ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 14, 2010 By Steve Newton When you hear New Brunswick fretmaster Matt Andersen wailing away on "Better Days"--a track off Piggyback, the 2009 album he made with Canadian harmonica ace Mike Stevens--the word dextrous comes to mind, because he's tearing off enough rapid-fire acoustic licks to challenge Eddie Van Halen … Continue reading Stubby fingers don’t slow Matt Andersen down
Jonny Lang says he’s stolen countless things from Buddy Guy
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 14, 2010 By Steve Newton Two weeks before he called the Straight to chat about his smokin' new album and his upcoming Vancouver gig with Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang was on the stage of Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre as part of the Experience Hendrix Tour. His set involved trading licks with Aerosmith's … Continue reading Jonny Lang says he’s stolen countless things from Buddy Guy
Rob Zombie on horror movies, Alice Cooper, and the Gruesome Twosome Tour
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 28, 2010 By Steve Newton Alice Cooper is a born-again Christian and a staunch Republican. Rob Zombie most certainly is not. But that hasn’t stopped them from combining their passions for heavy music and the macabre in a shock-rock extravaganza called the Gruesome Twosome Tour. “We’ve known each other for … Continue reading Rob Zombie on horror movies, Alice Cooper, and the Gruesome Twosome Tour
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper offer tale of two merch tables in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 2, 2010 You can learn a lot about rock stars by what they’re willing to offer up for cold hard cash. Scanning a merch table at Saturday’s (May 1) Gruesome Twosome show I noticed Alice Cooper was flogging T-shirts that read “Love It to Death Tour 1971”. Now, even for … Continue reading Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper offer tale of two merch tables in Vancouver
The Eagles leave Vancouver fans with an uneasy feeling
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 10, 2010 In my favourite movie of all time, The Big Lebowski, the main character—brilliantly played by Jeff Bridges—is a scruffy SoCal slacker named “the Dude” who loves Creedence Clearwater Revival but has no time at all for the Eagles. In fact, he gets yanked from a cab and left … Continue reading The Eagles leave Vancouver fans with an uneasy feeling
Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 16, 2010 Heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio, best known for his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath, passed away today at the age of 67. He had been battling stomach cancer. His wife Wendy posted the following message on his web site. "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed … Continue reading Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 9, 2010 Man, I gotta quit living in the past, because my expectations are just too damn high. Two of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Commodore in 1978 and then Petty again—with Bob Dylan—at Berkeley, California’s Greek Theatre in ’84. Both … Continue reading Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers
Leon Russell and Doyle Bramhall II help pedal-steel ace Robert Randolph shine
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 16, 2010 By Steve Newton Pedal-steel virtuoso Randolph had no problem getting people like Ben Harper and Leon Russell to perform on his upcoming CD, We Walk This Road, which is set for release on June 22. His mind-blowing musicianship alone might have convinced them to offer their talents, but having … Continue reading Leon Russell and Doyle Bramhall II help pedal-steel ace Robert Randolph shine
Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci feels a kinship with Iron Maiden
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 16, 2010 By Steve Newton Dream Theater has earned success on its own terms, cranking out 10 studio albums’ worth of challenging prog-metal and establishing a devoted international fan base with little help from radio programmers or critics. In that respect it’s a bit like Rush or, on a thrashier note, … Continue reading Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci feels a kinship with Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden shows off the all-mighty power of metal in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 25, 2010 Just over two years ago Iron Maiden touched down at the Pacific Coliseum on the whirlwind Somewhere Back in Time world tour—during which it played 23 concerts on five continents in 45 days—and tore the roof off the place. They started that show with guns a-blazin’ via the galloping ’80s … Continue reading Iron Maiden shows off the all-mighty power of metal in Vancouver
Long lost GWAR interview sheds light on the twisted gore-rockers’ methods of madness
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 12, 2010 By Steve Newton I've been interviewing rockers for the Georgia Straight pretty steady since '82, and very few of the music stories I've written for the paper have gone unpublished. But for some reason—either space limitations or a managing editor with his noise out of joint—this interview with GWAR frontman … Continue reading Long lost GWAR interview sheds light on the twisted gore-rockers’ methods of madness
Little Feat drummer and founding member Richie Hayward dies of liver cancer
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 13, 2010 Richie Hayward, the founding drummer and longtime member of rootsy southern-rock greats Little Feat, passed away yesterday at the age of 64 after a long battle with liver cancer. Hayward formed the band in 1969 with keyboardist Bill Payne and former Mothers of Invention members Lowell George (guitar) … Continue reading Little Feat drummer and founding member Richie Hayward dies of liver cancer
Music’s a family affair for Crowded House’s Neil Finn
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 25, 2010 By Steve Newton When Crowded House singer and main songwriter Neil Finn picks up the phone at his home in Auckland, New Zealand, he's “catching up on a few things” between legs of a North American tour supporting his band's latest CD, Intriguer. The 52-year-old tunesmith is also enjoying … Continue reading Music’s a family affair for Crowded House’s Neil Finn