It was 28 years ago today that Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, suffering from a kidney and liver infection, died of heart failure and pneumonia at a hospital in England. Years of drug and alcohol abuse had taken their toll, and he was taken away from all who loved him—and his exhilirating brand of guitar-heavy … Continue reading Remembering Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott on the anniversary of his death
Horror review: Paranormal Activity–The Marked Ones
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 3, 2014 The first three Paranormal Activity films were extremely engrossing and scary as hell. Their low-budget tales of demonic forces plaguing innocent couples and families in the safety and comfort of their open-design suburban homes made fine use of the idea that what you can't see--or can just barely get a … Continue reading Horror review: Paranormal Activity–The Marked Ones
Rockers say the darndest things: top quotes of 2013
Dave Wyndorf (above) "probably would have made more money." I interviewed quite a few rockers last year. Here's some of the things they said. "To me stoner rock is just non-commercial rock that pulls from every great era... And as far as the stoner element, I mean, yeah, it’s always cool to smoke pot.” --Brant Bjork … Continue reading Rockers say the darndest things: top quotes of 2013
Seger, Sabbath, Satch & the Mule: Vancouver’s top concerts of 2013
JOE SATRIANI PHOTO BY THE NEWT As far as huge events go, 2013 didn't boast the killer Roger Waters and Paul McCartney concerts that made 2012 such a memorable year for stadium shows in Vancouver. But in terms of club and theatre gigs there wasn't much to beef about during the last 12 months. Especially if you like the … Continue reading Seger, Sabbath, Satch & the Mule: Vancouver’s top concerts of 2013
Stephen King dedicates Doctor Sleep to underrated rock genius Warren Zevon
I scored a copy of the new Stephen King novel Doctor Sleep for Christmas, which was great as it continues the story of The Shining, one of my fave works--next to Carrie, The Dead Zone, and The Stand--from King's '70s heyday. But before I even got into the further supernatural torments befalling the telepathic Danny Torrance … Continue reading Stephen King dedicates Doctor Sleep to underrated rock genius Warren Zevon
Merry Christmas from the Newt and his 93-year-old grandma-in-law
May the spirit of rockin' be with you.
Stevie Ray Vaughan tops my Top 10 albums of 1983
It's always fun getting your Top 10 albums of the year list together. My list for 2013 went out earlier this month, including longtime faves like Gov't Mule, Steve Earle, Buddy Guy, Sabbath, and Satch. But when I was rustling around in my boxes of old Georgia Straights recently I came across my Top 10 … Continue reading Stevie Ray Vaughan tops my Top 10 albums of 1983
Horror review: Bad Milo!
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 4, 2013 If you’re the type of bad-movie fan who got all psyched at Blockbuster back in ’85 when you spotted the video box for Ghoulies with that grinning, sharp-toothed, cheapjack monster coming out of a toilet, have I got a film for you. But it’s really gonna help if Jeff Daniels’s … Continue reading Horror review: Bad Milo!
The Newt rates Hollywood’s 2013 horror flicks, from killer to crap
I reviewed 18 theatrically released fright flicks this year, and according to my calculations, 2013 was no great shakes in the horror department. 2012 kicked a bit more butt, mainly due to impressive entries like The Woman in Black, Chronicle, and especially the B.C.-shot Cabin in the Woods, which earned 10 out of 10 in last … Continue reading The Newt rates Hollywood’s 2013 horror flicks, from killer to crap
Blind Melon plays Vancouver, Shannon Hoon holds his piss
By Steve Newton On December 20, 1993, Blind Melon played Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom. It was a benefit for the Vancouver Food Bank as part of a plea deal stemming from charges against singer Shannon Hoon for an incident that occurred two months earlier when he'd gotten naked on stage and peed into the front row at … Continue reading Blind Melon plays Vancouver, Shannon Hoon holds his piss
Horror review: Oldboy
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 27, 2013 Hard-core fans of the original Oldboy likely had two main concerns about the 2003 South Korean shocker’s Hollywood remaking. They probably wondered why anyone would screw with the ultraviolent masterpiece in the first place. And also why—when the flick had Tarantino written all over it—Spike Lee was doing the screwing. … Continue reading Horror review: Oldboy
Horror review: Carrie
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 18, 2013 Carrie was one of the most impressive film adaptations of a Stephen King horror novel ever, right up there with The Shining, The Dead Zone, and Misery. In director Brian De Palma's capable hands, King's tale of a timid teenaged outsider with telekinetic powers who uses them to strike back against the … Continue reading Horror review: Carrie
Horror review: Insidious–Chapter 2
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 12, 2013 I thought 2011’s Insidious was actually pretty decent—the first hour, anyway. It did a commendable job of building suspense in its tale about married couple Renai and Josh Lambert (Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson) trying to rescue their comatose son from supernatural forces. It didn’t start to falter until the … Continue reading Horror review: Insidious–Chapter 2