By Steve Newton When you check out the song titles on its latest CD, Gigantoid, it’s clear that Fu Manchu still has a hankering for sci-fi–oriented tuneage. The band that once proudly named a song after the flaky Farrah Fawcett flick Saturn 3—which Roger Ebert dubbed “awesomely stupid and totally implausible”—still churns out rockin’ ditties like “Dimension … Continue reading Fu Manchu founder Scott Hill just likes big, loud, heavy stuff
Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
By Steve Newton Maybe, like me, you were lucky enough to catch the Stray Cats when they played the Commodore back in '82. Or perhaps you saw them when they were on that bill at GM Place in 2007 with the Pretenders and ZZ Top. But if you're one of those sad sacks who've never seen the Stray … Continue reading Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
Neal Schon’s fierce guitar dulled by Journey’s soulless corporate-rock vibe
By Steve Newton Journey has long been criticized for being one of the prime purveyors of "corporate rock", along with the likes of Foreigner, Boston, Styx, and REO Speedwagon. But anyone who's ever slagged the group for its commercial sensibilities would have to admit that its latest attempt to make even more moola is pretty … Continue reading Neal Schon’s fierce guitar dulled by Journey’s soulless corporate-rock vibe
The Gallows’ horror hangs on tired found-footage clichés
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 10, 2015 By Steve Newton I wonder how much longer teenaged moviegoers' patience with low-budget "found footage" horror can last? Kids must be getting sick of the endless scenes of jittery camerawork, shreiking sound-effects, and predictable jump scares. Obviously, moviemakers like Blumhouse Productions--the company behind the hugely successful Paranormal Activity and Insidious franchises--are hoping … Continue reading The Gallows’ horror hangs on tired found-footage clichés
Frank Zappa lives in the middle of the Aristocrats’ Venn diagram
By Steve Newton Guthrie Govan is the type of generous guitar wizard who’s more than happy to reveal his tricks to budding pickers. That’s why, 24 hours before talking to me, he was at California’s Cambria Pines Lodge, taking part in the G4 Experience, a guitar retreat that also featured Joe Satriani, Animals as Leaders, … Continue reading Frank Zappa lives in the middle of the Aristocrats’ Venn diagram
That time Guthrie Govan told me that the Aristocrats recreated Eddie Van Halen’s echo from Fair Warning at L.A.’s Sunset Sound
By Steve Newton In 2015 I interviewed Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, but there wasn't enough room in the paper to include all the cool shit the guitar genius had to say to me. So I banged out one blog on the influence of Joe Satriani and Zal Cleminson, and then another one on how … Continue reading That time Guthrie Govan told me that the Aristocrats recreated Eddie Van Halen’s echo from Fair Warning at L.A.’s Sunset Sound
Rolling Stone made a monkey of itself with its bogus list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
By Steve Newton Google "100 greatest guitarists" these days and what shows up at the top is a total joke. It's the high 'n' mighty Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, from November 2001. And man does it suck. But what do you expect from the same bozos who oversee … Continue reading Rolling Stone made a monkey of itself with its bogus list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
That time I asked guitar god Guthrie Govan how he got so goddamn good
By Steve Newton A couple days ago I interviewed guitar god Guthrie Govan because his rock-fusion trio, the Aristocrats, is playing Vancouver next Sunday. While researching the story I viewed a fair numbers of YouTube videos showing Guthrie in action and, holy shite, is that guy scary good or what? Sometimes when a player is … Continue reading That time I asked guitar god Guthrie Govan how he got so goddamn good
The Blue Aeroplanes find confidence with Swagger, Michael Stipe forces Morrissey to watch
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 28, 1990 By Steve Newton If you scan the liner notes to the Blue Aeroplanes’ new album Swagger, the guitar/bass/drum credits look pretty normal for a pop group from Bristol, England. Then you spot an unusual name at the bottom of the band line-up—Wojtek Dmochowski. And you see … Continue reading The Blue Aeroplanes find confidence with Swagger, Michael Stipe forces Morrissey to watch
The Aristocrats’ Guthrie Govan on the influence of Joe Satriani and Zal Cleminson
By Steve Newton Back in 2015 I interviewed guitarist Guthrie Govan, who--while not nearly as well known as the Satrianis and Vais of the world--is equally monstrous when it comes to technical ability and musical inventiveness. He plays in an instrumental rock-fusion trio called the Aristocrats, which made its debut Vancouver appearance at the Rickshaw Theatre. … Continue reading The Aristocrats’ Guthrie Govan on the influence of Joe Satriani and Zal Cleminson
The Alvin brothers blast the roof off in Vancouver at a roots-rock hoedown for the ages
all crappy iPhone photos by the newt By Steve Newton "I was teaching math when I first heard the Sex Pistols," Phil Alvin told me back in 1983, "and then I said, 'Allright, good. I can play again.' So I quit teaching." Thank god Alvin caught wind of Johnny Rotten and his band of miscreants, … Continue reading The Alvin brothers blast the roof off in Vancouver at a roots-rock hoedown for the ages
Bass-guitar legend Chris Squire of Yes dead at 67
By Steve Newton Sad news for music fans today. Chris Squire, bassist for British prog-rock legends Yes, passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, last night. He had been suffering from a rare form of leukemia. He was 67. Squire had formed Yes with singer Jon Anderson in 1968, and it didn't take long for the band … Continue reading Bass-guitar legend Chris Squire of Yes dead at 67
David Gilmour’s guitar solos embolden Supertramp after loss of Roger Hodgson
By Steve Newton On June 28, 1985, the Georgia Straight newspaper published my interview with Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg. That's no big whoop in the grand scheme of things, but at the time the band has just released its first album without original member Roger Hodgson, Brother Where You Bound, so there was interest in … Continue reading David Gilmour’s guitar solos embolden Supertramp after loss of Roger Hodgson