By Steve Newton The first big concert I ever went to was T-Rex, with guests Blue Öyster Cult, at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on October 21, 1974. That was a killer show, and I clearly remember that B.Ö.C.--which was touring behind its stellar Secret Treaties album, the one with "Dominance and Submission"--blew poor Marc Bolan and … Continue reading Rory Gallagher fan recalls his first-ever concert, with Rory opening for Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac
Teenaged Victoria blues-rockers Seventh Stone tour with Big Sugar and open for Jimmie Vaughan
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 19, 1995 By Steve Newton Jerry Doucette said it best back in the ’70s when his hit boogie tune, “Mama Let Him Play”, urged parents to let their youthful offspring play some rock ’n’ roll. Fortunately for 18-year-old guitarist-vocalist Dallin Paul, his folks took this approach three years ago when he … Continue reading Teenaged Victoria blues-rockers Seventh Stone tour with Big Sugar and open for Jimmie Vaughan
Barney Bentall comes into his own and proves easy to like at the Commodore
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1990 By Steve Newton Local rocker Barney Bentall pulled in a sizeable crowd for his second straight night at the Commodore on Friday (November 9), and he and his mates put on a pleasing if unspectacular show. Unless you’re totally turned off by Bentall’s safe, middle-of-rock’s-road intentions, the guy is quite … Continue reading Barney Bentall comes into his own and proves easy to like at the Commodore
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, April 1 to 5
Shaun Verrreault plays the Roxy 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. TUESDAY: Vancouver guitarist-vocalist and Wide Mouth Mason member Shaun Verreault … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, April 1 to 5
Gettin’ goofy with Tommy Shaw and the posse backstage at a Damn Yankees gig
By Steve Newton Back in March of 1991 me and a couple members of my posse headed out to Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum to see a concert by Damn Yankees and a revamped version of Bad Company that didn't include Paul Rodgers, unfortunately. Or Mick Ralphs, for that matter. I think we went there mostly to … Continue reading Gettin’ goofy with Tommy Shaw and the posse backstage at a Damn Yankees gig
That time I took a free ride to Seattle to see Scorpions on the Love at First Sting Tour
By Steve Newton Nowadays it's hard to believe that record labels ever had money to blow on promotions, but back in the '80s it happened once in a while. Forty years ago last week--on March 21, 1984, to be exact--PolyGram Records rented a bus to haul a bunch of rock critics and media peeps from … Continue reading That time I took a free ride to Seattle to see Scorpions on the Love at First Sting Tour
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in April
The Black Crowes play the Orpheum By Steve Newton Shaun Verreault: Vancouver blues-rock guitarist-vocalist and Wide Mouth Mason member. April 1 at the Roxy. Schryer, Dobres & Hillhouse Trio: Canadian Celtic supergroup composed of fiddler Pierre Schryer and guitarists Adam Dobres and Andy Hillhouse. April 5 at the ACT Arts Centre. Alestorm: pirate-metal quintet from … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in April
Abandoned Youth makes good at Band Warz competition, swears off the top-40 circuit
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 3, 1991 By Steve Newton Yours truly doesn’t frequent a lot of top-40 clubs these days, but I did brave the radio-rock recesses of the Rock Cellar last week. Abandoned Youth, the local hard-rock outfit that represented B.C. in the recent Guitar Warz competition, was playing, and I wanted to see … Continue reading Abandoned Youth makes good at Band Warz competition, swears off the top-40 circuit
My niece Kylie Katz just released her first song, and it’s awesome!
By Steve Newton Today my 22-year-old niece Kylie released her first song, "What Could've Been", and I think it's awesome! That blinding light you see flowing out from the wilds of North Delta is me beaming with pride. Stay tuned for updates on the career of this promising singer-songwriter.
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 29 to 31
Down by Law screens at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Fernie, B.C. folk-rock quartet Shred Kelly plays the Biltmore Cabaret as part of its Blurry Vision album-release tour, with guests Hyaenas. Here's my interview with Shred Kelly's Jim Newton (no relation) from 2021. FRIDAY: Caravan World Rhythms presents a performance at New Westminster's Massey … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 29 to 31
10 minutes in a studio with producer Bob Rock in 1991
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with hugely successful hard-rock producer Bob Rock in December of 1991. I went to meet him at Vancouver Studios, where he was working on albums by the London Choirboys and his own band, Rockhead. Four months earlier the massively popular album Rock made with Metallica, The Black … Continue reading 10 minutes in a studio with producer Bob Rock in 1991
The Tragically Hip have a new book coming out that might even be better than mine!
By Steve Newton The Tragically Hip has just announced that it will be releasing a book this fall titled This Is Our Life, published by the U.K.-based Genesis Publications and told through the band members' own words. It will first be made available for the hardcore Hip freaks as a deluxe hand-crafted book and record … Continue reading The Tragically Hip have a new book coming out that might even be better than mine!
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, March 25 to 29
Chelsea Handler is at the Queen E By Steve Newton MONDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the Los Angeles Kings in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena. MONDAY: Funny Side Up Productions presents The Big Smoke Show, a cannabis-friendly, all-female night of standup comedy at the New Amsterdam Cafe featuring Cass Furman, Greta Lin, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, March 25 to 29