ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 17, 1996 By Steve Newton I remember when I was about 13 years old and my guitar teacher had his students put on a recital in some big old rented hall. If I recall correctly, the highlight of my performance involved some nervous noodling on an unspectacular rendition of everybody’s … Continue reading Bluesman Bill Perry lays it down fast and raw on Love Scars debut
Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 10, 1996 By Steve Newton It’s times like this—when Punchbuggy’s Jim Bryson calls from the chilly wastelands of Saskatchewan—that I feel good about being an observer of rock instead of a participant. I’m cosy at home while he’s shivering at the side of the Trans-Canada Highway, the intermittent swoosh of passing … Continue reading Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 26, 1996 Ian Jones gets right to the point. The second question the Pluto singer-guitarist asks when calling from a roadside Saskatchewan pay phone—directly following “How are you?”—is “Is this for the cover?” I sheepishly explain that, since I’m not the editor, it’s not my call which story … Continue reading Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet
Whiney False Creek residents put a damper on the Long John Baldry-topped Granville Island Blues Fest
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 26, 1996 By Steve Newton What is it with Vancouver residents who can’t stand the sound of music emanating from an outdoor venue? I remember how the folks living in the Hastings-and-Renfrew area used to beef about the volume of daylong rock concerts at Empire Stadium in the mid-’70s, as if … Continue reading Whiney False Creek residents put a damper on the Long John Baldry-topped Granville Island Blues Fest
The Doughboys’ John Kastner is sick of hearing about the Hip
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 19, 1996 When Doughboys singer-guitarist John Kastner rings up and informs me that he’s calling from Kingston, Ontario, I casually comment, “Oh, the home of the Tragically Hip.” I suppose I could have said, “Hey, nice penitentiary they’ve got there.” That might have gone over a little better. … Continue reading The Doughboys’ John Kastner is sick of hearing about the Hip
Halloween Blu-ray box sets on the way from Anchor Bay
By Steve Newton For those horror freaks out there who just can't get enough of a masked guy in overalls stabbin' folks, here's some good news. Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that on September 23 it will release 10- and 15-disc editions of Halloween The Complete Collection, which gathers up all the Halloweens together on Blu-ray … Continue reading Halloween Blu-ray box sets on the way from Anchor Bay
The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson lashes out at “Nazi-like” marijuana laws
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 19, 1996 By Steve Newton Lucky Black Crowes fans holding tickets to the band’s virtually sold-out show at the Orpheum on Wednesday (September 25) should consider themselves doubly fortunate, since it looked for a while as if Crowes concerts could become a thing of the past. Last year the band was … Continue reading The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson lashes out at “Nazi-like” marijuana laws
Pete Droge’s Pearl Jam connection led him to Find a Door
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton When you think Seattle rock, you picture plaid shirts, baggy shorts, vein-bulging vocals, and propulsive guitar noise comin’ at you in heavily amplified blasts. You don’t necessarily envision a guy like Pete Droge, whose rootsy, laid-back style has more in common with Tom Petty’s breezy, melodic … Continue reading Pete Droge’s Pearl Jam connection led him to Find a Door
Zakk Wylde draws from Shannon Hoon’s O.D. for his heavy Book of Shadows
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 5, 1996 By Steve Newton Most hard-rock fans know Zakk Wylde as the young musician who helped rejuvenate metal veteran Ozzy Osbourne’s career by cowriting the hit “No More Tears”, in the process taking the coveted guitarist’s spot previously held by the likes of Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee. Others … Continue reading Zakk Wylde draws from Shannon Hoon’s O.D. for his heavy Book of Shadows
Fans of early Queen will flip for Live at the Rainbow ’74
By Steve Newton I f***in' love early Queen. That crazy guitar tone Brian May had on the band's self-titled 1973 debut album was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. It kinda freaked me out, in a wonderful way. The fantasy elements and heavy prog stylings of the 1974 Queen 2 concept album also won me over big time, and … Continue reading Fans of early Queen will flip for Live at the Rainbow ’74
That wild ’70s weekend when Kiss brought the glam and the Pistols brought the punk
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 5, 1996 By Steve Newton The Rocket really nailed it. The Seattle music paper’s latest cover sports hilarious caricatures of Kiss’s Gene Simmons and the Sex Pistols’ Johnny “Rotten” Lydon, under the headline “Geezers of Rock”. A prune-faced Lydon is depicted with bloodshot eyes, slobbering all over himself, wearing a button … Continue reading That wild ’70s weekend when Kiss brought the glam and the Pistols brought the punk
Steve Earle on jail, addiction, execution, and other lighthearted topics
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 8, 1996 By Steve Newton So I’m sitting there by my phone, sipping a coldie and patiently waiting for Steve Earle to call. His manager has set up the “phoner” himself and guaranteed me that Earle will call from Dallas after his Lollapalooza gig. I’m raring to find out how his … Continue reading Steve Earle on jail, addiction, execution, and other lighthearted topics
A cringe-inducing Ozzy cashes in on the genius of riff-master Tony Iommi in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 1, 1996 When Ozzy Osbourne called off his June GM Place show after two-and-a-half songs, the excuse given for his voice lapsing into a pathetic-sounding croak was first described by the concert promoter as a “vocal seizure”, and then by his record label as an “allergic attack”. But … Continue reading A cringe-inducing Ozzy cashes in on the genius of riff-master Tony Iommi in Vancouver