ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 23, 1997 BY STEVE NEWTON Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown—there’s a ring to that name that just suits an elderly, pipe-puffin’ blues master. At least, that’s what I thought before conducting a phone interview with the 73-year-old musician, at home in Louisiana. I sure learned fast that the “Gatemouth” title … Continue reading That time a crotchety Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown said: “Save me a copy of this write-up”
Blue Öyster Cult’s Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on the origins of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton It’s hard for me to pick one all-time favourite rock band or rock album, but when it comes to my all-time fave song, that’s easy: Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. I suppose it helps that, when that propulsive ode to the afterlife was released … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on the origins of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
Crossroads 2 (live in the seventies) finds Slowhand bluesy as hell
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton They should have subtitled this one live (and bluesy) in the seventies, because over the course of this four-CD package old Slowhand really gets down, covering tunes by Johnny Otis, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush, and—no fewer than six … Continue reading Crossroads 2 (live in the seventies) finds Slowhand bluesy as hell
Cheap Trick box set wisely avoids ’80s clunkers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton Back in ’78, my personal Top 10 included power-rock LPs such as UFO’s Obsession, AC/DC’s Powerage, Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous, and the third Cheap Trick album, Heaven Tonight. At the time I was a UBC faculty of arts slacker, and the best … Continue reading Cheap Trick box set wisely avoids ’80s clunkers
Matthew Good, 25, walks home in the cold after opening for the Who
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1996 By Steve Newton Christmas came early for Matthew Good this year. On the same day that I interviewed the up-and-coming local rocker, he received a present from his publisher at EMI: an autographed picture of American astronaut Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. The souvenir is in keeping with … Continue reading Matthew Good, 25, walks home in the cold after opening for the Who
Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 28, 1996 Chatting with hungover rock musicians isn’t always a ton o’ fun, but sometimes you can’t blame them for knocking back a few cocktails the night before an interview. When Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock calls from New York one early afternoon, he’s still feeling the … Continue reading Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 28, 1996 Hootie & the Blowfish are one of those freaks of nature that show up on the evolutionary ladder of pop music every once in a while, a band that sells huge amounts of its debut recording, yet, by most critical accounts, is totally undeserving of its … Continue reading Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
That time the Newt interviewed Seinfeld’s Newman in New York
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 1996 By Steve Newton NEW YORK—Most people may not know actor Wayne Knight by name, but they know the portly Newman character from TV’s Seinfeld. Knight’s increasingly regular appearances as Jerry’s neurotic nemesis have helped develop a cult following for the pathetic mailman he portrays—a following that … Continue reading That time the Newt interviewed Seinfeld’s Newman in New York
Gord Downie sinks the cue ball after the Hip gets a hero’s welcome on the Trouble at the Henhouse tour
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 14, 1996 By Steve Newton At a private party in Yaletown last Friday (November 8), after the first of three Tragically Hip shows at the Pacific Coliseum, vocalist Gordon Downie leaned determinedly over a pool table to set up what he hoped would be a game-winning shot. He … Continue reading Gord Downie sinks the cue ball after the Hip gets a hero’s welcome on the Trouble at the Henhouse tour
The Who brings Quadrophenia, the world’s greatest rock album, to Vancouver
@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 24, 1996 By Steve Newton If I had to choose one “desert island disc”—the all-time–favourite rock album to live out my days to while munching coconuts on some uncharted tropical atoll—it would have to be The Who’s Quadrophenia. Although its 1971 predecessor, Who’s Next, is generally regarded … Continue reading The Who brings Quadrophenia, the world’s greatest rock album, to Vancouver
Bluesman Bill Perry lays it down fast and raw on Love Scars debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 17, 1996 I remember when I was about 13 years old and my guitar teacher had his students put on a recital in some big old rented hall. If I recall correctly, the highlight of my performance involved some nervous noodling on an unspectacular rendition of everybody’s all-time … Continue reading Bluesman Bill Perry lays it down fast and raw on Love Scars debut
Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 10, 1996 It’s times like this—when Punchbuggy’s Jim Bryson calls from the chilly wastelands of Saskatchewan—that I feel good about being an observer of rock instead of a participant. I’m cosy at home while he’s shivering at the side of the Trans-Canada Highway, the intermittent swoosh of passing … Continue reading Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 26, 1996 Ian Jones gets right to the point. The second question the Pluto singer-guitarist asks when calling from a roadside Saskatchewan pay phone—directly following “How are you?”—is “Is this for the cover?” I sheepishly explain that, since I’m not the editor, it’s not my call which story … Continue reading Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet