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
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, January 5 to 7
By Steve Newton FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: legendary standup comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld performs two nights at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: Theatre Replacement presents playwrights Jivesh Parasram and Christine Quintana's family show East Van Panto: Beauty and the Beast, with music by Veda Hille, running until January 7 at the York Theatre. FRIDAY … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, January 5 to 7
That time Bob Rock told me that “the dreaded David Foster album” was the nail in the coffin for the Payola$
By Steve Newton Back in 1991 I interviewed famed Vancouver producer Bob Rock, who at the time was flying high, coming off the production work on Metallica's multiplatinum Black Album. At one point in the conversation I mentioned Blue Murder, whose self-titled debut album Rock had produced two years earlier, but which was not a … Continue reading That time Bob Rock told me that “the dreaded David Foster album” was the nail in the coffin for the Payola$
Dana Gould on the risks of being a comedian and feeling a kinship with groovy George Carlin
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 19, 2022 By Steve Newton It ain't easy being a comedian these days. Just ask Oscars slapping victim Chris Rock, or, more seriously, Dave Chappelle, who had to ward off a knife-wielding attacker onstage at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this month. The morning after Chappelle's close call Dana Gould is on … Continue reading Dana Gould on the risks of being a comedian and feeling a kinship with groovy George Carlin
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in January
Sunny War plays the Fox By Steve Newton Blues Hoodoo: jazz-funk quintet composed of guitarist Konrad Breuers, saxophonist Ian Putz, keyboardist Stuart "Stubop" Young, bassist Shawn Stewart, and drummer Ron Wells performs original tunes and covers of Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, and the Brecker Brothers. January 12 at Frankie's Jazz. Johnny … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in January
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 1 to 5
The Abyss screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: screenings at the VIFF Centre and the Rio Theatre of Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 comedy The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges as The Dude. MONDAY: American hardcore-punk pioneers Black Flag, featuring founding guitarist Greg Ginn, play the Fortune Sound Club. Denyse Thomasos exhibit at the VAG … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 1 to 5
Gord Downie’s big brother Mike notes how “unguarded” the Hip singer sounds in our interviews
By Steve Newton Last month I posted a blog about how psyched I was to learn that some of the audio from my interviews with Gord Downie was going to be used in an upcoming documentary series on the Tragically Hip. The four-part doc--which will stream on Amazon Prime in October of 2024--is being helmed … Continue reading Gord Downie’s big brother Mike notes how “unguarded” the Hip singer sounds in our interviews
Remembering Cozy Powell, one of the greatest hard-rock drummers of all time
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 29, 2023 By Steve Newton Today marks the birth date of hard-rock drummer Cozy Powell, who slammed the skins for the likes of Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow before perishing in a high-speed wipeout at the age of 50. Powell--who had a fascination with fast cars and motorbikes--died on … Continue reading Remembering Cozy Powell, one of the greatest hard-rock drummers of all time