5 guys from Chilliwack High’s Class of ’75 rob hall photo By Steve Newton The title track wasn’t always the best song on an album in the ’70s. But when you were standing in the record store, rabidly poring over the brand new LP by your favourite band, that title could get deeply imbedded in … Continue reading The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Crowded House plays the Orpheum By Steve Newton TUESDAY: Australasian pop band Crowded House, led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Neil Finn, plays the Orpheum Theatre. If they forget to play “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, you should ask for your money back. TUESDAY: F7 Entertainment Group presents Australian prog-rock guitar wizard Plini at the Rickshaw … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, May 1 to 5
La Famille LeBlanc plays Festival du Bois By Steve Newton Chilliwack: Canadian rock greats from the ’70s (“Fly at Night”, “Lonesome Mary”), featuring singer-guitarist Bill Henderson. March 1 at Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. A Tribute to Shane McGowan: local acts the Pat Chessell Band and Sinéad X Sanders pay tribute to the late Pogues frontman. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Metro Vancouver concerts in March
The Modelos play the Admiral Pub By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Rogue Folk Club presents the six-piece Get Back band performing unplugged interpretations of Beatles songs at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James, with guest Jenny Allen from Calgary. FRIDAY: Vancouver blues artist and actor Jim Byrnes performs as part of the Listening Lounge Series at the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY AND … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 14) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, May 5 to 7
Big Sugar plays the Pearl By Steve Newton FRIDAY: roots band Steve Dawson & the Hooded Mergansers—led by Canadian guitarist, songwriter, pedal steel player, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Dawson–plays Mel Lehan Hall at St. James. FRIDAY: American punk-rock bands Strung Out and the Casualties coheadline the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests the Venomous Pinks. FRIDAY: Brewhalla … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 19 to 21
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were in a young Canadian band about to make its first record, who would you like to see behind the controls in the producer’s chair? How about Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who–with 14 years experience making his own band’s vinyl–would certainly know a thing … Continue reading Toronto rockers Clean Slate kickstart their career with a boost from producer Alex Lifeson
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
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
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 19, 1989 By Steve Newton For twin brothers Garth and Gary Breit–and younger sibling Kevin–growing up in the small Ontario town of McKerrow (pop. 250) did not offer a lot of youthful diversions. Hockey and music were the two biggies, and fortunately the Breit (pronounced “bright”) brothers made a career out … Continue reading Canada’s ubertalented Breit brothers chose music over hockey
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 15, 2000 By Steve Newton Atlanta’s Forty Fives were hugely influenced by the British Invasion of the early ’60s, so it’s no big shock that singer-guitarist Bryan Malone winds up sounding a lot like “Twist and Shout”–era John Lennon on a couple of tunes from the band’s debut … Continue reading Atlanta’s Forty Fives employ Lennon-style screams and guitars to Get It Together
kevin statham photo, 1993 By Steve Newton Just heard the terrible breaking news: that legendary vocalist Tina Turner has passed away, after a long illness, at the age of 83. An announcement of her death has been posted on her Facebook page: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” … Continue reading R.I.P. Tina Turner: seeing the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll three times wasn’t nearly enough
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 2009 By Steve Newton Back in 2006, power-pop stalwart Matthew Sweet and sometimes-Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs collaborated on Under the Covers Vol. 1, in which they performed versions of ’60s hits by groups like the Beatles, the Who, and the Beach Boys. On Under the Covers Vol. 2 the … Continue reading Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)
By Steve Newton Vancouver has been all abuzz lately after the Rolling Stones announced that the only Canadian date on its 2024 North American tour will be a show at the city’s downtown stadium, BC Place, on July 5. Even local politicians got in on the act, with Mayor Ken Sim recording a welcoming message … Continue reading The 10 best rock concerts I ever saw at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium
