By Steve Newton Way back in June of 1993 I interviewed 25-year-old Ugly Kid Joe guitarist Klaus Eichstadt on the phone from his parents' house in San Francisco. Three weeks later his band was set to play Foxfest at Seabird Island near Agassiz, B.C., with Def Leppard, Tom Cochrane, Rockhead, April Wine, and Sven Gali. The … Continue reading That time I asked Ugly Kid Joe guitarist Klaus Eichstadt how the band’s recent hit, “Everything About You”, came together
That time Dick Dale told me what it was like playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan on “Pipeline”
By Steve Newton Back in the summer of 1993 I did my first interview with guitar legend Dick Dale. Thirty years earlier Dale had released an album titled King of the Surf Guitar, and ever since then that's what he'd been called. That's why he and Stevie Ray Vaughan connected in 1987 to record a … Continue reading That time Dick Dale told me what it was like playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan on “Pipeline”
That time Dickey Betts told me that an Allman Brothers reunion “could be a good idea”
By Steve Newton I did the first of my four interviews with guitar legend Dickey Betts back in March of 1989, when he was touring with the Dickey Betts Band, playing tunes from his first album in seven years, Pattern Disruptive. Betts' famous former group, the Allman Brothers Band, had broken up (for the second … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me that an Allman Brothers reunion “could be a good idea”
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 15 to 19
Shane MacGowan tribute at Mel Lehan Hall By Steve Newton MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos is featured in the career retrospective Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, running until March of 2024 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 15 to 19
That time Jon Bon Jovi told me that his band’s new Slippery When Wet album was just meant to be a fun summertime album
By Steve Newton I did the third of my three interviews with Jon Bon Jovi in June of 1987, when his band was touring behind its massively successful third album, Slippery When Wet, which went on to sell over 12-million copies in the U.S. alone. A year earlier the group had barely caused a stir … Continue reading That time Jon Bon Jovi told me that his band’s new Slippery When Wet album was just meant to be a fun summertime album
That time Graham Greer told me that the Barstool Prophets got compared to the Tragically Hip all the time
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Barstool Prophets singer-songwriter Graham Greer back in August of 1995. I called him up at his home in Cornwall, Ontario, shortly after the band released its album Crank, which spawned the Canadian Top-10 singles "Mankindman" and "Paranoia". At one point in the conversation I mentioned that … Continue reading That time Graham Greer told me that the Barstool Prophets got compared to the Tragically Hip all the time
Maria Bamford is Stephen Colbert’s favourite comedian on planet earth
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 23, 2022 By Steve Newton Maria Bamford's first memories of comedy came from listening to her dad's Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy records and taking in the comical Canuck stylings of SCTV's Bob and Doug McKenzie. Later on, in high school, she found other ways to entertain herself. "I enjoyed getting … Continue reading Maria Bamford is Stephen Colbert’s favourite comedian on planet earth
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, January 12 to 14
Alex Weimann performs at West Van United Church By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Boston guitarist Johnny A, former touring member of the Yardbirds, performs instrumental rock, jazz, and blues at Blue Frog Studios. FRIDAY: jazz-funk quintet Blues Hoodoo --composed of guitarist Konrad Breuers, saxophonist Ian Putz, keyboardist Stuart “Stubop” Young, bassist Shawn Stewart, and drummer Ron Wells--performs … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, January 12 to 14
Alexander Weimann loves improvising on the organ, and adores Pat Metheny on guitar
mark mushet photo By Steve Newton When I call up classical conductor and keyboardist Alexander Weimann at his home in Ladner to chat about his upcoming organ concert, my first question is "How's Reggie doing?" Boston-based countertenor Reginald Mobley was scheduled to perform with Weimann and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra at the Vancouver Playhouse this … Continue reading Alexander Weimann loves improvising on the organ, and adores Pat Metheny on guitar
That time I asked the Reverend Horton Heat’s Jim Heath about the cool AC/DC t-shirt he was wearing on the back cover of his new CD
Back in August of 1995 I did the first of my four interviews with Jim Heath, singer-guitarist and main songwriter for the Texas psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat. At one point in in the conversation I asked Heath about the AC/DC t-shirt he's pictured wearing on the back cover of the band's latest CD, Liquor … Continue reading That time I asked the Reverend Horton Heat’s Jim Heath about the cool AC/DC t-shirt he was wearing on the back cover of his new CD
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 8 to 12
Johnny A plays Blue Frog Studios By Steve Newton MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos is featured in the career retrospective Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, running until March of 2024 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were selected … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 8 to 12
Soul vocalist Janelle Reid learned to sing before she could speak
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 31, 2021 By Steve Newton When Janelle Reid was a baby in Trinidad her parents used to play music on cassette tapes to keep her and her twin sister still. They were super-active kids, but the harmonious voices on the tapes really worked to calm them down. In Janelle's case, the … Continue reading Soul vocalist Janelle Reid learned to sing before she could speak
AC/DC’s highly anticipated 2024 tour announcement wasn’t made today, so here’s five of my Acca Dacca concert reviews
from the newt's collection By Steve Newton When it comes to starting rumours about AC/DC, I'm the king. Back in August of 2018 I was the first to report that Phil Rudd and Stevie Young had been spotted in Vancouver, leading to speculation that Rudd has rejoined the band to record another album. Shortly after … Continue reading AC/DC’s highly anticipated 2024 tour announcement wasn’t made today, so here’s five of my Acca Dacca concert reviews