Colleen Rennison plays Mel Lehan Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Saskatchewan guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter Jack Semple leads his current band at Blue Frog Studios. Here’s my interview with Jack from back in 1993. FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of Planet Terror director Robert Rodriguez's underrated 1998 sci-fi/horror flick The Faculty. Here's my original … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 12) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, September 8 to 10
17 minutes in a hotel room with Peter Frampton on David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour
Pete n' Dave in '87 By Steve Newton The vast majority of my interviews with rock legends have been over the phone. The idea is to catch the artist on tour when they're headed to town and get the story published in time to help sell some tickets--and maybe a few albums to boot. But … Continue reading 17 minutes in a hotel room with Peter Frampton on David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour
Does the new Rolling Stones song suck, or is it awesome?
By Steve Newton The Rolling Stones threw a huge schmooze in the London borough of Hackney, England today, to announce the details of its upcoming album, Hackney Diamonds, scheduled for release on October 2o. The band also released the debut single from the album, "Angry", and I gotta admit: the first time I heard it … Continue reading Does the new Rolling Stones song suck, or is it awesome?
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, September 4 to 8
One Million Years B.C. screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: final day of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), featuring carnival rides, games, the SuperDogs competition, jousting and high-dive shows, immersive Monet art exhibit, agriculture displays, cooking demonstrations, a pyro musical, and Summer Night Concerts. Don’t forget those little donuts. MONDAY: Canadian roots-rock greats Blue … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, September 4 to 8
That time 25-year-old Paul Gilbert told me how he wangled a ride from a Mr. Big fan to see Pat Travers near Vancouver
By Steve Newton I interviewed Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert back in March of 1992, when the band was in Detroit, touring behind its second album, Lean Into It. That's the one that spawned the #1 hit single "To Be With You", and went platinum in the States. Mr. Big was gonna be playing Vancouver … Continue reading That time 25-year-old Paul Gilbert told me how he wangled a ride from a Mr. Big fan to see Pat Travers near Vancouver
The Dead Daisies–featuring ex-members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Dio, and Pride & Glory–play Vancouver tonight
The DDs in Montreal last Wednesday By Steve Newton Any Vancouverites up for a rowdy evening of '80-style hard-rock tonight? The Dead Daisies, a guitar-rock collective originally formed in 2012 by Australian businessman-turned-rocker David Lowy, plays the Hollywood Theatre in Kits tonight (Saturday, September 2). In previous incarnations the group has included such old-school rock … Continue reading The Dead Daisies–featuring ex-members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Dio, and Pride & Glory–play Vancouver tonight
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, September 1 to 3
Bonnie Raitt plays the Queen E. By Steve Newton FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: TheatreSports features two teams of improvisers creating comedy sketches inspired by audience suggestions at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) runs from August 19 to September 4, featuring carnival rides, games, the SuperDogs competition, jousting and high-dive … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, September 1 to 3
Phantom Power 25th anniversary box set features previously unreleased Hip tunes and alternate tracks
By Steve Newton I always thought Phantom Power was one of the Tragically Hip's best albums. Not quite as amazing as Fully Completely or Day for Night or Up to Here or Road Apples, but pretty damn close, overall. In my original 1998 review of the album, I pointed out that "Vapour Trails" was the standout … Continue reading Phantom Power 25th anniversary box set features previously unreleased Hip tunes and alternate tracks
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Vancouver concerts in September
Sue Foley plays the Rio By Steve Newton The Dead Daisies: hard-rock band featuring former members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, and Dio, with guests the Wild! and La Chinga. September 2 at the Hollywood Theatre. Bonnie Raitt: American blues-roots singer-songwriter and slide-guitar ace, with guest Roy Rodgers. September 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The Chicks: country … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Vancouver concerts in September
Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview
By Steve Newton Here's a special treat for all you Van Halen freaks out there--even the ones who liked the Sammy years. For the first time ever the entire audio of my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen is being offered to the public for free, thanks to a partnership between Ear of Newt and … Continue reading Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview
Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Childhood traumas come in all shapes and sizes--and occur when you least expect them. For Webb Wilder, leader of the crazed Mississippi rock band that sports his name, being kicked off a school bus--clarinet and all--was somewhat of a milestone in a career that brings him … Continue reading Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1
Midnight Cowboy screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton MONDAY: Vancouver blues-rock band Terminal Station, composed of singer-guitarist Scott Smith, keyboardist Darryl Havers, bassist Jeremy Holmes, and drummer Liam MacDonald, plays Guilt and Co. Check out their Allman Brothers vibe. MONDAY TO THURSDAY: screenings at the VIFF Centre of director Laura Moss's new psychological horror film Birth/Rebirth, which … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 14, 2011 By Steve Newton Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler called from L.A. to promote his upcoming gig at Vancouver's Venue on August 25, and once he started talking, he didn't want to stop. He chatted about everything from the tuna salad sandwich he'd just had for lunch in the … Continue reading Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox