Steve Dawson plays the Van Folk Fest By Steve Newton FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of director Philip Kaufman's 1978 horror remake Invasion of the Body Snatchers, starring the late Canadian acting great Donald Sutherland. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Canadian improvisor Colin Mochrie of TV's Whose Line Is It Anyway? performs two Arts Club … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, July 19 to 21
That time Nicolette Larson told me that her mystery lead-guitar player was Eddie Van Halen
By Steve Newton Today (July 17, 2024) would have been American pop vocalist Nicolette Larson's 72nd birthday. She was best known for "Lotta Love", the catchy, Neil Young-penned #1 single she recorded on her 1978 debut album, Nicolette. Sadly, the beautifully gap-toothed singer with the astonishingly long hair passed away on December 16, 1997, as … Continue reading That time Nicolette Larson told me that her mystery lead-guitar player was Eddie Van Halen
Ron Haywood and Stripes bring the funk–and a Vegas-style showband vibe–to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 1984 By Steve Newton What do you get when you combine a singer from Nashville, a saxman from New Orleans, a drummer from Montreal, a bassist from Comox, and a guitarist and keyboardist from San Francisco? Well, in the case of Ron Haywood and Stripes, you get a tight and … Continue reading Ron Haywood and Stripes bring the funk–and a Vegas-style showband vibe–to Vancouver
Molly Hatchet’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton Skynyrd had "Free Bird". The Outlaws had "Green Grass and High Tides". Blackfoot had "Highway Song". And Hatchet had "Fall of the Peacemakers". 20. "Long Time'" (Flirtin' with Disaster, 1979) 19. "What's It Gonna Take?'" (No Guts...No Glory, 1983) 18. "Jukin' City" (Flirtin' with Disaster, 1979) 17. "Dreams I'll Never See" (Molly … Continue reading Molly Hatchet’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 15 to 19
Vancouver Folk Fest kicks off Friday By Steve Newton MONDAY TO FRIDAY: True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices explores 30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing from around the world and showcases the artists who are reconnecting with traditional skin-marking practices, at the Museum of Vancouver. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: Emily Carr: A Room of Her … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 15 to 19
Aussie new-wavers Real Life lucked out getting producer Steve Hillage to helm new Heartland LP
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton "That was the first thing we ever recorded," says Real Life guitarist/vocalist David Sterry of his group's current hit, "Send Me an Angel". Over the phone from Melbourne, Australia, Sterry outlined how the band's first tune also became its first single. "A radio programmer from L.A. … Continue reading Aussie new-wavers Real Life lucked out getting producer Steve Hillage to helm new Heartland LP
H.B. Concept’s Henri Brown was more into basketball when his cousin Jimi Hendrix took flight
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 30, 1983 By Steve Newton In one of the songs from his latest album, Eddy Grant sings "Forget your troubles in dancing, singing and playing funky rock and roll." It would appear that bassist/vocalist Henri Brown of H.B. Concept has taken that message to heart. At a recent local gig the … Continue reading H.B. Concept’s Henri Brown was more into basketball when his cousin Jimi Hendrix took flight
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, July 12 to 14
School of Rock runs in Stanley Park By Steve Newton FRIDAY: screening at the Cinematheque of director Alfred Hitchcock's 1945 psychological thriller Spellbound, starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: writer-director Oz Perkins's Vancouver-shot horror-thriller Longlegs, about an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) on the trail of a serial killer (Nicolas Cage). runs at … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, July 12 to 14
UB40 didn’t realize “Red Red Wine” was a Neil Diamond song until after they recorded it
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton British reggae artists UB40 will be appearing at the UBC SUB Ballroom tomorrow (Saturday), touring in support of their latest album, Labour of Love. That record--which debuted at #1 on the British Top 10--is an amalgam of tunes originally recorded by the likes of Bob Marley … Continue reading UB40 didn’t realize “Red Red Wine” was a Neil Diamond song until after they recorded it
Richmond’s Shadowfax hits the high seas with its sights set on Ocean Sound
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 23, 1983 By Steve Newton "I love 'em," shouts Damon Karjala over the din of howling partiers and steady chug of the S.S. Britannia as it courses through Vancouver Harbour. The guitarist/vocalist for Richmond's Shadowfax is talking about boat cruises--this being the band's third. "Casey and I got sick of doing … Continue reading Richmond’s Shadowfax hits the high seas with its sights set on Ocean Sound
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 8 to 12
Rock 'n' Roll High School screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY TO FRIDAY: Emily Carr: A Room of Her Own, running until January 2025 at the Vancouver Art Gallery, features approximately 25 works drawn from the Gallery’s Emily Carr Collection, the most comprehensive holdings of her work in the world. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 8 to 12
Toronto’s Urgent sets its sites on Western Canada’s more traditional rock ‘n’ roll fans
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 15, 1984 By Steve Newton "They're more traditional rock and rollers," says Urgent bassist-vocalist Doug Baynham of the Western Canadian record-buying public. "Chances are we'll even try to break out of there, if the album really picks up. "We'll probably be out there before we go anywhere else," he adds, "'cause … Continue reading Toronto’s Urgent sets its sites on Western Canada’s more traditional rock ‘n’ roll fans
The Rolling Stones’ pricey Vancouver gig rekindles memories of seeing them four times for free
By Steve Newton The Rolling Stones play Vancouver's BC Place tonight (July 5), but I'm not going. It's not so much the exorbitant prices for concerts these days, or the fact that the Stones are now older than dirt. It's just that I've seen them play BC Place four times already, starting with the Steel … Continue reading The Rolling Stones’ pricey Vancouver gig rekindles memories of seeing them four times for free