Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 13 to 15

Monsters of Schlock are at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: local musicians JP Maurice, Parker Bosley, Dicky Neptune, Daniel James, and Adam Wazonek perform the Let It Be album in its entirety at Beatles Tribute LIVE at Blue Light Studio. FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of director Sean S. Cunningham's 1980 slasher … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 13 to 15

10 minutes in a hotel room with AC/DC in 1983

By Steve Newton One fine October day in 1983 I went to a fancy Vancouver hotel and hung out with Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, who were kicking off a tour to support the new Flick of the Switch album. New drummer Simon Wright was there too, but he didn't say much. Note: … Continue reading 10 minutes in a hotel room with AC/DC in 1983

Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 9 to 13

Friday the 13th screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: last day to see the Vancouver Art Gallery's Fashion Fictions exhibition, which explores the increasing influence of research-based, materially driven practices on the global fashion scene. MONDAY: screening at the Cinematheque of director David Lynch's acclaimed 1980 drama The Elephant Man, starring John Hurt … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 9 to 13

Tom Petty’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Anybody else think "Refugee" deserves to be #1? Also: man, I miss Tom Petty and his songs. 20. "All You Can Carry" (Hypnotic Eye, 2014) 19, "Breakdown" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976) 18. "I Need to Know" (You're Gonna Get It, 1978) 17. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (Greatest Hits, 1993) 16. … Continue reading Tom Petty’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

The 10 best horror films now streaming on Apple TV, reviewed

The Cabin in the Woods By Steve Newton The world is a very frightening place right now, what with all the horrific wars and the violent crime and the global warming and whatnot. Many people seek an escape from the real-life horrors of today by watching scary movies, which means a lot of them are … Continue reading The 10 best horror films now streaming on Apple TV, reviewed

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, October 6 to 8

Peter Gabriel plays Rogers Arena By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the Calgary Flames in National Hockey League preseason action at Rogers Arena. FRIDAY: Canadian rocker Todd Kerns, bassist and backup singer for Slash and former frontman for the Age of Electric, plays a solo show at the Roxy Cabaret. FRIDAY: the … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, October 6 to 8

10 minutes on the phone with David Lee Roth in 1994

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Diamond Dave while he was promoting one of his lesser-appreciated solo albums, the Nile Rodgers-produced Your Filthy Little Mouth. He was in L.A., where 10 days earlier O.J. Simpson had committed double-murder, so we chatted about that whole media circus, among other things. Dave's an outgoing, … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with David Lee Roth in 1994

40 years after playing Vancouver on the World Piece Tour, Iron Maiden still brings the metal mastery

iron maiden facebook photos By Steve Newton Way back on June 29, 1983, Iron Maiden played Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, backed up by fellow British metal acts Saxon and Fastway. Maiden was touring behind its fourth album, Piece of Mind, so its set was peppered with songs from that LP--including "The Trooper", which I recently voted … Continue reading 40 years after playing Vancouver on the World Piece Tour, Iron Maiden still brings the metal mastery

Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 2 to 6

Brent Butt is at the Hollywood By Steve Newton MONDAY: British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, featuring vocalist Bruce Dickinson, play Rogers Arena on their The Future Past Tour, with guests Atreyu. Here’s my interview with Bruce Dickinson from 1983. MONDAY: New York prog-metal quartet Coheed and Cambria, featuring guitarist-vocalist and main songwriter Claudio Sanchez, plays … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 2 to 6

Living Colour’s Vernon Reid incites his X followers to give Robin Trower some social-media love

Follow the Stratmaster at @robintrower By Steve Newton One of the things I like most about guitar players--besides hearing them play--is when they help out other guitarists. Especially when the picker being aided is as amazing, yet under-appreciated, as British rocker Robin Trower. It was very cool to find out that, last Saturday (September 23), … Continue reading Living Colour’s Vernon Reid incites his X followers to give Robin Trower some social-media love

Shred Kelly’s Jim Newton embraces the comparison to Spirit of the West

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 14, 2021 By Steve Newton You can learn a lot about Shred Kelly from the band's music videos. A good starting point is the clip for "Take Me Home", an upbeat track off the band's latest album, Like a Rising Sun. It's set entirely on the front porch of frontman Tim Newton's home in … Continue reading Shred Kelly’s Jim Newton embraces the comparison to Spirit of the West

Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, September 29 to October 1

Art Bergmann plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Canadian folk and acoustic blues singer-songwriter Little Miss Higgins plays Burnaby's Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. FRIDAY: Vancouver blues trio the Grand Koolios--composed of guitarist-vocalist Tim Hearsey, bassist Rob Becker, and drummer Chris Nordquist--plays Guilt and Co. That Hearsey guy can play geetar! FRIDAY: Canadian rock … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, September 29 to October 1