ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton "The thing we like to do the most is rehearse," says 23-year-old Colin Wiebe, keyboardist for Vancouver's Billboard Heroes. "To take a week or two weeks and just get in a hall and write songs and learn new tunes--learn them just for the sake of learning … Continue reading Vancouver bar band Billboard Heroes finds covering obscure Gamma songs to be very effective
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 24 to 28
X screens at the Rio 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 Own, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 24 to 28
Darkroom’s signing to WEA Canada helped fellow Edmonton bands get exposure too
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 1983 By Steve Newton Darkroom are an Edmonton-based new-wave band comprised of singer Jim Gray, bassist Jeff Schmidt, drummer Tim Palmar, guitarist Alan Marks, and keyboardist/guitarist Wolf Radke. Early last summer the group was signed to WEA Music of Canada, and engineer Howard Steele was brought in from Los Angeles … Continue reading Darkroom’s signing to WEA Canada helped fellow Edmonton bands get exposure too
Hells yeah: the Tragically Hip to release box-set edition of breakthrough 1989 LP Up to Here
By Steve Newton When I did the first of my five interviews with Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, on September 28, 1989, I was pretty psyched to talk to the 25-year-old rocker. Three weeks earlier the band had released its first full-length LP, Up To Here, and I couldn't get enough of rowdy, riff-driven tunes … Continue reading Hells yeah: the Tragically Hip to release box-set edition of breakthrough 1989 LP Up to Here
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 21 to 23
The Pack A.D. plays the Rickshaw bob hanham photo By Steve Newton FRIDAY: American standup comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster Marc Maron performs at the Vogue Theatre. FRIDAY: Vancouver roots-rock sextet the Matinee performs tunes from new Steve Dawson-produced album, Change of Scene, at White Rock's Blue Frog Studios. FRIDAY: local author Chris Wong discusses … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 21 to 23
Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” helped bring Silverlode soft-rockers Geoff Gibbons and Ken Kirschner together
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 29, 1983 By Steve Newton "We first met," says Silverlode's Geoff Gibbons, "during a solo audition at the Hungry Pilgrim restaurant on Hornby. It was five or six years ago--we were 18 at the time--and we'd both come with our dads. I was sitting there, kinda nervous about it, and he … Continue reading Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” helped bring Silverlode soft-rockers Geoff Gibbons and Ken Kirschner together
Orphan plugged in to New York City’s Power Station to record new Lonely at Night album
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton "It's been really good," says Orphan singer-bassist Chris Burke-Gaffney of the response his band has received on their current tour with Toronto. "But," he explains over the phone from Prince George, "in a place like this, where they only have an AM station, I doubt if … Continue reading Orphan plugged in to New York City’s Power Station to record new Lonely at Night album
Vancouver power trio Elvin Screamer is breaking the rules in its quest for success
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton "We kind of call this the 'breakin the rules' project," says Rod Black, aka Elvin Screamer, after his band's performance at a local club last Saturday night. The power trio--comprised of guitarist-lead vocalist Black, bassist Dave Keown, and drummer Kim Masse--had already shattered the first Cabaret … Continue reading Vancouver power trio Elvin Screamer is breaking the rules in its quest for success
Guitar legend Michael Schenker to release My Years With UFO on green vinyl this fall
By Steve Newton I still remember buying the new UFO album, Phenomenon, as a high-schooler back in 1974. Man, I couldn't believe the array of great songs on that LP, and especially the mindboggling guitarwork by a teenager named Michael Schenker. His extended solo on "Rock Bottom" was the wildest guitar freakout I'd heard since … Continue reading Guitar legend Michael Schenker to release My Years With UFO on green vinyl this fall
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 17 to 21
The Pack A.D. plays the Rickshaw bob hanham photo By Steve Newton MONDAY: the Dancing on the Edge Festival features more than 30 contemporary dance performances by Canadian artists, running until June 22 at various Vancouver venues. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices explores 30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing from … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 17 to 21
44 would rather cover Ten Years After than John Cougar, but Vancouver bars want Top 40
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 1983 By Steve Newton "That's part of the reason I went for the Strat," says 44 guitarist Dave Filchak, "just to have the different sound. It blends well with Tom's Les Paul, but they stick out too." "He's using an American amp and I'm using an English one," injects Tom … Continue reading 44 would rather cover Ten Years After than John Cougar, but Vancouver bars want Top 40
Jack Lavin left the Powder Blues to create more devilish sounds with the Checkered Demons
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 16, 1983 By Steve Newton There were a number of reasons for his leaving the Powder Blues, says bassist Jack Lavin, younger brother of that group's lead vocalist/guitarist Tom Lavin. "For one thing," he says, "touring was very hard on me. And there was the fact that I had written a … Continue reading Jack Lavin left the Powder Blues to create more devilish sounds with the Checkered Demons
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 14 to 16
Black Wizard plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: British punk-rockers from the '70s, the Damned, play the Commodore Ballroom, with guests the Avengers. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY: the first of four Save the WISE fundraising concerts features performances at the WISE Hall by Alien Boys, Slip-Ons, Rogue Villains, and Leo D.E. Johnson. FRIDAY: late-night 40th … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 14 to 16