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
10 minutes on the phone with Steve Morse in 1991
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Steve Morse in May of 1991, just after he'd released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel. That was just three years before he'd join Deep Purple, the band he'd remain with for 28 years. Steve Morse is an astounding guitarist, obviously, but also came off … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Steve Morse in 1991
Great White updated the lyrics in their new cover of the Who’s “Substitute” to make a point
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 8, 1984 By Steve Newton "Fashions and trends are such a big part of our society right now," says Great White singer Jack Russell. "One week something is in, and the next week it's completely out again. And 'Substitute' really deals with that a lot--that was the main reason we wanted … Continue reading Great White updated the lyrics in their new cover of the Who’s “Substitute” to make a point
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 10 to 14
The Sadies play the Pearl By Steve Newton MONDAY: British and Canadian pop singer-songwriters Nick Lowe and Ron Sexsmith perform on a double bill at the Commodore Ballroom. Here’s my interview with Ron Sexsmith from 1997. MONDAY: Toronto alt-country/rock ‘n’ roll band the Sadies play the Pearl, with guests the Bad Beats. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: True … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, July 10 to 14
Maurice and the Cliches found inspiration for C’est La Vie in the seamy side of Vancouver life
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 14, 1983 By Steve Newton "I've always had a love affair with whores," says Maurice Depas, lead singer for Vancouver's Maurice & the Cliches. He's responding to the suggestion that hookers and social outcasts were the main inspiration for several songs on his band's most recent album, C'est La Vie. "I … Continue reading Maurice and the Cliches found inspiration for C’est La Vie in the seamy side of Vancouver life
This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks
Paul Pigat with Big Lazy By Steve Newton This year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival, running from July 19 to 21 at Jericho Beach Park, is offering a diverse selection of traditional and contemporary folk, world, and roots-music artists from around the world and our own backyard. And fans of guitar-based music will be especially pleased … Continue reading This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 7 to 9
Apollo Ghosts plays Music Waste By Steve Newton FRIDAY: disco-influenced British indie-rock band Yard Act plays the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests Font from Austin, Texas. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY: Vancouver roots-rock group the Graham Brown Band, featuring former Brilliant Orange frontman Graham Brown, performs tunes from its latest album Spirit and Soul at the Princeton Pub. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 7 to 9
The Guy Jones Band does quite well putting on super-duper Alice Cooper shows in B.C. bars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton Jim Stafford once did a song with the line "I don't like spiders and snakes"--but you'll never hear local rocker Guy Jones singing it. He loves them both, and the bigger the better. Tarantulas and boa constrictors are lovely creatures in Jones's books, and when he … Continue reading The Guy Jones Band does quite well putting on super-duper Alice Cooper shows in B.C. bars
That time Elton John complained about one of my concert reviews during one of his concerts
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 17, 2014 By Steve Newton You'd think that pop legend Elton John would be beyond caring what the critics think by now, right? Well, apparently he still reads the reviews. Even before they get in the paper. I wrote a pretty damn glowing online review of the Big E's show at Rogers Arena … Continue reading That time Elton John complained about one of my concert reviews during one of his concerts
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 3 to 7
Run Lola Run 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. WEDNESDAY: Canadian-American jazz-guitar stylist Harrison Ivaz performs his … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 3 to 7