ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 26, 1995 By Steve Newton The big buzz for local rock fans this week circulated around the October 23 appearance at the Commodore of British chart-toppers Def Leppard. In order to get back in the public eye and help promote its upcoming greatest hits package, Vault, the never-say-die … Continue reading Def Leppard plays Morocco, England, and Canada in the same day, but Vancouver goes mild
Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 1995 By Steve Newton When I first heard Brother Cane’s self-titled debut CD three years ago, I was mightily impressed by the Alabama quartet’s bluesy, southern-tinged guitar-rock, spurred on as it was by the multiple talents of Damon Johnson, lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and main songwriter. But aside from the … Continue reading Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver
Horror-loving Tom Bagley gets ghouled up to rock out in Forbidden Dimension
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 It’s not hard to figure out where Forbidden Dimension is coming from when you check out the Calgary horror-rock trio’s latest disc, Somebody Down There Likes Me. The cool cartoon cover art by singer-guitarist Tom Bagley (stage name Jackson Phibes, as in The Abominable Dr. Phibes) … Continue reading Horror-loving Tom Bagley gets ghouled up to rock out in Forbidden Dimension
13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 By Steve Newton Toronto guitar-rockers 13 Engines recorded their first two albums in a one-room schoolhouse in the bush near Ann Arbor, Michigan. They made their third one on top of a mountain in Malibu and their fourth in the village of Morin Heights, in Quebec’s … Continue reading 13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador
Robben Ford bounces back from exhaustion, brings the Blue Line to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 I’ve been reviewing bands in the Georgia Straight since 1982—“Geez, when’s that old hack gonna pack it in?”—but this is the first time I’ve reviewed a gig at Richard’s on Richards. Since its inception, the upscale downtown club has been prone to hiring nondescript Top 40 … Continue reading Robben Ford bounces back from exhaustion, brings the Blue Line to Vancouver
Santo & Johnny put the instrumental bug in Friends of Dean Martinez
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 5, 1995 By Steve Newton You could foresee that by calling your band the Friends of Frank Sinatra, you’d be leaving yourself open for a spot of legal trouble—or worse—should Ol’ Blue Eyes catch wind of the misleading moniker. But could you forgive an instrumental quintet from Arizona … Continue reading Santo & Johnny put the instrumental bug in Friends of Dean Martinez
Russian hockey stars and broken legs inspire Vancouver’s Noise Therapy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 28, 1995 Besides beer and back bacon, there’s nothing more Canadian than guitar rock and hockey. The Pursuit of Happiness combined those two Canuck ideals recently in its tribute to the Great One, “Gretzky Rocks”. Now local hard rockers Noise Therapy have answered with a pucky anthem of … Continue reading Russian hockey stars and broken legs inspire Vancouver’s Noise Therapy
Blind Melon makes Soup in New Orleans but the Big Easy is “evil on a lot of levels”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 28, 1995 By Steve Newton Although I’ve never been there, I always pictured New Orleans as a carefree, laid-back location, where the relaxed residents would happily welcome visitors into a fantasyland of down-home music, to-die-for food, and endless celebration. But in a chat with Blind Melon bassist Brad … Continue reading Blind Melon makes Soup in New Orleans but the Big Easy is “evil on a lot of levels”
Ian Moore’s social commentary stings like his Strat on Modernday Folklore
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 28, 1995 By Steve Newton On the cover of Ian Moore’s 1993 self-titled debut, he is pictured hugging his worn Stratocaster, perched on a beat-up Fender amp, a drum kit and large speaker cabinet looming in the background. That simple shot of the longhaired, cowboy-booted dude set the impression of Moore … Continue reading Ian Moore’s social commentary stings like his Strat on Modernday Folklore
Popa Chubby’s badass Big Apple life informs Booty and the Beast
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 28, 1995 By Steve Newton New York City blues-rocker Popa Chubby dedicates his latest release, Booty and the Beast, “to those who play loud and refuse to turn down”. In other words, he dedicates it to himself. “Absolutely!” spouts the 300-pound singer-guitarist from his Brooklyn digs. “What I … Continue reading Popa Chubby’s badass Big Apple life informs Booty and the Beast
face to face chose the Offspring’s producer for its Big Choice
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 21, 1995 You can’t believe everything you read in those record-company bios, and sometimes you can’t believe any of it, but now and again it’s fun to pick out intriguing tidbits and find out whether they’re true or not. Like the line in face to face’s Victory Records … Continue reading face to face chose the Offspring’s producer for its Big Choice
My first and last interview with underrated blues-guitar great Luther Allison
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 21, 1995 By Steve Newton Why would a gifted bluesman from the Windy City ever think to leave his sweet home in Chicago and take up residence in a place like Paris, France? Maybe so he could get some inspiration for a tune called “Nuclear Weapon–Testing Weasel Blues”, but that’s about … Continue reading My first and last interview with underrated blues-guitar great Luther Allison
Junkhouse at the Town Pump evokes the Beat Farmers’ Glad & Greasy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 14, 1995 By Steve Newton It’s midnight on a Friday (September 8) at the Town Pump. The brew has been flowing freely for hours already, and the hard-rocking headlining band is about to take the stage. The crowd is definitely stoked for some good old...spoken-word performance? Apparently, Junkhouse … Continue reading Junkhouse at the Town Pump evokes the Beat Farmers’ Glad & Greasy