ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 4, 1990 By Steve Newton Some rock critics will go to any lengths to describe the sound of a band as diverse as Montreal’s Bootsauce. Take Mike Marrone of the Hard Report, who came up with this hearty interpretation: “Captain Beefheart meets The The on Shriekback street beauty.” … Continue reading Sonny Greenwich Jr. thinks that Bootsauce’s Baculis is a better bassist than Flea
Moe Berg on leaving Edmonton, loving Rundgren, and the Pursuit of Happiness’s One Sided Story
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 12, 1990 By Steve Newton When Moe Berg left Edmonton for Toronto five years ago, the city of the Oilers didn’t exactly react like it was losing The Great One. There wasn’t a big hullabaloo in the press, nor were there many tears shed, either by Berg himself or the gaggle … Continue reading Moe Berg on leaving Edmonton, loving Rundgren, and the Pursuit of Happiness’s One Sided Story
For my first-ever caricature I became a rocker with a Flying V
By Steve Newton The night before last I went to the Georgia Straight's 50th anniversary bash. For those out of the loop, the Georgia Straight is the weekly Vancouver newspaper that I've worked at for 35 years. The Straight was founded as a counter-culture publication in 1967, the Summer of Love, and has managed to … Continue reading For my first-ever caricature I became a rocker with a Flying V
Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 11, 1991 By Steve Newton In the rock journalism biz, it’s sometimes fun to get your interviewee a little riled. Like when Blitzspeer vocalist Phil Caivano calls from New York and has to respond to the sly query about whether the metal scene in the Big Apple is … Continue reading Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1991
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 1991 By Steve Newton Rap and dance music made strong inroads in 1991, but the year wasn’t a total write-off. The sacred power of the electric guitar could still be heard above the soulless clatter of MC Moronitis and DJ Jerkaround. Danny Gatton 88 Elmira St. Fellow scribe … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1991
That time Yngwie Malmsteen told me that he was inspired by Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Leonardo da Vinci
By Steve Newton Yngwie Malmsteen is famous for his blistering speed on the fretboard, but his choice of reading material isn’t nearly as well known. The first time I interviewed the Swedish guitar legend, back in 1985, he had recently released his second solo album, Marching Out, which included a thank you to Stephen King. Turns … Continue reading That time Yngwie Malmsteen told me that he was inspired by Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Leonardo da Vinci
Lawrence Gowan admired Alex Lifeson’s six-string generosity on Lost Brotherhood
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 22, 1990 By Steve Newton Lawrence Gowan has one heck of an ear when it comes to creating melodies. His forte is coming up with infectious, hummable little lines like the ones that snake through his 1985 hit “Criminal Mind” and his recent single, “All the Lovers in … Continue reading Lawrence Gowan admired Alex Lifeson’s six-string generosity on Lost Brotherhood
That time Tim Curry told me that he thought Rocky Horror Picture Show was a “one-shot deal”
By Steve Newton It was pretty cool being the only journalist in the world invited onto the Vancouver set of Stephen King‘s It back in 1990. At least I think I was the only one, because I haven’t seen any other articles from that time, or interviews with the cast and crew, apart fromthe ones … Continue reading That time Tim Curry told me that he thought Rocky Horror Picture Show was a “one-shot deal”
Blues Traveler’s John Popper went from the Blues Brothers to Paul Butterfield to Elmore James to Hendrix
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 3, 1991 By Steve Newton If you were ever a big fan of the Blues Brothers, chances are you appreciate a few chuckles tossed in with your listening. Blues Traveler singer/harmonica player John Popper certainly does. In fact, it was his love of comedy that first got him started on the … Continue reading Blues Traveler’s John Popper went from the Blues Brothers to Paul Butterfield to Elmore James to Hendrix
Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 14, 1991 By Steve Newton Sugar and spice and everything nice—that’s definitely not what a concert by Gwar is made of. Simulated decapitation and dismemberment, phony entrails all over the place, fake blood dousing the crowd, and a numbing type of thrash metal that incorporates lyrics even more … Continue reading Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called
Albert King’s “adopted grandson” Little Jimmy King salvages Vancouver gig with Hendrix-style string-chomping
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 6, 1995 By Steve Newton Sometimes greatness takes a while to reveal itself, and that was certainly the case at the Commodore on June 30. After a set of gospel-laced blues and spiritual tunes by the Holmes Brothers that included some soulful harmonizing on dusty standards such as … Continue reading Albert King’s “adopted grandson” Little Jimmy King salvages Vancouver gig with Hendrix-style string-chomping
Riff Kills Man proves that Martin Popoff knows his shit when it comes to metal
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 17, 1994 By Steve Newton Heavy-metal and hard-rock fans are a fanatical bunch. They thrive on raunchy guitar solos, thundering drums, and howling vocals. They live for feedback. They despise earplugs. And when it comes to their favourite kind of music, they always know who rules. So does … Continue reading Riff Kills Man proves that Martin Popoff knows his shit when it comes to metal
That time Dickey Betts told me that the Allmans had “a good old time” on that porch from the Shades of Two Worlds cover
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Dickey Betts back on July 18, 1991, it was just two weeks since the Allman Brothers had released their 10th studio album, Shades of Two Worlds. That was very much "a Dickey album", since he'd written or co-written (with fellow guitarist Warren Haynes) five of the album's eight tracks, and also … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me that the Allmans had “a good old time” on that porch from the Shades of Two Worlds cover