Murray McLauchlan wanted to go back to making albums like Johnny Cash did with Timberline

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton Like the down-to-earth artist that he is, Murray McLauchlan always finds inspiration for his best songs in the experience of life--whether it be the murder of John Lennon on last year's Windows album, or, as in his new single "Never Did Like That Train", a vague … Continue reading Murray McLauchlan wanted to go back to making albums like Johnny Cash did with Timberline

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Feb. 6 to 10

Yumi Nagashima performs at the Rio By Steve Newton TUESDAY: local vocalist Krystle Dos Santos hosts Underneath the Harlem Moon, a smokey soul-era Harlem cabaret at Guilt & Co. TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Unique Perspectives exhibition at White Rock's Landmark Pop-Uptown Gallery features art works by Jim Davidson, Kat McPhee, Dave Patterson, and Paul Hyde, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Feb. 6 to 10

Alannah Currie says that the Thompson Twins want to make music for the whole world

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1984 By Steve Newton The last time the Thompson Twins played Vancouver they were a support act for the Police.  But since that visit the British trio have hit it big with their Into the Gap album--which debuted on the U.K. charts at #1--and are now full-fledged headliners in their … Continue reading Alannah Currie says that the Thompson Twins want to make music for the whole world

Steve Negus on the rise of drum technology, crazy shows in Puerto Rico, and Saga’s new Heads or Tales

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 2, 1983 By Steve Newton "Actually, I never really sat in a room and practiced," claims Saga's highly-touted drummer Steve Negus. "I always thought that the best way to learn how to play was to go out and play. So in my early days, all through high school, I used to … Continue reading Steve Negus on the rise of drum technology, crazy shows in Puerto Rico, and Saga’s new Heads or Tales

That time I asked Ronnie James Dio which singers he admired the most and he said Mike Reno had a lot of control and “great pipes”

By Steve Newton Back in December of 1985 I interviewed Ronnie James Dio when he was in the midst of his Sacred Heart Tour and headed to Vancouver for a show at the Pacific Coliseum--with Yngwie Malmsteen opening up! At one point in the conversation I asked Dio which singers he admired the most, but … Continue reading That time I asked Ronnie James Dio which singers he admired the most and he said Mike Reno had a lot of control and “great pipes”

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Feb. 3 to 5

Stick Men play the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: American progressive-rock supergroup Stick Men, featuring King Crimson's Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, plays the Rickshaw Theatre. FRIDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of director Kyle Edward Ball’s experimental, micro-budget horror film Skinamarink. FRIDAY: MRG Live presents Vancouver singer-songwriter Dan Mangan at the Fox Cabaret, performing … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Feb. 3 to 5

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally pulls its heads out of its ass long enough to nominate Warren Zevon

By Steve Newton If you've been visiting this blog much in the past few years you may have noticed how often I go out of my way to call out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Heck, I even created a special section just for slagging it. The three artists whose continuing absence from … Continue reading The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally pulls its heads out of its ass long enough to nominate Warren Zevon

Poly Styrene doc is a heartfelt study of the ’70s punk-rock icon

By Steve Newton Before I watched the documentary Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, I had no idea who Poly Styrene was. I vaguely remember hearing about a late-'70s punk band called X-Ray Spex and their quirky single "Oh Bondage Up Yours!", but I had no clue about the band's extraordinarily unique singer. Now I'm … Continue reading Poly Styrene doc is a heartfelt study of the ’70s punk-rock icon

That time I asked Canadian fingerstyle-guitar virtuoso Don Ross how he got so good

By Steve Newton I interviewed Canadian guitar virtuoso Don Ross for the first time back in 2001, when he was touring behind his Huron Street album. Ross is the only person to win the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice (1988 and 1996), so yeah, he's shit-hot. At one point in the conversation I asked him … Continue reading That time I asked Canadian fingerstyle-guitar virtuoso Don Ross how he got so good

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Jan. 30-Feb. 3

Larkin Poe plays the Commodore By Steve Newton MONDAY: guitarist/oud player Gord Grdina's quartet The Marrow performs a blend of Middle Eastern music and jazz, joined by Persian singer Fathieh Honari, at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Arts. MONDAY TO FRIDAY the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival features music, theatre, dance, and multidisciplinary works … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Jan. 30-Feb. 3

That time Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson told me that he never had the desire to make a solo album

By Steve Newton Back in January of 1992 I interviewed Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson while his band was touring behind its Roll the Bones album. At one point in the conversation I asked Lifeson if he ever had the desire to make a solo album, and he claimed that he didn't. Guess he changed his … Continue reading That time Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson told me that he never had the desire to make a solo album

That time Mason Ruffner told me about the “special thanks” to Jimmy Page on his new Gypsy Blood album

Ruffner and Page try each other's guitars By Steve Newton I interviewed Strat-playing Texas blues-rocker Mason Ruffner back in July of 1987. At the time he was touring in support of his second album, the Dave Edmunds-produced Gypsy Blood. His music was along the same lines as his Epic Records labelmate Stevie Ray Vaughan, so I … Continue reading That time Mason Ruffner told me about the “special thanks” to Jimmy Page on his new Gypsy Blood album