ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 29, 2003 By Steve Newton L.A. soul-rock quintet Maroon 5 named its debut CD Songs About Jane because that’s exactly what the album contains: tunes about singer-lyricist and guitarist Adam Levine’s ex-girlfriend, first name Jane. As Levine explains from a Toronto Thai restaurant, the former flame actually became his muse for … Continue reading Maroon 5’s Adam Levine loves spicy plum sauce, the White Stripes not so much
Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on Ticketmaster, Neil Young, Nickelback, and the new Riot Act
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 29, 2003 By Steve Newton Pearl Jam is one of those hugely influential, multiplatinum rock acts that’s notorious for refusing to talk to the press, often for extended periods of time. So when PJ guitarist Mike McCready calls from the “lovely offices” of Vandenberg Public Relations in Seattle, my first question … Continue reading Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on Ticketmaster, Neil Young, Nickelback, and the new Riot Act
Sam Roberts discovers that Vancouver isn’t all sunny days and good times
"There are a lot of homeless people and a lot of drug addicts [in Vancouver], and I think that sort of put its mark on the record as well.”
Rich Hope says that Gordie Johnson found where the rock was on John Ford’s Bullets for Dreamers
The lyrical themes on John Ford’s latest fluctuate between politics and partying, but the music itself is consistently raucous and raw.
Robert Randolph puts Stevie Ray Vaughan passion into pedal-steel guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 10, 2003 By Steve Newton Although he’s only 24, Robert Randolph has already done much to help popularize the pedal-steel guitar, both through his recordings on the revelatory Sacred Steel series of albums and via his own group, the Family Band. And he still feels strongly indebted to … Continue reading Robert Randolph puts Stevie Ray Vaughan passion into pedal-steel guitar
The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s
By Steve Newton You had to be there. Abraxas: Santana (“Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen”, “Oye Coma Va”, “Samba Pa Ti”) 1970 A Day at the Races: Queen (“Tie Your Mother Down”, “Somebody to Love”, “Long Away”) 1976 Aerosmith: Aerosmith (“Make It”, “Dream On”, “Mama Kin”) 1973 After the Gold Rush: Neil Young (“Tell Me Why”, “Southern Man”, “When You … Continue reading The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s
Guitar champ Muriel Anderson loves Christopher Parkening, Chet Atkins, and Les Paul
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 10, 2003 By Steve Newton A lot of amazing guitarists have won the U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship since the annual contest at the Walnut Valley Festival near Wichita, Kansas, began in 1979. Champs include such acoustic-guitar stars as Peter Huttlinger, John Standefer, Steven King, and Canada’s own Don Ross, the … Continue reading Guitar champ Muriel Anderson loves Christopher Parkening, Chet Atkins, and Les Paul
The Lazarus Effect is a Flatliners ripoff unworthy of resuscitation
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 25, 2015 By Steve Newton The Lazarus Effect reminds me a bit of that made-in-Vancouver horror flick Hideaway, in which characters that are brought back to life after being clinically dead for a while encounter weird sensations and frightening visions. It also sucks about as much. The latest low-budget offering from Blumhouse … Continue reading The Lazarus Effect is a Flatliners ripoff unworthy of resuscitation
Life’s highway carries Tom Cochrane back to Red Rider
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 3, 2003 By Steve Newton Tom Cochrane had his biggest hit, “Life Is a Highway”, two years after splitting up with long-time guitarist Kenny Greer and abandoning the Red Rider name. But fans who’ve followed the Ontario singer-songwriter’s storied career know that his time with Red Rider, from 1979 to ’89, … Continue reading Life’s highway carries Tom Cochrane back to Red Rider
Walter Trout has a spiritual bond with his Strat of 30 years
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 6, 2003 By Steve Newton Unless you’re really up on your rock guitarists, Walter Trout may be the biggest guitar hero you’ve never heard of. In a 1993 BBC Radio 1 poll of the top 20 players of all time, Trout came in sixth, ahead of such six-string legends as Stevie … Continue reading Walter Trout has a spiritual bond with his Strat of 30 years
Craig Northey sung, plunked, plinked, and originally thinked Giddy Up
On the cover of his debut solo CD, Craig Northey is pictured playing guitar while kicking his left leg up to a painful-looking height.
Andy Powell says the Flying V has become a symbol of Wishbone Ash
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 20, 2003 By Steve Newton Every once in a while, when my wee home office gets too cramped from all the free CDs this job incurs, I take a deep breath and begin studying my stacks of record albums. Vinyl, baby—that’s where it used to be at. Now I scour those … Continue reading Andy Powell says the Flying V has become a symbol of Wishbone Ash
24-year-old Xavier Rudd wants to touch as many emotions as he can
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 6, 2003 By Steve Newton I remember seeing a one-man band as a kid once, and if memory serves, it was some middle-aged joker in a funny hat, blowing on a horn, fingering a ukulele, manipulating cymbals and a bass drum with his feet. The music scene has improved a lot … Continue reading 24-year-old Xavier Rudd wants to touch as many emotions as he can