ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 29, 2007 I saw some very cool things at the big Jack FM classic-rock triple bill at GM Place last Thursday (August 23). First off, local punk-rock legend Joey "Shithead" Keithley could be seen strolling along the mezzanine, where he was accosted every 10 paces by a wide-eyed fan who … Continue reading ZZ Top, the Pretenders, and Brian Setzer bring ’70s-rock magic to Vancouver
Major keys keep Champs’ instro-metal upbeat
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 5, 2007 By Steve Newton When the Straight calls up Tim Green of the Fucking Champs, the San Francisco–based guitarist is on vacation with his girlfriend, visiting his dad and stepmom in Maine. He says they're not too far from Bangor, the fabled hometown of Stephen King, which kinda makes … Continue reading Major keys keep Champs’ instro-metal upbeat
Dark times inspired Matthew Good’s Hospital Music
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 19, 2007 By Steve Newton Rock musicians aren't known for giving away their last beer, so it comes as a bit of a shock when Matthew Good offers up his lone Pilsner Urquell. It's a muggy Friday afternoon, though, and I'm just parched enough to accept it. "I gotta leave … Continue reading Dark times inspired Matthew Good’s Hospital Music
Days of the New’s Meeks faced his demons publicly
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 26, 2007 By Steve Newton The last time Travis Meeks played Vancouver was back in 1998, when his band Days of the New was touring with Metallica. But as Meeks explains on the phone from his home in Louisville, Kentucky, the thing he remembers most about being here wasn't warming … Continue reading Days of the New’s Meeks faced his demons publicly
Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie bring the metal to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 24, 2007 Those Ozzy fans sure are a rowdy bunch. I saw one inebriated dude in an Iron Maiden T-shirt attempting to get a mosh pit started right in front of a merch table along the GM Place promenade. Just two or three of his buddies joined in the fracas, … Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie bring the metal to Vancouver
After Van Halen’s Vancouver show the jury’s still out on whether Dave or Sammy rule
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 12, 2007 By Steve Newton The vast majority of people at last week's (December 5) Van Halen show appeared to be males between the ages of 30 and 50, eager to reconnect with the unbridled guitar-rock noise that erupted straight outta Pasadena when David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen hooked … Continue reading After Van Halen’s Vancouver show the jury’s still out on whether Dave or Sammy rule
Grace Potter says jamming with Gov’t Mule is one of her fave pastimes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 30, 2008 By Steve Newton Partway through Gov't Mule’s astonishing three-hour set at the Commodore last November, a stunning lady joined them for a killer version of “Honky Tonk Woman”. The spotlight-stealer on that occasion was Grace Potter, frontwoman for the night’s opening act, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Turns … Continue reading Grace Potter says jamming with Gov’t Mule is one of her fave pastimes
Ace Frehley talks smokin’ guitars, Kiss money, sex videos, and “teddy bear” Gene Simmons
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 12, 2008 By Steve Newton When Kiss played the Commodore Ballroom back in early 1975, the band had just released its second album, Hotter Than Hell, and was about to embark on a rocket ride to untold riches and fame. Thirty-three crazy years later and KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is heading … Continue reading Ace Frehley talks smokin’ guitars, Kiss money, sex videos, and “teddy bear” Gene Simmons
B-52s guitarist Keith Strickland recalls the Cramps’ Lux Interior loving “Rock Lobster”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 26, 2008 By Steve Newton That Lux Interior sure knows a hit when he hears one. Back in the late ’70s, when the B-52s first journeyed from their native Athens, Georgia, to make the scene at underground Manhattan clubs like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB, the outrageous Cramps frontman heard them … Continue reading B-52s guitarist Keith Strickland recalls the Cramps’ Lux Interior loving “Rock Lobster”
Ladyhawk flies the rock flag
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 2, 2008 By Steve Newton Rock 'n' roll is a dangerous game. It can be, anyway. Up-and-coming local indie rockers Ladyhawk learned the risks involved when they rolled their gear-filled van just outside of Kelowna last year. The vehicle was toast, but no one was injured. They were shaken up … Continue reading Ladyhawk flies the rock flag
Rush defies age with vitality and verve (and rotisserie chickens) in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 30, 2008 By Steve Newton When you’ve been around as long as Rush has, you can pretty well do as you please. If you don’t feel like doing any interviews to support your tour—even though you have a relatively new studio album, 2007’s Snakes & Arrows, to talk about—you don’t … Continue reading Rush defies age with vitality and verve (and rotisserie chickens) in Vancouver
Iron Maiden’s metal gets the masses moshing
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 4, 2008 Last week, I wrote a fun little piece in the Straight about how the members of Iron Maiden are more on the ball than your average headbangers, but I didn’t realize they were absolute geniuses until I saw that they were selling T-shirts outside the Coliseum last night … Continue reading Iron Maiden’s metal gets the masses moshing
Drive-By Truckers capture a raw, backwoods vibe
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 25, 2008 By Steve Newton Along with the kind of gritty, triple-guitar southern rock their fans adore, the Drive-By Truckers are known for delivering the goods in the album-art department. For the last seven years, their recordings have featured the southern-gothic work of Virginia-based Wes Freed, whose dark depictions of … Continue reading Drive-By Truckers capture a raw, backwoods vibe