By Steve Newton The Commodore Ballroom used to be the place to rock in Vancouver. As a kid growing up in Chilliwack in the '70s, some of the best moments of my life involved cruising into the big city to see acts like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, KISS, Sammy Hagar, and Molly Hatchet rip … Continue reading 10 unforgettable concerts at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Newt’s top 10 (or 20) things to do in Vancouver this week, November 6 to 10
Andy Summers plays the Playhouse By Steve Newton MONDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the Edmonton Oilers in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena. MONDAY: the Pacific Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Society presents a Bluegrass Jam at the ANZA Club. MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of director David Fincher‘s 1999 neo-noir drama Fight … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 20) things to do in Vancouver this week, November 6 to 10
That time I asked Gary Louris of the Jayhawks how their tour was goin’ opening for Tom Petty
By Steve Newton I interviewed Jayhawks singer-guitarist and co-songwriter Gary Louris back in April of 1995, when his band was promoting its fourth studio album, Tomorrow the Green Grass. At the time the group was opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the Dogs With Wings Tour, so of course I had to ask … Continue reading That time I asked Gary Louris of the Jayhawks how their tour was goin’ opening for Tom Petty
The Beatles’ “Now and Then” music video is better than the song itself
By Steve Newton I just watched the Peter Jackson-directed music video for the "new" Beatles song, "Now and Then", and it nearly chocked me up. The 4 1/2-minute clip is a beautiful, heart-wrenching glimpse into what made the Fab Four so freakin' fabulous, and it makes you miss the murdered John Lennon and cancer-killed George … Continue reading The Beatles’ “Now and Then” music video is better than the song itself
Newt’s top 10 (or 20) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, November 3 to 5
The Killer screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: screening at the Cinematheque of director Ryszard Bugajski’s uncompromising 1991 thriller Clearcut, starring Graham Greene as militant Indigenous activist Arthur. FRIDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of Italian writer-director Dario Argento's 1987 giallo slasher film Opera, about a young soprano who becomes involved in a … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 20) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, November 3 to 5
“Now and Then” is a pretty little ditty, but “Get Back” will always be “the last Beatles song” to me
collage by the newts By Steve Newton By now you may have already heard "Now and Then", the much-publicized song released today that is being billed as "the last Beatles song". In case you aren't aware of the tune's backstory, here's how it is described on the Beatles' YouTube channel, which--at the time of this … Continue reading “Now and Then” is a pretty little ditty, but “Get Back” will always be “the last Beatles song” to me
10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988
By Steve Newton Aerosmith released their first five albums while I was teenager, so I freakin' loved Aerosmith. I played a lotta air guitar to Joe Perry's licks back in the day, so it was a kick to interview him for the first time in January of 1988, after the Permanent Vacation LP came out. … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in November
Twanguero & Paul Pigat play Mel Lehan Hall By Steve Newton Baroness: American prog-metal quartet plays tunes from new album Stone, with guests Ken Mode from Winnipeg. November 4 at the Rickshaw Theatre. Bright Light Social Hour: psych-rock quintet from Austin, Texas, with guests Choses Sauvages from Montreal. November 5 at the Biltmore Cabaret. Here's my … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in November
Pennywise in the flesh: the full transcript of my exclusive 1990 interview with Tim Curry on the set of Stephen King’s It
By Steve Newton It was a beautiful summer day--June 27, 1990--when I ventured out to Vancouver's sprawling Stanley Park to interview Tim Curry. At the time the legendary British actor was filming a two-part TV "miniseries" based on Stephen King's widely acclaimed 1986 horror novel, It. I was on assignment for New York-based Fangoria magazine, … Continue reading Pennywise in the flesh: the full transcript of my exclusive 1990 interview with Tim Curry on the set of Stephen King’s It
Throwing shade at the only Rotten Tomatoes critic who gave Uwe Boll’s Alone in the Dark a fresh rating
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 5, 2013 By Steve Newton When people, knowing I'm a horror freak, ask me what my fave scary movie is, the answer never comes that easily. The obvious choice, The Exorcist, comes to mind, but more recently I was totally blown away by The Cabin in the Woods. And I never tire of … Continue reading Throwing shade at the only Rotten Tomatoes critic who gave Uwe Boll’s Alone in the Dark a fresh rating
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 30 to November 3
Dave Chisholm is at Leap Creative Studio By Steve Newton MONDAY: American filmmaker and pop-culture icon John Waters performs his new spoken-word show Devil’s Advocate at the Rio Theatre. Please note: no videotaping, audio taping, or photography of any kind permitted during the performance. SOLD OUT. Snooze ya lose. MONDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 30 to November 3
Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton I only chose songs from Clapton's official solo albums, nothing from collaborations or Cream or Blind Faith or Yardbirds or Derek and the Dominos. If I hadn't, "Layla" would have been #1, obviously, and "Crossroads" #2. 20. "It's in the Way That You Use It" (August, 1986) 19. "Cocaine" (Slowhand, 1977) 18. … Continue reading Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
All Right Now! Paul Rodgers takes it to the streets with the Doobie Brothers in Kelowna
jeff sutherland photos By Steve Newton Now here's a seventies-rock match-up made in heaven. My nephew Jeff just texted me from Kelowna where he saw Paul Rodgers perform two songs with the Doobie Brothers at their Prospera Place show tonight. The legendary rocker of Free and Bad Company fame has a home in the Okanagan, … Continue reading All Right Now! Paul Rodgers takes it to the streets with the Doobie Brothers in Kelowna