Brent Butt lauds the authenticity of Corner Gas…and Trailer Park Boys too

So Brent Butt called me up last week to chat about his upcoming film, Corner Gas: The Movie--which opens in select theatres December 3--and we got to talking about his TV series Corner Gas in relation to Trailer Park Boys, another Canadian TV sitcom that flaunts its Canuck-ness while garnering chuckles aplenty. There's a little more swearing … Continue reading Brent Butt lauds the authenticity of Corner Gas…and Trailer Park Boys too

Ear of Newt exclusive: Mike Fraser says AC/DC was all business on Rock or Bust: “We were there to get it done.”

By Steve Newton The anticipation surrounding the impending release of the new AC/DC album, Rock or Bust, has been building for months. The fact that it's the legendary Aussie hard-rockers' first release without original rhythm-guitarist and co-songwriter Malcolm Young has been making headlines, and this Tuesday (December 2) the physical product will hit stores. With or … Continue reading Ear of Newt exclusive: Mike Fraser says AC/DC was all business on Rock or Bust: “We were there to get it done.”

World exclusive: Rock or Bust engineer/mixer Mike Fraser gives Newt the scoop on new AC/DC

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 27, 2014 By Steve Newton Today I got a call from Langley's own Mike Fraser, who engineered and mixed the new AC/DC album, Rock or Bust, which is currently streaming on iTunes and hits stores this Tuesday (December 2). It was the first interview Fraser has given about the highly anticipated album, the … Continue reading World exclusive: Rock or Bust engineer/mixer Mike Fraser gives Newt the scoop on new AC/DC

Bono dedicates new tune to old friend Michael Hutchence as U2 elevates Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 19, 2001 By Steve Newton Talk about a coincidence! Two hours before heading out to see U2 at GM Place last Friday (April 13), I was watching The Simpsons, the episode in which Homer runs for sanitary commissioner of Springfield because he doesn’t like taking out his own garbage. In a … Continue reading Bono dedicates new tune to old friend Michael Hutchence as U2 elevates Vancouver

Debbie Davies holds her own with the big boys of blues

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2001 By Steve Newton When I hear the name Jay Geils nowadays, I remember how I used to whip over to an old Chilliwack High School buddy’s house at lunch hour for a quick fix of tuna on toast and the latest ’70s rock sounds. Sometimes it was Foghat’s Energized … Continue reading Debbie Davies holds her own with the big boys of blues

Pink Floyd’s The Wall gets a redneck makeover by Luther Wright & the Wrongs

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2001 By Steve Newton Luther Wright was 12 or so years old when he first heard Pink Floyd’s The Wall, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago, while touring with his band Weeping Tile, that he realized the 1979 classic-rock staple was actually a country-bluegrass album in disguise. … Continue reading Pink Floyd’s The Wall gets a redneck makeover by Luther Wright & the Wrongs

Kansas to release deluxe CD/DVD, so you can bet “Dust in the Wind” is on there

By Steve Newton One of my earliest arena-concert memories was of seeing Bad Company on the Run with the Pack Tour at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum back in the spring of '76, I think it was. The opening act was a prog-leaning rock band from Kansas called Kansas, who I remember most because they had a … Continue reading Kansas to release deluxe CD/DVD, so you can bet “Dust in the Wind” is on there

Alice Cooper’s sheer awesomeness steals Mötley Crüe’s thunder in Vancouver

By Steve Newton Mötley Crüe performed its final show in Vancouver last night (November 21). Or so the story goes. Before embarking on its current tour the L.A. sleaze-rock kings got some lawyers to write up a contract wherein they declared that they would never go on the road again after this. That allowed them to charge … Continue reading Alice Cooper’s sheer awesomeness steals Mötley Crüe’s thunder in Vancouver

Some dude who followed me on Twitter plays a pretty mean goldtop

So I was checking out my Twitter account on the commute home last night and I noticed that my number of followers had blasted up from 1435 to an impressive fourteen-hundred and thirty-six. My new follower was a guy named Niro Knox, who looked like a pretty rockin' dude. So I took a gander at some of his … Continue reading Some dude who followed me on Twitter plays a pretty mean goldtop

Rock Hall proves itself slag-worthy again snubbing Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory

charles campbell photo By Steve Newton I finally got around to checking out the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2015 and, lemme tell ya, that institution has developed its most severe case of HUA (Head Up Ass) Syndrome yet. Okay, firstly, let's rattle off the nominees: Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, … Continue reading Rock Hall proves itself slag-worthy again snubbing Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory

Will Alice Cööper show Motley Crue how it’s done in Vancouver?

There's no denying that the vast majority of rock 'n' roll animals heading to the sold-out Rogers Arena this Friday night will be huge fans of Mötley Crüe, which is performing on its heavily publicized "Final Tour". But I doubt I'll be the only one going there to revel in the killer tunes and theatrical shock-rock shenanigans … Continue reading Will Alice Cööper show Motley Crue how it’s done in Vancouver?

Jeff Beck, the world’s greatest living rock guitarist, proves omnipotent in Vancouver

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 22, 2001 By Steve Newton Jeff Beck is my favourite rock guitarist of all time, so I didn’t think twice about doing the necessary groveling to secure a couple of backstage passes for his sold-out show at the Commodore. Because my Beck-loving buddy Bones was celebrating a birthday … Continue reading Jeff Beck, the world’s greatest living rock guitarist, proves omnipotent in Vancouver