@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 8, 1993 By Steve Newton Seabird Island isn’t really an island, and that’s a good thing, because judging by the massive line-ups of cars on the highway heading to the Agassiz site, the wait for ferries would have been brutal. Seabird is actually a great big grassy … Continue reading Foxfest ends on a weak note with a Leppard past its prime
Hey guitar freaks: Yngwie-fucking-Malmsteen is coming to Vancouver after all! Slash too!
Last month I did a blog about how a lot of amazing rock guitarists—Pat Travers, Jake E. Lee, Yngwie Malmsteen, Slash, et cetera—were playing Stateside gigs this year but weren't crossing the border to bring us Canucks a taste of their wild licks. Well, over the weekend Travers played a whiskey-snortin' gig at some place in … Continue reading Hey guitar freaks: Yngwie-fucking-Malmsteen is coming to Vancouver after all! Slash too!
Ugly Kid Joe’s smash hit “Everything About You” was spawned by tinkering on the piano
Ugly Kid Joe’s career skyrocketed on the strength of just one song, the humorous little ditty “Everything About You”.
Bash & Pop’s Tommy Stinson stole plenty from Paul Westerberg
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 1993 By Steve Newton When I first heard the title of the debut Bash & Pop release, Friday Night Is Killing Me, I figured it was something I could relate to a bit, since I’d had a few rough Friday nights in my own lifetime—not to mention Saturday mornings. But … Continue reading Bash & Pop’s Tommy Stinson stole plenty from Paul Westerberg
Classy, driven Tina Turner shows her blues prowess in Vancouver
@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1993 By Steve Newton Before heading over to the Coliseum for Tina Turner’s show last Thursday (June 10), I popped in to the grand opening of the new Mongolie Grill near Robson and Thurlow. The place was jam-packed with hungry schmoozers lining up for free food … Continue reading Classy, driven Tina Turner shows her blues prowess in Vancouver
Ottawa’s Fun for Malakaï doesn’t abide by any songwriting rules
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 10, 1993 Although it was based on a riveting short story, Stephen King’s Children of the Corn was quite possibly the worst film of 1984, one that could have buried the careers of stars Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton. The only memorable thing about the film was the … Continue reading Ottawa’s Fun for Malakaï doesn’t abide by any songwriting rules
Blues Saraceno’s amp-blowing reminded Jack Bruce of something Hendrix would do
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 3, 1993 By Steve Newton As a kid growing up in the wee burgh of Middletown, Conn., Blues Saraceno had it kinda rough. He wanted to play guitar, but he couldn’t find anyone his age to jam with. “That was the absolute worst,” Saraceno says on the line from his home … Continue reading Blues Saraceno’s amp-blowing reminded Jack Bruce of something Hendrix would do
Issues with Bob Rock and Sharon Osbourne leave the Quireboys Bitter Sweet & Twisted
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 27, 1993 By Steve Newton After Bob Rock hit the big time by producing Motley Crue’s No. 1 album, Dr. Feelgood—and then accomplished the incredible feat of making former thrash-masters Metallica a mainstream rock-radio fave—it seemed the Vancouver producer could do no wrong. And although Rock’s reputation as a producer with … Continue reading Issues with Bob Rock and Sharon Osbourne leave the Quireboys Bitter Sweet & Twisted
Paul Rodgers proves that he’s the world’s best guy at going “Whoa-yeaah!” in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 20, 1993 By Steve Newton The first time I saw Paul Rodgers perform live was back in the ’70s, when Bad Company played the Pacific Coliseum on the Running with the Pack tour. I didn’t see him again until last Friday (May 14), but lemme tell ya—the guy is still one … Continue reading Paul Rodgers proves that he’s the world’s best guy at going “Whoa-yeaah!” in Vancouver
Blues Traveler’s wheelchair-bound John Popper displays weapons and wicked harmonica in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 20, 1993 By Steve Newton In the liner notes to the new Blues Traveler release, Save His Soul, John Popper is credited with “vocals, harmonica, Irish whistle, acoustic 12-string, electric guitar, 12-gauge shotgun, and 9-mm pistol”. Now, I didn’t see any shotguns or pistols at the Commodore last Thursday (May 13), but … Continue reading Blues Traveler’s wheelchair-bound John Popper displays weapons and wicked harmonica in Vancouver
Jeff Healey gets a bit defensive when the bluesiness of new Feel This album is questioned
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 13, 1993 By Steve Newton Usually when I picture the Jeff Healey Band in concert, I visualize Healey seated at centre stage, his guitar on his lap, surrounded only by a couple of guys with curly black hair (drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman). But when the Toronto blues-rocker plays … Continue reading Jeff Healey gets a bit defensive when the bluesiness of new Feel This album is questioned
Jack Semple’s Guitar Warz win delivered confidence and a hook
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 29, 1993 By Steve Newton One day about a year ago, I bumped into a guitar-playing acquaintance who was visiting the office to put a free musician’s ad in the paper. He started raving about this “wicked” guitarist he’d seen the night before at Jake O’Grady’s, a guy from Saskatchewan named Jack … Continue reading Jack Semple’s Guitar Warz win delivered confidence and a hook
Guitar god Danny Gatton says Lenny Breau is the biggest humbler of all time
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 22, 1993 By Steve Newton Guitar World magazine called him “the world’s greatest unknown guitarist”. Guitar Player ran his photo on the cover with his face behind a mask, while inside they asked: “What famous guitarist could outplay him?” So how come virtuoso guitarman Danny Gatton is so underexposed? “Well, there’s … Continue reading Guitar god Danny Gatton says Lenny Breau is the biggest humbler of all time