There's something be said for sticking to your roots, and on their latest album, World Boogie Is Coming, the North Mississippi Allstars really do bring it on home. They went to the heart of the Mississippi hill country on tunes by such area legends as R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Otha Turner, and cranked the authenticity … Continue reading The North Mississippi Allstars bring it on home with help from Robert Plant
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1971
All in all, 1971 wasn't one of the greatest years for rock in the seventies. But it was a pretty great one for Alice Cooper, Rory Gallagher, and Yes, who each had two albums on my Top 30. As before, I’ve listed the LPs alphabetically by title, and included three choice tracks from each disc … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1971
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1970
Last year I decided to turn the clock back four decades and put together a list of my 30 fave albums of 1973, because, for one thing, that was the year when the greatest rock album of all time--the Who's Quadrophenia--was released. Then, a couple of weeks back, I kept up the "40 years ago" … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1970
Black Sabbath cancels Born Again show in Vancouver, Tony Iommi says “If I go deaf I go deaf”
By Steve Newton On January 19, 1984, Black Sabbath was scheduled to play the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. The British metal legends were touring behind their new album Born Again, their first and last one to feature Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. Also in the lineup–though not on the album–was former Electric Light Orchestra drummer Bev Bevan. The show … Continue reading Black Sabbath cancels Born Again show in Vancouver, Tony Iommi says “If I go deaf I go deaf”
Horror review: Devil’s Due
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 17, 2004 For horror fans, 2014 kicked off with Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, which proved that Hollywood was still keen to flog the found-footage format to make a buck. The second fright flick out of Tinseltown this year, Devil's Due, is another supernatural entry that's even heavier on Blair Witch-style hand-held … Continue reading Horror review: Devil’s Due
Kim Mitchell, who once wrote “IS THIS MIDDLE ‘C’?” on my guitar, plays Vancouver tonight
Kim Mitchell, the party-rockin' pride of Sarnia, Ontario, plays the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver tonight. Should be a good 'un. I remember when I interviewed Mitchell and his songwriting partner Pye Dubois at a Vancouver restaurant back in the late '80s/early '90s I think it was, around the time of Rockland. I took my plexiglass … Continue reading Kim Mitchell, who once wrote “IS THIS MIDDLE ‘C’?” on my guitar, plays Vancouver tonight
Smokin’ hot guitarist Luther Dickinson shows off his signature Gibson
Earlier today I had a nice chat with gifted guitar dude Luther Dickinson, who brings his band, the North Mississippi Allstars, to Vancouver's Rio Theatre next Friday (January 24). Man am I psyched about seeing that show. The Allstars were awesome when they opened for Robert Plant's Band of Joy back in 2011. And the trio's new album World … Continue reading Smokin’ hot guitarist Luther Dickinson shows off his signature Gibson
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1974
Last year I put together a list of my 30 fave albums from 1973, which was a particularly awesome year since it included the release of what I've always felt was the world's greatest rock album, the Who's Quadrophenia. Now that you've all had a good chance to go out and purchase each and every one … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1974
Mike Rutherford looks at his watch and says Genesis will probably make it through tonight’s show
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 6, 1984 By Steve Newton British supergroup Genesis--lead vocalist-drummer Phil Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, and guitarist-bassist Mike Rutherford--will be appearing at the Pacific Coliseum this Monday, January 9. They will be joined in concert by touring members Daryl Stuermer on guitar and Chester Thompson on drums. I spoke to Rutherford over … Continue reading Mike Rutherford looks at his watch and says Genesis will probably make it through tonight’s show
Judas Priest debuts new hit single “Respecting the Law” on The Simpsons
Okay, so I lied. Judas Priest did not debut its new hit single "Respecting the Law" on The Simpsons last night. But it did rock the World's Best Animated Show with a 17-second parody of its 1980 hit single "Breaking the Law". The episode was about Internet piracy, and Rob Halford and the boys set up on the deck … Continue reading Judas Priest debuts new hit single “Respecting the Law” on The Simpsons
Remembering Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott on the anniversary of his death
It was 28 years ago today that Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, suffering from a kidney and liver infection, died of heart failure and pneumonia at a hospital in England. Years of drug and alcohol abuse had taken their toll, and he was taken away from all who loved him—and his exhilirating brand of guitar-heavy … Continue reading Remembering Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott on the anniversary of his death
Horror review: Paranormal Activity–The Marked Ones
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 3, 2014 The first three Paranormal Activity films were extremely engrossing and scary as hell. Their low-budget tales of demonic forces plaguing innocent couples and families in the safety and comfort of their open-design suburban homes made fine use of the idea that what you can't see--or can just barely get a … Continue reading Horror review: Paranormal Activity–The Marked Ones
Rockers say the darndest things: top quotes of 2013
Dave Wyndorf (above) "probably would have made more money." I interviewed quite a few rockers last year. Here's some of the things they said. "To me stoner rock is just non-commercial rock that pulls from every great era... And as far as the stoner element, I mean, yeah, it’s always cool to smoke pot.” --Brant Bjork … Continue reading Rockers say the darndest things: top quotes of 2013