ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 12, 2006 By Steve Newton This time last year, few people knew the name of Canadian rock vocalist J.D. Fortune. A lot of them were familiar with INXS, but at that stage in the group's career--eight years after the death by apparent suicide of its enigmatic frontman Michael Hutchence--they wouldn't … Continue reading J.D. Fortune went from living in a car to fronting INXS
Hyperactive hard-rocker Danko Jones doesn’t even know what sleep is
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 19, 2006 By Steve Newton Danko Jones has no time to snooze. In fact, his current bio claims that he hasn't had a nap since kindergarten. Any time spent in dreamland would just cut into his opportunities to rock your fucking ass off! "I'm firin' on speed right now," claims … Continue reading Hyperactive hard-rocker Danko Jones doesn’t even know what sleep is
Horror master Joe Dante delivers “a righteous blast of liberal-left fury” with zombie satire Homecoming
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 12, 2006 By Steve Newton When Showtime titled its Vancouver-shot miniseries Masters of Horror, it wasn't using the phrase lightly. You don't combine the work of directors like Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Tobe Hooper, Halloween's John Carpenter, and Suspiria's Dario Argento, then call it Wusses of Horror. This Friday to Tuesday … Continue reading Horror master Joe Dante delivers “a righteous blast of liberal-left fury” with zombie satire Homecoming
Mutual appreciation leads to Blues Explosion’s retro-flavoured Heavy Trash
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 27, 2005 By Steve Newton The first time you hear Heavy Trash-the new rockabilly project from the Blues Explosion's Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray from Madder Rose and Speedball Baby-it's easy to imagine how the Cramps might have sounded if they'd laid down tracks at Sun Records in the '50s. … Continue reading Mutual appreciation leads to Blues Explosion’s retro-flavoured Heavy Trash
Spirit of Keef surfaces on top-notch Matt Mays & El Torpedo
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 27, 2005 By Steve Newton There's a foldout poster that comes with the self-titled Matt Mays & El Torpedo CD, but it's not your typical rockers-posing shot, suitable for taping on any starstruck fan's wall. It's more like what veteran Straight scribe Alexander Varty describes as "guitar porn": a photo … Continue reading Spirit of Keef surfaces on top-notch Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Philly’s Silvertide revels in the sweet sounds of the ’70s
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 28, 2005 By Steve Newton There's no doubt that Motley Crue will be the main attraction when L.A.'s kings of sleaze-rock headline the sold-out Pacific Coliseum on Friday (July 29). Having Canadian punk rock sensations Sum 41 on the bill hasn't hurt ticket sales, either. But you gotta wonder why … Continue reading Philly’s Silvertide revels in the sweet sounds of the ’70s
CKY’s Chad I Ginsburg recalls the 2002 Guns N’ Roses riot in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 11, 2005 By Steve Newton The last time Philadelphia hard-rockers CKY were set to play Vancouver, they were just minutes from warming up for Guns N' Roses at GM Place on November 7, 2002. Then dedicated shit-disturber Axl Rose pulled his unpopular no-show trick. Glass shattered, batons swung, teeth flew, … Continue reading CKY’s Chad I Ginsburg recalls the 2002 Guns N’ Roses riot in Vancouver
Fogerty and Mellencamp: the ultimate double bill
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 25, 2005 When you get two singers like John Mellencamp and John Fogerty on a double bill, you've gotta hope to hell that they'll get together at some point during the show. Rock-star egos being what they are, such on-stage collaborations don't always pan out, but the two Johns have … Continue reading Fogerty and Mellencamp: the ultimate double bill
The New York Dolls’ David Johansen says that the Harlots of 42nd Street were his favourite band
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2005 By Steve Newton Looking back, 1973 was a wicked fuckin' year for American guitar-rock albums. It saw the release of Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies, Blue Oyster Cult's Tyranny and Mutation, Johnny Winter's Still Alive and Well, and the debuts by Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montrose, and the New York Dolls. … Continue reading The New York Dolls’ David Johansen says that the Harlots of 42nd Street were his favourite band
The Black Halos are back in black
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON SEPT. 1, 2005 By Steve Newton There couldn't be a more appropriate local group opening for the New York Dolls at the Commodore tonight (September 1) than the Black Halos. The hard-rocking quintet performed twice--once at the now-defunct Ms. T's, then again at the Pic Pub--as a Dolls tribute band under the … Continue reading The Black Halos are back in black
Son Volt puts a pioneer back on the tracks
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 1, 2005 By Steve Newton If you spend any time hanging around the Georgia Straight editorial department's hipster zone-an amorphous area located somewhere between the desks of music editor Mike Usinger and guitarist/rock critic John Lucas, but not too close to senior editor Martin Dunphy-you're led to believe a few … Continue reading Son Volt puts a pioneer back on the tracks
Dimebag death spurred Anthrax back into action
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 8, 2005 By Steve Newton In the mid-'80s, Anthrax was one of the most popular thrash-metal bands around. Vocalist Joey Belladonna, guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Spitz, bassist Frank Bello, and drummer Charlie Benante won the hearts of headbangers far and wide with ear-busting albums like Spreading the Disease and … Continue reading Dimebag death spurred Anthrax back into action
The North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson says corn liquor is the secret ingredient of hill-country blues
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 22, 2005 By Steve Newton With its new CD, Electric Blue Watermelon, the North Mississippi Allstars head straight back to the hypnotic roots of the hill-country sound. On the track "Moonshine", singer-guitarist Luther Dickinson relives the group's youthful experiences jamming with late blues legend Otha Turner and playing all-night boogie at … Continue reading The North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson says corn liquor is the secret ingredient of hill-country blues