ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 29, 2013 By Steve Newton The blues world has produced its fair share of guitar-wielding child prodigies. Growing up with family connections to the Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks scored his first paid gig at 11. And Kenny Wayne Shepherd took up guitar at the age of seven, shortly after being mesmerized … Continue reading Quinn Sullivan found his love of the blues early—really early
Gov’t Mule channels Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie in Vancouver, no Elvis required
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 26, 2013 There was a rumour swirling around town recently that West Van resident Elvis Costello might show up at Gov't Mule's Vancouver show to perform "Funny Little Tragedy", the song he sings on the band's star-studded new album, Shout! Well, last night at the Commodore, Elvis never entered the building. Didn't matter … Continue reading Gov’t Mule channels Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie in Vancouver, no Elvis required
The stars came out for Gov’t Mule’s Shout!
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 23, 2013 By Steve Newton What do Elvis Costello, Ben Harper, Dr. John, Grace Potter, Steve Winwood, and Dave Matthews have in common? Well, apart from the fact that they’re all certified rock stars in their own right, they each sang lead on a track on Shout!, the new album from … Continue reading The stars came out for Gov’t Mule’s Shout!
Joe Satriani’s guitar heroics slay Vancouver, as do Mike Keneally’s
PHOTO BY THE NEWT ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 20, 2013 By Steve Newton Guitar freaks go to Joe Satriani concerts to hear the Bay Area musician speedily blast out approximately 1,365,398 notes in total, and make all of them sound perfect. But Satriani's ace in the hole—apart from a wicked rhythm-section composed of bassist … Continue reading Joe Satriani’s guitar heroics slay Vancouver, as do Mike Keneally’s
Goblin’s not afraid to up the scary factor
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 15, 2013 By Steve Newton It's approaching that time of year when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of horror, and the atmospheric music that—if you’re lucky—makes fright flicks scary as hell. Who among us hasn’t reached for the Halloween soundtrack to gloom up the mood before the trick-or-treaters arrive, the … Continue reading Goblin’s not afraid to up the scary factor
Sipping tea with AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson before the launch of the Flick of the Switch world tour
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton The day before their October 11 concert at the Pacific Coliseum I journeyed downtown to the posh Four Seasons Hotel to meet with three of the five members of AC/DC--the loudest, raunchiest, and most popular heavy-metal band in the world. Now I wasn't too sure just … Continue reading Sipping tea with AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson before the launch of the Flick of the Switch world tour
The Eagles fly high in Vancouver with boosts from Bernie and Joe
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 6, 2013 The concert the Eagles put on at Rogers Arena last night was way more enjoyable than the one they played at the hockey rink three years ago as part of the Long Road Out of Eden Tour. For one thing, this time around the setlist wasn't bogged down … Continue reading The Eagles fly high in Vancouver with boosts from Bernie and Joe
Vista Chino’s Brant Bjork still likes rock ‘n’ reef, says “it’s always cool to smoke pot.”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 4, 2013 By Steve Newton When stoner-rock legend Brant Bjork picks up the phone at his desert home in Joshua Tree, California, it’s just like old times. Eight years ago—when he was recording and touring with his band Brant Bjork and the Bros—Bjork called the Straight from the same location and expounded … Continue reading Vista Chino’s Brant Bjork still likes rock ‘n’ reef, says “it’s always cool to smoke pot.”
Guy Buttery stretches acoustic-guitar boundaries
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 3, 2013 BY STEVE NEWTON The world is full of great acoustic guitarists, but every now and again one comes along who really blows you away. Vancouver’s own Don Alder—whose percussive, wall-of-sound compositional approach has helped him win major competitions around the world—is one of them. Another is South Africa’s … Continue reading Guy Buttery stretches acoustic-guitar boundaries
Black Sabbath’s Vancouver show ruled by monster riffs
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 23, 2013 By Steve Newton Talk about a study in contrasts. Strolling past Science World on the way to see Black Sabbath last night, we happened upon quite an unusual sight. Hundreds of well-to-do-looking folk dressed all in white were converging on an area beside the … Continue reading Black Sabbath’s Vancouver show ruled by monster riffs
The Sabbath Time Machine
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 18, 2013 By Steve Newton Black Sabbath (without Bill Ward) isn't giving any interviews in advance of its show at Rogers Arena this Thursday (Aug. 22), but that's okay with me. It just gives me an excuse to crawl back into my '70s time machine and reminisce, home movie-style, about what … Continue reading The Sabbath Time Machine
Blue Öyster Cult cofounder Allen Lanier dead at 67
Lanier (far left) in a B.O.C. promo shot from the '70s, which they ruled. ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 15, 2013 Sad news for fans of one of the greatest hard-rock bands of all time. Allen Lanier, founding keyboardist-guitarist for Blue Öyster Cult, died yesterday after being hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which restricts breathing and … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult cofounder Allen Lanier dead at 67
Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted says that, with his new band, you work twice as hard for half as much
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 25, 2013 By Steve Newton When a veteran rocker calls in the midst of doing a major North American tour, it’s pretty common for him to use terms like amazing and awesome in response to the journalist’s tried-and-true icebreaker: “So, how’s the tour going?” But when Jason Newsted rings in … Continue reading Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted says that, with his new band, you work twice as hard for half as much