ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 6, 1997 By Steve Newton When Big Rude Jake answers the phone at his home in Toronto, I’m relieved that he doesn’t live up to his middle nickname and greet me with “Yeah, whaddya want?” He does sound a little out of breath, but it’s not because I’ve caught him at … Continue reading Big Rude Jake’s smokin’ swing-punk nixes the nostalgia route
Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 30, 1997 By Steve Newton Thanks to the popularity of an angst-ridden grunge-pop ditty called “Bound for the Floor”, Illinois rock duo Local H is making tsunami-sized waves on North American radio right now. The group is also garnering attention for its unusual configuration, although vocalist-guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe … Continue reading Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
Blues-rocker Nigel Mack started off covering Molly Hatchet, the Outlaws, and Skynyrd
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton In Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Ballad of Curtis Loew”, Ronnie Van Zant sings about a black bluesman with white curly hair who plays Dobro all day in exchange for drinking money. Feeling like a cheapskate, I don’t offer any monetary incentive to curly-haired local blues-rocker Nigel Mack while … Continue reading Blues-rocker Nigel Mack started off covering Molly Hatchet, the Outlaws, and Skynyrd
Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”
By Steve Newton Back in 2014 I had a nice little chat with Swedish guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen, in advance of a Guitar Gods show in Vancouver. I mentioned that the last time I saw him live was on the G3 Tour at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre in 2003 or something. We got to talking about his … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”
Dave Grohl’s “Holy Shits” kick ass with Van Halen and Alice Cooper covers
Any hardcore '70s-rock fans in attendance at the Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware, last night got a special treat when the Foo Fighters went back in time to raunch out a bit. "Lemme tell ya something," said Dave Grohl near the end of his band's headlining set, "we're gonna do somethin' we have never done … Continue reading Dave Grohl’s “Holy Shits” kick ass with Van Halen and Alice Cooper covers
That time a crotchety Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown said: “Save me a copy of this write-up”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown—there’s a ring to that name that just suits an elderly, pipe-puffin’ blues master. At least, that’s what I thought before conducting a phone interview with the 73-year-old musician, at home in Louisiana. I sure learned fast that the “Gatemouth” title wasn’t earned through … Continue reading That time a crotchety Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown said: “Save me a copy of this write-up”
Blue Öyster Cult’s Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on the origins of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton It’s hard for me to pick one all-time favourite rock band or rock album, but when it comes to my all-time fave song, that’s easy: Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. I suppose it helps that, when that propulsive ode to the afterlife was released … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on the origins of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
Crossroads 2 (live in the seventies) finds Slowhand bluesy as hell
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton They should have subtitled this one live (and bluesy) in the seventies, because over the course of this four-CD package old Slowhand really gets down, covering tunes by Johnny Otis, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush, and—no fewer than six … Continue reading Crossroads 2 (live in the seventies) finds Slowhand bluesy as hell
Cheap Trick box set wisely avoids ’80s clunkers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton Back in ’78, my personal Top 10 included power-rock LPs such as UFO’s Obsession, AC/DC’s Powerage, Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous, and the third Cheap Trick album, Heaven Tonight. At the time I was a UBC faculty of arts slacker, and the best … Continue reading Cheap Trick box set wisely avoids ’80s clunkers
Matthew Good, 25, walks home in the cold after opening for the Who
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1996 By Steve Newton Christmas came early for Matthew Good this year. On the same day that I interviewed the up-and-coming local rocker, he received a present from his publisher at EMI: an autographed picture of American astronaut Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. The souvenir is in keeping with … Continue reading Matthew Good, 25, walks home in the cold after opening for the Who
Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 28, 1996 Chatting with hungover rock musicians isn’t always a ton o’ fun, but sometimes you can’t blame them for knocking back a few cocktails the night before an interview. When Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock calls from New York one early afternoon, he’s still feeling the … Continue reading Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 28, 1996 By Steve Newton Hootie & the Blowfish are one of those freaks of nature that show up on the evolutionary ladder of pop music every once in a while, a band that sells huge amounts of its debut recording, yet, by most critical accounts, is totally undeserving of its … Continue reading Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
That time the Newt interviewed Seinfeld’s Newman in New York
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 1996 By Steve Newton NEW YORK—Most people may not know actor Wayne Knight by name, but they know the portly Newman character from TV’s Seinfeld. Knight’s increasingly regular appearances as Jerry’s neurotic nemesis have helped develop a cult following for the pathetic mailman he portrays—a following that … Continue reading That time the Newt interviewed Seinfeld’s Newman in New York