ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 17, 1997 By Steve Newton When Matthew Sweet calls in the afternoon from a Manhattan hotel room, he’s just hours away from taping an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman. That night, through the wonder of TV, Sweet’s new single, “Where You Get Love”, will be transmitted … Continue reading Matthew Sweet still searching for that elusive SNL appearance
Counting Crows guitarist downplays the band’s Van Morrison vibe
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 27, 1997 Sometimes musicians on the lookout for a creative partner will just bump into the right person while browsing in music stores or hanging out in nightclubs. Other times they’ll follow the proven route of taking out want ads in papers like the one you’re holding. And … Continue reading Counting Crows guitarist downplays the band’s Van Morrison vibe
Wallflowers guitarist more influenced by Ace Frehley than Jakob Dylan’s dad
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 20, 1997 By Steve Newton Most guitarists for hire would jump at the opportunity to join a band featuring Bob Dylan’s son as singer-songwriter; name recognition alone would give that group an instant edge in the competitive rock ’n’ roll game. When Jakob Dylan was on the lookout for a new … Continue reading Wallflowers guitarist more influenced by Ace Frehley than Jakob Dylan’s dad
Josh Homme’s grinding overdrive helps Screaming Trees wake up Vancouver on a Sunday night
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 20, 1997 By Steve Newton Last Sunday night (March 16) I had three pretty good reasons for not wanting to drag my butt off a comfy couch and head downtown in the rain to review a rock show at the Rage. First off, I was tuckered out after … Continue reading Josh Homme’s grinding overdrive helps Screaming Trees wake up Vancouver on a Sunday night
Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 13, 1997 By Steve Newton What better place to interview Odds singer-guitarist Craig Northey than at the Roxy Cabaret on Granville? Not only do they have beer there, but it’s also the old haunt of Dawn Patrol, the Odds’ alter ego house band, which played there from 1988 to ’91, delivering … Continue reading Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest
When Aerosmith sold its soul to Sony and flew me to Toronto to watch
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 13, 1997 By Steve Newton TORONTO—For the past quarter-century or so, Aerosmith has been doing things in a big way, as befits a band with combined worldwide sales of more than 70 million LPs, tapes, and CDs. When the time came to promote its 12th studio release, Nine … Continue reading When Aerosmith sold its soul to Sony and flew me to Toronto to watch
Live follows vibrant Throwing Copper with brooding Secret Samadhi
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 8, 1997 Three years ago, you could hardly tune into any commercial rock station in North America without hearing about the impending Woodstock 25th Anniversary concert. Judging by all the hype, it was going to be the rock show of the decade—if not the century—and the varied lineup … Continue reading Live follows vibrant Throwing Copper with brooding Secret Samadhi
David Gogo farts in his old record label’s general direction on Dine Under the Stars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 27, 1997 Just two years ago Nanaimo blues-rocker David Gogo seemed to have the music world by the tail. Only 25 years old, he was inked to a worldwide recording deal by EMI Music, which was so pleased about signing Gogo that it manufactured limited-edition double-disc promo versions … Continue reading David Gogo farts in his old record label’s general direction on Dine Under the Stars
Big Rude Jake’s smokin’ swing-punk nixes the nostalgia route
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 6, 1997 When Big Rude Jake answers the phone at his home in Toronto, I’m relieved that he doesn’t live up to his middle nickname and greet me with “Yeah, whaddya want?” He does sound a little out of breath, but it’s not because I’ve caught him at … Continue reading Big Rude Jake’s smokin’ swing-punk nixes the nostalgia route
Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 30, 1997 Thanks to the popularity of an angst-ridden grunge-pop ditty called “Bound for the Floor”, Illinois rock duo Local H is making tsunami-sized waves on North American radio right now. The group is also garnering attention for its unusual configuration, although vocalist-guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe … Continue reading Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
Blues-rocker Nigel Mack started off covering Molly Hatchet, the Outlaws, and Skynyrd
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 23, 1997 In Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Ballad of Curtis Loew”, Ronnie Van Zant sings about a black bluesman with white curly hair who plays Dobro all day in exchange for drinking money. Feeling like a cheapskate, I don’t offer any monetary incentive to curly-haired local blues-rocker Nigel Mack while … Continue reading Blues-rocker Nigel Mack started off covering Molly Hatchet, the Outlaws, and Skynyrd
Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”
By Steve Newton Back in 2014 I had a nice little chat with Swedish guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen, in advance of a Guitar Gods show in Vancouver. I mentioned that the last time I saw him live was on the G3 Tour at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre in 2003 or something. We got to talking about his … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”
Dave Grohl’s “Holy Shits” kick ass with Van Halen and Alice Cooper covers
Any hardcore '70s-rock fans in attendance at the Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware, last night got a special treat when the Foo Fighters went back in time to raunch out a bit. "Lemme tell ya something," said Dave Grohl near the end of his band's headlining set, "we're gonna do somethin' we have never done … Continue reading Dave Grohl’s “Holy Shits” kick ass with Van Halen and Alice Cooper covers