Jason Bateman discovers his dark side in The Gift

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 2015 By Steve Newton If you thought Jason Bateman could only play affable sad-sacks, prepare for a nice surprise with The Gift. The actor best known for his gentle portrayal of the put-upon Michael Bluth in Arrested Development discovers his dark side in a big way in this unsettling revenge thriller about the … Continue reading Jason Bateman discovers his dark side in The Gift

Guitarists from Exodus, Exciter, and Metal Church weigh in on the heaviness of metal in 1985

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1985 By Steve Newton Blue Oyster Cult's Tyranny and Mutation. Aerosmith's Rocks. UFO's Phenomenon. The Montrose debut. Back in the early to mid-'70s those albums forged a sound that critic Lester Bangs called "heavy metal". They were dynamic and forceful, fast, loud, and proud. The bands that made them had … Continue reading Guitarists from Exodus, Exciter, and Metal Church weigh in on the heaviness of metal in 1985

Metal gods Judas Priest to play first Vancouver shows with Rob Halford outside of a hockey rink

By Steve Newton I've been going to see Judas Priest play concerts at Vancouver hockey rinks since the 1982 Screaming for Vengeance tour hit the Pacific Coliseum, and, quite frankly, I'm sick of it. The acoustics are never any good, and you can never get close enough to see the sweat dripping off Glenn Tipton's fretboard unless you … Continue reading Metal gods Judas Priest to play first Vancouver shows with Rob Halford outside of a hockey rink

40 years ago today: Lou Reed releases Metal Machine Music, and my dumbass buddy buys it

By Steve Newton 1975 was a very good year for rock n roll. Maybe even the best. That's the year of Aerosmiith's Toys in the Attic, Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, and Thin Lizzy's Fighting. Not to mention Ian Hunter's solo debut. Unfortunately for my high-school buddy Mike, it was also the year of Lou Reed's Metal … Continue reading 40 years ago today: Lou Reed releases Metal Machine Music, and my dumbass buddy buys it

Eric Clapton ends his 1985 North American tour in Vancouver, Duck Dunn proclaims “GODDAMN!”

mila geran photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1985 By Steve Newton "Here's one from 1967," said Eric Clapton at the Coliseum last Saturday (July 27). "I hope you recognize it." Then he launched into "White Room", a hit from his days with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in the power trio Cream. And obviously … Continue reading Eric Clapton ends his 1985 North American tour in Vancouver, Duck Dunn proclaims “GODDAMN!”

Hangin’ out with Billy Zane on the Vancouver set of Dean Koontz’s Sole Survivor

By Steve Newton Back in 2000 I got assigned by Fangoria magazine to cover the Vancouver filming of Sole Survivor, a TV-movie based on a Dean Koontz novel. After covering awful adaptations of great Zoontz books like Watchers and Hideaway, I was doubtful. But hey, us freelancers gotta make a buck somehow. Here's an abbreviated version … Continue reading Hangin’ out with Billy Zane on the Vancouver set of Dean Koontz’s Sole Survivor

Rush powns health issues to kick royal ass in Vancouver on R40 Tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 18, 2015 By Steve Newton For 40 years now the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart has been traversing the world, taking their patented brand of challenging prog-rock to the masses, proving to all and sundry that Canada is more than just hockey, beer, and maple syrup. And … Continue reading Rush powns health issues to kick royal ass in Vancouver on R40 Tour

Fu Manchu founder Scott Hill just likes big, loud, heavy stuff

By Steve Newton When you check out the song titles on its latest CD, Gigantoid, it’s clear that Fu Manchu still has a hankering for sci-fi–oriented tuneage. The band that once proudly named a song after the flaky Farrah Fawcett flick Saturn 3—which Roger Ebert dubbed “awesomely stupid and totally implausible”—still churns out rockin’ ditties like “Dimension … Continue reading Fu Manchu founder Scott Hill just likes big, loud, heavy stuff

Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best

By Steve Newton Maybe, like me, you were lucky enough to catch the Stray Cats when they played the Commodore back in '82. Or perhaps you saw them when they were on that bill at GM Place in 2007 with the Pretenders and ZZ Top. But if you're one of those sad sacks who've never seen the Stray … Continue reading Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best

Neal Schon’s fierce guitar dulled by Journey’s corporate-rock vibe

Journey has long been criticized for being one of the prime purveyors of "corporate rock", along with Foreigner, Boston, and Styx.

The Gallows’ horror hangs on tired found-footage clichés

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 10, 2015 By Steve Newton I wonder how much longer teenaged moviegoers' patience with low-budget "found footage" horror can last? Kids must be getting sick of the endless scenes of jittery camerawork, shreiking sound-effects, and predictable jump scares. Obviously, moviemakers like Blumhouse Productions--the company behind the hugely successful Paranormal Activity and Insidious franchises--are hoping … Continue reading The Gallows’ horror hangs on tired found-footage clichés

That time Guthrie Govan told me that the Aristocrats recreated Eddie Van Halen’s echo from Fair Warning at L.A.’s Sunset Sound

By Steve Newton In 2015 I interviewed Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, but there wasn't enough room in the paper to include all the cool shit the guitar genius had to say to me. So I banged out one blog on the influence of Joe Satriani and Zal Cleminson, and then another one on how … Continue reading That time Guthrie Govan told me that the Aristocrats recreated Eddie Van Halen’s echo from Fair Warning at L.A.’s Sunset Sound