ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 11, 1988 By Steve Newton All right? Chalk one up for the rockers in the battle between heavy metal and the Moral Majority. Trust good old Ozzy to take a two-fisted slug at Jimmy Swaggart's recent downfall: "Today I saw a Miracle Man, on TV cryin'/Such a hypocritical … Continue reading Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 11, 1988 By Steve Newton Virginia-born and Texas-raised country rocker Steve Earle carries on the fine tradition established by his first few albums with Copperhead Road, the sort of record that can please both rock and country audiences. Earle's emphasis has shifted toward rock though, so there's definitely … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 21, 1988 By Steve Newton There are hundreds of hard rock bands out there that are just as good as Bon Jovi. Unfortunately for them, they don't have Bon Jovi's talent for coming up with tunes that are both radio-friendly and capable of hooking into the mass consciousness … Continue reading Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
Album review: The Jeff Healey Band, See the Light (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 21, 1988 By Steve Newton Local blues-rock fans who've been thrilled by the wild guitar histrionics of Jeff Healey during his many Vancouver club dates are gonna love this album. It's chock full of the scorching, red-hot licks that the 22-year-old Torontonian is famous for, and his inspired … Continue reading Album review: The Jeff Healey Band, See the Light (1988)
Album review: The Northern Pikes, Secrets of the Alibi (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 2, 1988 By Steve Newton These young whippersnappers from Saskatoon really blew me away with last year's overlooked Big Blue Sky album. Fortunately, their latest release is even better, and it shouldn't be long before the Prairies' most underrated musical resource hits the big time. From the opener, … Continue reading Album review: The Northern Pikes, Secrets of the Alibi (1988)
Album review: Deep Purple, Nobody’s Perfect (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were a teenager in the '70s, you probably remember Deep Purple's Made in Japan, the double live album that was--at least in Chilliwack anyway--the top soundtrack to house parties and cruising. Kids in the late '80s now have a live, two-disc … Continue reading Album review: Deep Purple, Nobody’s Perfect (1988)
Album review: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Rumble (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton From the thoroughly rockin' opening track/first single, "I'm Not Your Man", straight on through to the closer, "Walkin' On the Water", this new young band comes up with enough beat-heavy, riff-riddled tunes to keep your house party going all night. Catchy arrangements and … Continue reading Album review: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Rumble (1988)
Album review: Bad Company, Dangerous Age (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton Bad Company put some mighty fine albums in the mid-'70s, particularly Straight Shooter and Run With the Pack. But that was when they had soulful crooner Paul Rodgers singing for them. Now they've got some Ted Nugent reject named Brian Howe in the … Continue reading Album review: Bad Company, Dangerous Age (1988)
Jeff Healey jams at the Yale Pub before tearing up the Town Pump with a feedback-laden “Oh Canada”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 8, 1988 By Steve Newton Jeff Healey loves to play guitar. Two long, sweat-soaked nights at the Town Pump obviously weren't going to be enough for the blind blues ace. So he could be seen down at the Yale Saturday afternoon (July 2), taking part in the pub's harmonica contest and … Continue reading Jeff Healey jams at the Yale Pub before tearing up the Town Pump with a feedback-laden “Oh Canada”
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Imaginos (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 9, 1988 By Steve Newton Few rock 'n' roll bands can fuse raunchy guitars and menacing vocals and still come up with really beautiful music. But New York's Blue Öyster Cult has done that on more than a dozen albums since 1972. The latest boasts the same hard-hitting, … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Imaginos (1988)
Jeff Healey on playing a bar-band guitarist in Roadhouse and “marvellous” star Patrick Swayze
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 1, 1988 By Steve Newton Patrick Swayze may be one of the sexiest movie stars around today, but he can't play mean blues guitar. Jeff Healey might not be your typical matinee idol, but he can play mean blues guitar--as anyone at the Town Pump will discover this weekend (July 1 … Continue reading Jeff Healey on playing a bar-band guitarist in Roadhouse and “marvellous” star Patrick Swayze
Killer Dwarfs stand tall and start to shine with Big Deal on CBS/Epic
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 8, 1988 By Steve Newton Long-time Toronto bar-rockers the Killer Dwarfs have finally signed to a major label and released a new album, Big Deal. And now they've got a slick new tour bus, which was parked out back of the Metro last Thursday (June 30), waiting to take them on … Continue reading Killer Dwarfs stand tall and start to shine with Big Deal on CBS/Epic
A little Zeppelin goes a long way at Robert Plant’s Vancouver concert
crappy iPhone photo by the Newt By Steve Newton When I interviewed Robert Plant back in 1993, the first thing he said on the phone from New York City was that he was "pissed off" that Black Sabbath wasn't getting back together. He was joking, though. It was more a comment on how frustrated he … Continue reading A little Zeppelin goes a long way at Robert Plant’s Vancouver concert