinkin’ Fun, caught my eye immediately. Even before I heard the Southern California quintet’s surf-garage sound, they were winning points with me for the CD jacket, … Continue reading The Bomboras’ Farfisa-loving Gregg “Candy Land” Hunt says he’s an Animals fan to the end

Dave Alvin goes folk, says some Blasters fans will never forgive him for leaving the band

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 1998 By Steve Newton Dave Alvin used to rock Vancouver in the ’80s as lead guitarist for the Blasters, but this weekend (July 17-19) he’ll be turning down and tuning in to the folksy vibe of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach Park. He’ll be … Continue reading Dave Alvin goes folk, says some Blasters fans will never forgive him for leaving the band

Kiss lip-synchs and air-guitars its way through “Psycho Circus” for a Halloween episode of Millennium

Paul, Ace, and Newt on the set of Millennium. Would it have killed them to smile? ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 1, 1998 By Steve Newton A rocking Halloween came early for a couple of hundred lucky Vancouverites at the Rage nightclub last Tuesday (September 29). American glam-metal kings Kiss were in town, … Continue reading Kiss lip-synchs and air-guitars its way through “Psycho Circus” for a Halloween episode of Millennium

Jim Heath isn’t big on Dallas music critics or Neil Young’s guitar, but loves the theme from Jonny Quest

“You know, gettin’ back to this Neil Young thing; he’s a great songwriter and all, but I’m really not too fond of how he plays lead guitar."

Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

Geez, even Jimi knew Johnny ruled. By Steve Newton Back in September of 2010 Gibson.com posted what it felt were the 50 greatest guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it. Most conspicuous by his absence is Texas blues-rock legend Johnny Winter. I for one am getting sick and tired of … Continue reading Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

The Gandharvas give special thanks to Teenage Head’s Frankie Venom

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 1997 By Steve Newton Many kids just out of their teens are still unsure of what path they’ll take career-wise, but Beau Dick isn’t one of them. The 20-year-old Hamilton native wants to make rock pay the rent, and he’s chasing that dream as the newest member … Continue reading The Gandharvas give special thanks to Teenage Head’s Frankie Venom

Treble Charger’s pop sensibility won’t let it be an indie guitar band like Pavement or Sebadoh

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 19, 1997 By Steve Newton Treble Charger singer-guitarists Greig Nori and Bill Priddle are huge fans of indie guitar bands like Pavement and Sebadoh. When it first started out, Treble Charger even wanted to be an indie guitar band like Pavement or Sebadoh. That just wasn’t in the cards. “We used … Continue reading Treble Charger’s pop sensibility won’t let it be an indie guitar band like Pavement or Sebadoh

The New Meanies’ Damon Mitchell got the guys in Deep Purple to sign his copy of Made in Japan

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton For the past couple of months I’ve been getting advance promotional copies of Three Seeds, the debut CD by a Winnipeg quartet called the New Meanies. At least three copies came across my desk at different times, making me think that either Virgin … Continue reading The New Meanies’ Damon Mitchell got the guys in Deep Purple to sign his copy of Made in Japan