ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 26, 2009 By Steve Newton Cam Pipes's obsession with Iron Maiden’s Powerslave goes back more than a few years. The heavy-metal landmark introduced him to the joys of ear-busting rock when he was eight. “My buddy who lived on the same street as me would bring over all his Twisted … Continue reading The old school rules for 3 Inches of Blood
The Answer is proud to hoist the riff-rock torch
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 26, 2009 By Steve Newton Bluesy Irish rockers the Answer have been opening for AC/DC for nine months now, living a dream most bands would kill for. As vocalist Cormac Neeson explains during a day off from touring in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it’s all been good—and some of it has … Continue reading The Answer is proud to hoist the riff-rock torch
Ryan Dahle does it all, with a little bit of help
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 2, 2009 WHEN THE Straight calls up former Age of Electric and Limblifter member Ryan Dahle to chat about his debut solo album, Irrational Anthems, the musical jack-of-all-trades (singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, banjo player, producer, mixer, mastering engineer) is hanging at his buddy Steven Shearer’s Vancouver studio. Shearer’s the visual artist who … Continue reading Ryan Dahle does it all, with a little bit of help
Ben Harper says he’d be a fool not to bounce stuff off wife Laura Dern
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 23, 2009 By Steve Newton Ben Harper has always surrounded himself with primo players. His previous band, the Innocent Criminals, included such ace guitarists as Michael Ward and former Black Crowe Marc Ford. Now Harper’s formed Relentless7, with whom he recorded his latest album, White Lies for Dark Times. But unlike … Continue reading Ben Harper says he’d be a fool not to bounce stuff off wife Laura Dern
John Butler Trio relishes its musical independence
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 26, 2010 BY STEVE NEWTON History shows that the major record labels have done all right for themselves while bringing Australian music to the masses. Atlantic signed AC/DC to an international distribution deal in 1976, and for years afterward its stockholders reaped the benefits of monumental blues-metal. During the ’80s … Continue reading John Butler Trio relishes its musical independence
Xavier Rudd finds new sunshine
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 2, 2010 By Steve Newton In the booklet that accompanies Xavier Rudd’s new CD, Koonyum Sun, there’s a picture of the Aussie roots artist in concert at an outdoor venue in Banff. He’s laying down some lap-slide guitar while his young sons Joaquin and Finojet bust moves across the stage floor. … Continue reading Xavier Rudd finds new sunshine
The Trailer Park Boys are back in Countdown to Liquor Day
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 23, 2009 It's hard to know which character from Trailer Park Boys is most favoured by fans. Some folks are particularly fond of Bubbles (Mike Smith), the kitty-loving, kindhearted weirdo with the outrageous eyeglasses. Others prefer Julian (John Paul Tremblay), the musclebound dreamer whose lips only leave his rum-and-Coke long enough to … Continue reading The Trailer Park Boys are back in Countdown to Liquor Day
Who’s Roger Daltrey brings surprises to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 11, 2009 Before heading off to see Roger Daltrey at the Commodore last night (October 10) I made up a list of the five Who songs I figured he’d be most likely to perform—along with the solo material nobody much cared about. These weren’t my fave Who tunes—most of those … Continue reading Who’s Roger Daltrey brings surprises to Vancouver
Matthew Good’s feeling much better
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 4, 2009 MATTHEW GOOD’S LATEST album is called Vancouver, but any fawning tourists who pick it up thinking they’ve scored an upbeat musical postcard of our picturesque city are in for a surprise. There are no odes to the mountains meeting the sea, no ditties about shopping on Robson or cocktails at … Continue reading Matthew Good’s feeling much better
Subpar KISS all about the special effects in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 2009 By Steve Newton Boy, Vancouver’s costume and makeup shops must have done a booming business in the days leading up to November 14’s KISS show at GM Place. From the cutest little tyke to the brawniest middle-aged hooligan, there were scads of concertgoers wearing greasepaint in honour of their … Continue reading Subpar KISS all about the special effects in Vancouver
“I know it’s not Aerosmith,” says Joe Perry of his Project, “but it’s still rock ’n’ roll.”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 20, 2010 By Steve Newton When Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler took a tumble off a catwalk during a concert in South Dakota last August, injuring his head, neck, and shoulder, the status of the iconic ’70s hard rock act suffered too. In the last few years various health issues have … Continue reading “I know it’s not Aerosmith,” says Joe Perry of his Project, “but it’s still rock ’n’ roll.”
Lions in the Street rekindle classic-rock flame
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 27, 2010 AUTHENTIC ’70S-STYLE GUITAR boogie is hard to come by these days, unless you’re hearing it from grizzled classic-rock die-hards like ZZ Top or George Thorogood. But on its self-titled, full-length debut CD, Lions in the Street does a worthy job of rekindling the party-hearty sound that was blasting out … Continue reading Lions in the Street rekindle classic-rock flame
Trailer Park Boys lovingly pelted with chocolates and coins at white-trash chucklefest in Richmond
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 30, 2010 While we filed through the doors of the River Rock Show Theatre to see the Trailer Park Boys last night a dude in a CFOX t-shirt was handing everyone Hershey's Kisses. He instructed us not to eat them, but hold onto them for an "important" part of the … Continue reading Trailer Park Boys lovingly pelted with chocolates and coins at white-trash chucklefest in Richmond