ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 8, 1983 By Steve Newton "When it comes to Skywalk," says the group's drummer and veteran session player Kat Hendrikse, "the word jazz is inappropriate. It's got a lot of jazz influences, but basically it's a modern concept. It's modern music in that it's very composition-oriented as opposed to solo-oriented. We … Continue reading Don’t call Vancouver’s Skywalk jazz or fusion, it’s just “a music band”
Canadian flamenco-jazz ace Jesse Cook says the future of guitar playing is in good hands
By Steve Newton Jesse Cook called me up last week in advance of his June 4 show at the Queen E. Theatre in Vancouver, and we chatted about a few things, including the fact that Aussie fingerstyle great Tommy Emmanuel performs on a track on his new album, One World. In the course of our conversation … Continue reading Canadian flamenco-jazz ace Jesse Cook says the future of guitar playing is in good hands
Poltergeist is scary loud, not scary good
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 22, 2015 By Steve Newton The first clue that Poltergeist might suck is the toothy skull presented at the start to signify that it's from Ghost House Pictures. That's the company that gave us such questionable crap as 2004's The Grudge and 2007's The Messengers. Mind you, Ghost House did shape up and deliver 2009's … Continue reading Poltergeist is scary loud, not scary good
The world’s greatest acoustic guitarist takes his fans over the rainbow in Vancouver
The 59-year-old picker from Australia spent the majority of his two-hour set boggling the mind of every guitar freak in the crowd.
Horrific sound at Kerrisdale Arena makes Vancouver a town called malice for the Jam
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 11, 1982 By Steve Newton It looked like a scene from the Who film Quadrophenia outside the Kerrisdale Arena last Saturday night (June 5). Guys in trenchcoats and military-style jackets stood around with girls wearing button-clad and Union Jack-emblazoned overcoats. Inside the Jam, hailed as "England's #1 rock and roll band" … Continue reading Horrific sound at Kerrisdale Arena makes Vancouver a town called malice for the Jam
Fist takes Thunder in Rock (and keyboards!) on tour with Motörhead and Krokus
Fist, a band made from Ottawa, is the Canadian entry in the international heavy metal package tour that played Kerrisdale Arena last Friday.
Prairie Prince on the new hit “She’s a Beauty” and what sets the Tubes apart from the rest of the bands
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 1983 By Steve Newton The Tubes will be opening for Peter Gabriel and David Bowie at this Tuesday's big concert in The Dome. I reached the band's drummer Prairie Prince over the phone in Toronto recently and asked him about their new album, current stage show, and proposed "theme park". … Continue reading Prairie Prince on the new hit “She’s a Beauty” and what sets the Tubes apart from the rest of the bands
Tommy Aldridge talks Black Oak Arkansas, Whitesnake, Ozzy, and the brilliance of Randy Rhoads
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 10, 1990 By Steve Newton After several years in the rock critic biz, it's easy for a writer to pick up the ONNTD syndrome. That's an affliction that occurs when you request an interview with a big-name band and the record company won't let you talk to the main member (usually … Continue reading Tommy Aldridge talks Black Oak Arkansas, Whitesnake, Ozzy, and the brilliance of Randy Rhoads
R.I.P. B.B. King: the nicest bluesman I ever met
By Steve Newton As you've most likely heard by now, B.B. King, the beloved "King of the Blues", passed away last night at the age of 89. He was receiving hospice care at his home in Las Vegas, where the longtime diabetic was recovering from dehydration. You can read all about the great man's numerous … Continue reading R.I.P. B.B. King: the nicest bluesman I ever met
The high-and-mighty Edge topples off the stage in Vancouver but, sorry haters, U2 is still a thing
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THEGUARDIAN.COM, MAY 15, 2015 By Steve Newton Near the very end of U2's show in Vancouver last night--during the fourth and final song of the encore, "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"--aptly named guitarist The Edge was strolling casually along the edge of the catwalk when he stepped out into thin … Continue reading The high-and-mighty Edge topples off the stage in Vancouver but, sorry haters, U2 is still a thing
Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.
On May 11, 1985, Eddie Murphy played the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. This was exactly 12 days before he released "Party All the Time", which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is clearly one of the worst songs ever recorded. What bugs me most about this video--besides the music--is the shirt-button-challenged "rock" … Continue reading Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.
Rudy Sarzo on playing with Randy Rhoads, life after Ozzy, and the return of Quiet Riot
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 1983 By Steve Newton Formed in 1975 by Kevin DuBrow and the late Randy Rhoads (who died in a plane crash last year while a member of the Ozzy Osbourne band), Quiet Riot were one of the leading Los Angeles rock bands during the late seventies. Boasting dynamic live performances … Continue reading Rudy Sarzo on playing with Randy Rhoads, life after Ozzy, and the return of Quiet Riot
Red Rider releases Neruda, Tom Cochrane rails against “trendy bullshit”
I spoke to Red Rider's lead vocalist and songwriter Tom Cochrane over the phone from Toronto in advance of the band's Vancouver concert.