ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 9, 2015 By Steve Newton Goodnight Mommy opens with a gentle lullaby--Brahms' "Cradle Song", to be exact--but that's it for sweetness and light in this unnerving portrait of familial distrust and paranoia. We first meet twin brothers Lukas and Elias (identical twins Lukas and Elias Schwarz) as they're playing hide-and-seek in … Continue reading Goodnight Mommy’s quiet horror screams dread
The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins loves Jimmy Page’s wrong notes and Joe Perry’s swagger
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 15, 2015 By Steve Newton Fans of rowdy, old-school, Les Paul–driven guitar rock have a band worth worshipping in British noisemakers the Darkness. The Marshall-powered six-string team of 40-year-old Justin Hawkins and his two-years-younger brother, Dan, really do tear up the frets, both on-stage and on record—as evidenced … Continue reading The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins loves Jimmy Page’s wrong notes and Joe Perry’s swagger
Rock Hall proves worthless yet again, overlooks Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominated 15 artists for induction today, but neither Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, nor Link Wray were among them. Instead, Jan Wenner and his tonedeaf buddies chose such legendary rockers as the Spinners, Janet Jackson, the J.B.'s, and Chic. Janet Jackson instead of Johnny Winter? Chic instead … Continue reading Rock Hall proves worthless yet again, overlooks Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
Neil Young’s ragged glory undermined by shitty sound in Vancouver
The sound from the stage was great--until the band got up there. By Steve Newton Yesterday I wrote a fun little blog about how nice it would be if Neil Young topped off his show in Vancouver last night with one of my fave tunes of his, "Long May You Run". He didn't do that--opting instead to … Continue reading Neil Young’s ragged glory undermined by shitty sound in Vancouver
Sorry Canada, but Bob Geldof’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” beats Bryan Adams’ “Tears Are Not Enough”
By Steve Newton Way back on October 4, 1985, the Tears Are Not Enough music documentary was released in Canadian theatres. You might have seen it. More likely you only heard the song, which was Canada's response to USA for Africa's "We Are the World", which in turn was the United States' response to Band Aid's "Do … Continue reading Sorry Canada, but Bob Geldof’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” beats Bryan Adams’ “Tears Are Not Enough”
Dan Hawkins still remembers that time the Darkness lit up the Commodore in Vancouver
rebecca blissett photo By Steve Newton See that wicked concert shot by ace Vancouver photographer Rebecca Blissett of the Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins standing at the edge of the stage, ripping it up on his cream-coloured Les Paul to the obvious delight of the crowd? See that "Oh my god, this fvckin' rocks!" look on … Continue reading Dan Hawkins still remembers that time the Darkness lit up the Commodore in Vancouver
Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls “Black Sabbath” the most evil song that’s ever been written: “It’s very f***ing scary!”
By Steve Newton Back in 2015 I interviewed Rob Halford in advance of Judas Priest's two shows at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and, as old-school rockheads will do, we got to talkin' Sabbath. I'd known that Halford had sang with the metal legends three times--twice covering for Ronnie James Dio, and once for Ozzy … Continue reading Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls “Black Sabbath” the most evil song that’s ever been written: “It’s very f***ing scary!”
The ultimate Queen fan and vinyl freak just creamed his or her jeans
By Steve Newton There's been some pretty freakin' sweet deluxe-edition vinyl box sets released in the last little while, especially if you're a '70s-rock fanatic. That John Lennon package from last April--with all his solo albums on LP--was a real treat for Lennon aficianados. And the Roxy Music collection that came out the month before that was a godsend … Continue reading The ultimate Queen fan and vinyl freak just creamed his or her jeans
The Bottle Rockets are one of the world’s most underrated rock bands
By Steve Newton Ever since the Bottle Rockets came out with The Brooklyn Side back in '94 I've been telling people how great they are--but nobody seemed to pay much attention. And when The Brooklyn Side was reissued by Bloodshot Records last year--along with the band's self-titled 1993 debut--I started telling people again. And now I'm back on the Bottle … Continue reading The Bottle Rockets are one of the world’s most underrated rock bands
Comeback queen Tina Turner gives Vancouver “a big kiss” on her Private Dancer tour
mila geran photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 4, 1985 By Steve Newton Tina Turner gave the crowd at the Coliseum last Friday (September 27) "a big kiss" for supporting the "comeback" that culminated with her 1984 Private Dancer going six-times platinum in Canada. And she thanked them by playing--with the exception of David Bowie's "1984"--every … Continue reading Comeback queen Tina Turner gives Vancouver “a big kiss” on her Private Dancer tour
The Green Inferno is a weak homage to cannibal horror
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 25, 2015 By Steve Newton If you were a horror fan in the eighties you were no doubt aware of the cannibal exploitation genre, which was best exemplified by Italian director Ruggero Deodata's Cannibal Holocaust. That 1980 gore epic was extremely graphic for its time, so realistically graphic, in fact, that at one … Continue reading The Green Inferno is a weak homage to cannibal horror
Marty Friedman used his guitars to fight fear after the 2011 Japanese earthquake
By Steve Newton Marty Friedman first made a major name for himself in the metal world as lead guitarist in Megadeth for ten years, but three years after exiting the band he took up residence in Tokyo, Japan. "I just fell in love with the music," Friedman told me last week, during a phone interview to … Continue reading Marty Friedman used his guitars to fight fear after the 2011 Japanese earthquake
Marty Friedman on Inferno’s friends and fans and the channeling of Jason Becker’s spirit
By Steve Newton When you’re a legendary heavy-metal guitarist like Marty Friedman you don’t really need no stinkin’ guests on your albums, but for his latest one, Inferno, Friedman got some anyway. If the hyperactive voice raging away on “I Can’t Relax” sounds familiar, it’s because it belongs to Canada’s own Mango Kid himself, Danko Jones. … Continue reading Marty Friedman on Inferno’s friends and fans and the channeling of Jason Becker’s spirit