ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton "Brand new from K-Tel, it's the chart-topping, ever popular ****-tones, captured live and in concert with the acclaimed, 65-piece !!!!-orchestra. A once-in-a-lifetime performance! It's music history in the making!" Whenever a rock band decides to record an album with an orchestra, you can bet that all … Continue reading Red Rider’s Symphony Sessions let Tom Cochrane retrace Procol Harum’s footsteps
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, August 18 to 20
Robocop screens at the VIFF Centre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of a 4K restoration of director Martin Scorsese's 1985 black comedy After Hours, starring Griffin Dunne and Rosanna Arquette. "I want...to live." FRIDAY TO SATURDAY: screenings at the VIFF Centre of the restored director's cut of Paul Verhoeven's satirical … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, August 18 to 20
Johnny Diesel & the Injectors got boosts Down Under from Angel City and Jimmy Barnes
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 22, 1989 By Steve Newton Australian-raised singer/guitarist Johnny Diesel has covered a lot of ground for a young man of 22. From Fall River, Massachusetts to Perth, Australia, from London to New York, and from Sydney to Memphis, the road to rock has been a long one mileage-wise for Diesel, whose … Continue reading Johnny Diesel & the Injectors got boosts Down Under from Angel City and Jimmy Barnes
50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands
By Steve Newton 1973 sure was a stellar year for guitar-based rock. Maybe the best one ever. Mind you, that opinion has a lot to do with how old I was back in '73 (which just happened to be the same year that Bob Seger released Back in '72, the one with "Rosalie" and "Turn … Continue reading 50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 14-18
Steve Vai plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton TUESDAY: American instrumental-rock guitar virtuoso Steve Vai performs at the Rickshaw Theatre on his Inviolate Tour 2023. Hope he does “For the Love of God”. TUESDAY: Black Women in Indie & Folk at the Fox Cabaret features performances by Silent St J, Raheal, Ayanna Seymour, and Chaya … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 14-18
That time I interviewed Nardwuar the Human Serviette about Neptoon Records, my fave Vancouver record store
Nardwuar at Neptoon with Tyler, the Creator By Steve Newton I called up Vancouver-based celebrity journalist and garage-rocker Nardwuar a couple years ago when I was writing an article on the 40th anniversary of Neptoon Records, the local vinyl haven run by Rob Frith and his musician son Ben. NTHS often does his hugely popular … Continue reading That time I interviewed Nardwuar the Human Serviette about Neptoon Records, my fave Vancouver record store
Trumpet-blasting Painters & Dockers make like the Pogues on speed in Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton If you ever thought the trumpet was somewhat of a nerdy high-school instrument--right up there with the clarinet--then you should have been at the Town Pump last Thursday (November 30). Australia's Painters & Dockers features two trumpet players--"the Brassholes"--who use their horns as … Continue reading Trumpet-blasting Painters & Dockers make like the Pogues on speed in Vancouver
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, August 11 to 13
Me 'n Tom Cochrane, who plays Rock Maple Ridge By Steve Newton FRIDAY: B.C. rockers Chilliwack perform with Trooper and Harlequin at day one of the Rock Maple Ridge classic-rock festival at Albion Fairgrounds. "Fly at Night" baby! FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Fashion Fictions exhibition, running until October 9 at the Vancouver Art Gallery, explores … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, August 11 to 13
Joe Perry credits Bruce Fairbairn and Little Mountain Sound with aiding Aerosmith’s rebirth
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 13, 1993 By Steve Newton Vancouverites may wonder what it is about this town that makes a big-time Yankee rock band like Aerosmith want to come all the way from Boston to make records here. It is the scenery? The night-life? The days when it doesn't rain? When Joe Perry calls … Continue reading Joe Perry credits Bruce Fairbairn and Little Mountain Sound with aiding Aerosmith’s rebirth
Annihilator tones down the thrash on new CD but still cranks up the heat on stage
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 6, 1993 By Steve Newton Last Saturday night (July 31) wasn't Vancouver's warmest evening on record, but the heat inside the Lunatic Fringe sure made you wonder. The club's air-conditioning had broken down two nights before, so management lugged out a couple of huge fans to keep the temperature down, but … Continue reading Annihilator tones down the thrash on new CD but still cranks up the heat on stage
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, August 7 to 11
Chilliwack performs at Rock Maple Ridge on Friday By Steve Newton MONDAY: California hard-rock/metal band Avenged Sevenfold plays Rogers Arena, with guests Alexisonfire and Kim Dracula. MONDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of director Kathryn Bigelow’s hugely entertaining 1987 vampire flick Near Dark. “Shitkicker heaven!” MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Fashion Fictions exhibition, running until October 9 at the Vancouver … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, August 7 to 11
King Swamp rises from the ashes of Shriekback to rock out in Vancouver
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 28, 1989 By Steve Newton Artsy, esoteric types who went to see King Swamp because it features former members of Shriekback may have been surprised at 86 Street last Friday (July 21). Anyone expecting to hear music that resembles Shriekback's atmospheric soundscapes would have been taken aback by … Continue reading King Swamp rises from the ashes of Shriekback to rock out in Vancouver
Jason de Couto straddles two worlds in the Vancouver music scene
By Steve Newton If you've ever gotten out and seen any local cover bands or jazz gigs in Vancouver, there's a pretty good chance you've heard the piano, organ, or synth playing of Jason de Couto. He's one of the most in-demand keyboardists in town, performing with such acts as Meridian, Rain City 6, Side … Continue reading Jason de Couto straddles two worlds in the Vancouver music scene