ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 11, 1999 Vancouver instro-rockers the Falcons recently had their independent CD, Queen of Diamonds, chosen as best album of 1998 by the U.K.’s influential surf-music magazine Pipeline. As lead guitarist and main songwriter Mike Beddoes explains, that’s a far better reaction than he got the first time he … Continue reading Falcons guitarist Mike Beddoes says the Jaguar is the most Fender of all the Fenders
Hole’s Eric Erlandson gets pissy if you mistake Billy Corgan’s guitar for his
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 25, 1999 By Steve Newton When Eric Erlandson cofounded Hole with Courtney Love in L.A. 10 years ago, the two rockers had one simple aim in mind. As Erlandson explains on the phone from his L.A. home, they just wanted to be a “big, huge rock band”—but only … Continue reading Hole’s Eric Erlandson gets pissy if you mistake Billy Corgan’s guitar for his
Martin Bryant’s rampage inspired Jeff Lang’s gun-control plea on Cedar Grove
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 25, 1999 Two years ago I was offered a free trip to Toronto to interview Aerosmith, who were tirelessly promoting their then-new CD Nine Lives. Since I’d never been to T.O., I put on my Media Slut From Hell cap and agreed to spend some of Sony Music’s … Continue reading Martin Bryant’s rampage inspired Jeff Lang’s gun-control plea on Cedar Grove
David Gogo preps for the Big 3-O with acoustic and electric discs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 28, 1999 When the Georgia Straight phoned David Gogo two years ago to chat about his then-new live album, Dine Under the Stars, he answered the call with “Davey Wayne Gogo here,” a slight swipe at Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the Stevie Ray Vaughan–inspired upstart of the day. This … Continue reading David Gogo preps for the Big 3-O with acoustic and electric discs
Galactic Cowboys meld melodicism and raunch on At the End of the Day
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 21, 1999 By Steve Newton Few bands straddle the line between pop and metal as skillfully as the Galactic Cowboys. On the Texas quartet’s latest CD, At the End of the Day, they meld melodicism and raunch so winningly that it’s hard to tell if these Cowboys are … Continue reading Galactic Cowboys meld melodicism and raunch on At the End of the Day
Texas Strat-strangler Kenny Wayne Shepherd goes all Stevie Ray on Vancouver’s ass
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 14, 1999 By Steve Newton Guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan had a profound effect on a lot of people, and 21-year-old blues-rock whiz kid Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of them. As the story goes, Shepherd developed his Stevie Ray obsession at the age of seven when the Texas Strat-strangler sat … Continue reading Texas Strat-strangler Kenny Wayne Shepherd goes all Stevie Ray on Vancouver’s ass
Genesis box set goes heavy on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 17, 1998 By Steve Newton Before paying the hefty list price for this boxed set, you’ll want to make sure you’re a big fan of Genesis’s 1974 double album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, because a live version of it—recorded at L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium in January of … Continue reading Genesis box set goes heavy on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
There’s plenty of room to keep your weed in the Queen box if you toss the two duds
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 17, 1998 By Steve Newton Don’t let the oversized imitation-velvet box fool you—this cheaply designed collection is nothing more than a digitally remastered reissue of the band’s first eight studio albums. Unlike in most boxed sets, there’s nothing previously unreleased here, nothing rare, nothing live. Instead of paying … Continue reading There’s plenty of room to keep your weed in the Queen box if you toss the two duds
Mott the Hoople box set is definitely worth the extra dollars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 24, 1998 By Steve Newton This long-awaited, three-disc Mott the Hoople box--All the Young Dudes: The Anthology-- is only available as a British import, but for die-hard fans of the distinctive and innovative glam-era band it’s definitely worth the extra dollars. As well as the group’s biggest hits … Continue reading Mott the Hoople box set is definitely worth the extra dollars
Tab Benoit says there’s only one Stevie Ray Vaughan, and he’s gone
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 3, 1998 The biggest obstacle to conducting a phone interview with a touring musician is pinpointing precisely where the artist will be at a particular time. Which city, which hotel, which room, and—if they’re big shots like Robert Plant—which alias they’re using that day. The promotions arm of … Continue reading Tab Benoit says there’s only one Stevie Ray Vaughan, and he’s gone
Gary Moore freaks rejoice: the Irish guitar hero’s fiery talent will burn on live CD
The rock-guitar world lost one of its most amazing artists in February of 2011 when Gary Moore passed away while on holiday in Spain, but now comes word that a concert recording of Moore from 2007 will be released this fall. Eagle Rock Entertainment--the company that's given us such primo Moore discs as the Blues for … Continue reading Gary Moore freaks rejoice: the Irish guitar hero’s fiery talent will burn on live CD
Susan Tedeschi just enjoys being a musician, pretty much
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 3, 1998 By Steve Newton When Susan Tedeschi’s cell phone rings in an L.A. hotel room, a female voice answers, but it isn’t the one I’m looking for. It’s actually Tedeschi’s mom, who, in a very motherly way, explains that her daughter’s in the bathtub. Sounding concerned that … Continue reading Susan Tedeschi just enjoys being a musician, pretty much
Fastball’s “The Way” is arguably the catchiest pop tune of 1998
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 26, 1998 By Steve Newton Fastball’s “The Way” is arguably the catchiest pop tune of the year. The bouncy ditty about a couple who wake up one day and hit the road, leaving their past lives (and current children) behind for “an exit to eternal summer slacking”, became … Continue reading Fastball’s “The Way” is arguably the catchiest pop tune of 1998