ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 19, 2001 BY STEVE NEWTON When ’60s blues legend Willie Dixon wrote “Wang Dang Doodle” for vocalist Koko Taylor, it was pretty clear from her lusty delivery that the term was a euphemism for sex. In the ’70s, crotch-rocker Ted Nugent put his own randy spin on the phrase with “Wang … Continue reading Buddy Miles proclaims “there’s nobody can even mess with Jimi”
Rick Nielsen calls early to say that Cheap Trick is playing better than ever
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 19, 2001 By Steve Newton Rock stars don’t always call on time. Sometimes they don’t even call at all. And it’s a rare occasion when they actually call early. So when Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen rings up from Phoenix a good 10 minutes before our scheduled interview time, I’m caught … Continue reading Rick Nielsen calls early to say that Cheap Trick is playing better than ever
Tantric rises from the ashes of Days of the New, tours with 3 Doors Down
In November of 1998, an acoustic guitar–based rock band out of Kentucky called Days of the New had the world by the short ’n’ curlies.
Double Trouble’s Tommy Shannon finds the groove in that pocket
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 2001 For its debut CD, Been a Long Time, Double Trouble—Stevie Ray Vaughan’s former rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris “Whipper” Layton—assembled some of the most admired blues and rock guitarists around. Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Doyle Bramhall II, Gordie Johnson, … Continue reading Double Trouble’s Tommy Shannon finds the groove in that pocket
Steve Hackett on the old Genesis trick of using restraint and shutting up occasionally
When Steve Hackett called me from Boston a while back to talk about his current Genesis Extended tour--which hits Vancouver this Thursday (December 11)-- I was curious as to which Genesis songs were going over best of late. And he was happy to fill me in. "Well let me see," he pondered. "We start off … Continue reading Steve Hackett on the old Genesis trick of using restraint and shutting up occasionally
Gary Comeau surrounds himself with Vancouver talent on Letters From Eve
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 2001 Judging by the quality of players Gary Comeau surrounded himself with on his third and latest CD, Letters From Eve, you’d think the local singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is seriously well connected. First off, you’ve got drummer Pat Steward and bassist Doug Elliott, that hot-as-hell rhythm … Continue reading Gary Comeau surrounds himself with Vancouver talent on Letters From Eve
Guitar legend Steve Hackett vividly recalls traveling across Canada to Vancouver as a child
I interviewed former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett recently--in advance of his show at Vancouver's Vogue Theatre this Thursday (December 11)--and found out that he was a pretty huge fan of Vancouver--and Canada as a whole. It turns out that, when he was a kid, Hackett experienced an incredible journey from England to Quebec and then … Continue reading Guitar legend Steve Hackett vividly recalls traveling across Canada to Vancouver as a child
Lynyrd Skynyrd freaks invade Riverside Studios on a Blair Witch-style scavenger hunt
Just came across this video from 1999 of a gaggle of diehard Lynyrd Skynyrd fans going nuts when they get inside the old abandoned Riverside Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, where the southern-rock legends used to rehearse and record, along with .38 Special. They all get pretty psyched when they come across a drawing on the … Continue reading Lynyrd Skynyrd freaks invade Riverside Studios on a Blair Witch-style scavenger hunt
Hey guitar freaks: you’d be friggin’ nuts not to go see Tommy Emmanuel
He might not be the most famous guitarist in the world, but, man, I'm tellin' ya—Tommy Emmanuel might just be the best. All-around, that is. We all know Jeff Beck is tops when it comes to rock. (Especially since Jimi, Stevie Ray and Rory blues-shuffled off this mortal coil.) But if you're looking for an … Continue reading Hey guitar freaks: you’d be friggin’ nuts not to go see Tommy Emmanuel
The Babadook is the most moving and memorable fright flick of the year
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 3, 2014 By Steve Newton Is The Babadook a slow-burning, Repulsion-style psychodrama depicting a lonely woman’s paranoid descent into madness? Or is it more of a flat-out horror show that introduces a freaky new being—the titular pitch-black, long-taloned, top-hat-wearing demon thingie—to the fearscape? Who cares? Fact is, it’s the most moving and memorable fright … Continue reading The Babadook is the most moving and memorable fright flick of the year
Brett Butt calls Corner Gas: The Movie “the little cherry-on-top kinda thing”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 3, 2014 By Steve Newton Hard-core fans of Corner Gas were pretty miffed when the popular CTV sitcom stopped production back in 2009 after six seasons. Lucky for them, creator and star Brent Butt hasn’t gotten the show completely out of his system, because today (December 3), Corner Gas: The Movie opens for a … Continue reading Brett Butt calls Corner Gas: The Movie “the little cherry-on-top kinda thing”
Mike Fraser helps AC/DC get back on top, sets his sights on Sabbath
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 3, 2014 By Steve Newton The first time he ever saw AC/DC, Mike Fraser had no idea what band he was seeing. He'd gone to an Aerosmith show at the Pacific Coliseum back in '78 and showed up early enough to catch the warmup act. "Usually you kinda miss the opening … Continue reading Mike Fraser helps AC/DC get back on top, sets his sights on Sabbath
Static in Stereo sets the controls for the heart of the seventies
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 5, 2001 By Steve Newton A silver Keith Richards–style skull ring catches the glare of the dressing-room lights as Todd Kerns wraps his fist around a can of Coke. The blue and red dragon etched on his right bicep, a ringer for Ozzy Osbourne’s chest tattoo, quivers slightly as he lifts the … Continue reading Static in Stereo sets the controls for the heart of the seventies