Steve Earle takes Exit O back to Vancouver and delivers another hell-raisin’ good time

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 27, 1987 By Steve Newton Whenever Steve Earle hits town, you’re pretty well guaranteed a hellraisin’ good time. It happened at his Vancouver debut last May at the 86 Street Music Hall, and then again last Thursday (November 19) when he and his rip-snortin’ band the Dukes returned to the Expo … Continue reading Steve Earle takes Exit O back to Vancouver and delivers another hell-raisin’ good time

The Outlaws’ triple-guitar attack outshines Foghat’s boogie-blues in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 4, 1987 By Steve Newton The raunchy guitar sounds of the ’70s were all the rage at the Commodore last weekend (November 27 and 28), with British boogiemeisters Foghat headlining over Florida-based southern rockers the Outlaws. But it was the triple-guitar attack of the openers that was the real highlight both nights. I’d … Continue reading The Outlaws’ triple-guitar attack outshines Foghat’s boogie-blues in Vancouver

Album review: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Legend (1987)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 30, 1987 By Steve Newton If there was one band I would have killed (well, maimed anyway) to see in its original lineup, that band would have been Lynryd Skynryd, the pride of Jacksonville, Florida, and arguably the best southern rock band to come along. That wish was shattered forever with the death … Continue reading Album review: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Legend (1987)

That time I asked Dickey Betts if the Allman Brothers’ new live album captured the band as well as At Fillmore East

By Steve Newton The Allman Brothers‘ At Fillmore East has long been regarded as one of the finest concert albums of all time, and you won’t get any argument from me about that. But it’s not the band’s only great live LP. Back in 1992 I did my third interview with ABB guitarist Dickey Betts, … Continue reading That time I asked Dickey Betts if the Allman Brothers’ new live album captured the band as well as At Fillmore East

Pink Floyd blows Vancouver away on its A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton Seeing Pink Floyd live is a luxury that every rock fan should allow him or herself at least once. Yours truly took advantage of the opportunity to do just that last Thursday (December 10), along with about 44,000 other lucky dogs at B.C. Place. It was my first Floydian experience, and … Continue reading Pink Floyd blows Vancouver away on its A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour

Album review: Van Halen, Van Halen 3 (1998)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 16, 1998 By Steve Newton Ever since Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s frontman on 1986’s 5150, the band’s legions of followers have been split into the Sam and Dave camps. Roth proponents feel his macho bravado and hog-in-heat performing style suited the group’s early music; Sammy … Continue reading Album review: Van Halen, Van Halen 3 (1998)

Yes guitarist Steve Howe on playing at 70 and the tragedy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 31, 2017 By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is notorious for taking forever to induct bands that almost everyone but the institution’s voting members thinks are overdue for entry. There was much frustration among rock fans—especially of the Canuck persuasion—when the mighty Rush kept getting shunned, … Continue reading Yes guitarist Steve Howe on playing at 70 and the tragedy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master

By Steve Newton The hard-rock world lost one of its most beloved artists on November 18, 2017, when AC/DC rhythm-guitarist Malcolm Young passed away at the age of 64. Ill health had forced him to leave the band in 2014, and to be confined to a nursing home, where he suffered from dementia. I only met … Continue reading Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master

Nazareth survives its hangover to blast “Razamanaz” and rowdy-up Vancouver on a Sunday night

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 25, 1987 By Steve Newton No-frills rock ‘n’ roll is something that’s always been close to this scribbler’s heart. From the basic guitar/bass/drums sound to the jeans/-t-shirt/runners wardrobe, it’s the type of music that makes the ordinary person on the street think: “Yeah, I can relate to that.” AC/DC is a prime … Continue reading Nazareth survives its hangover to blast “Razamanaz” and rowdy-up Vancouver on a Sunday night

The Definitive Lynyrd Skynyrd Collection is a must-have for hardcore Skynyrd fans

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1991 By Steve Newton I know, I know—you can’t win. Just when you’ve finally replaced all your cherished Lynyrd Skynyrd LPs with half a dozen CDs, along comes a 3-CD box set that covers the entire course of the classic southern rock band’s ill-fated career. Well, don’t … Continue reading The Definitive Lynyrd Skynyrd Collection is a must-have for hardcore Skynyrd fans

Warren Haynes confronts a fractured America on Gov’t Mule’s Revolution Come…Revolution Go

jeremy williams photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 15, 2017 By Steve Newton The Tedeschi Trucks Band played Vancouver last summer, in the midst of the U.S. presidential campaign, and in advance of the show I interviewed singer Susan Tedeschi. Knowing that she and hubby-guitarist Derek Trucks were big fans of Barack Obama—and … Continue reading Warren Haynes confronts a fractured America on Gov’t Mule’s Revolution Come…Revolution Go

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers slay Vancouver with smokin’ guitarists Montoya and Trout

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 6, 1987 By Steve Newton John Mayall knows blues guitarists. And it’s no wonder since he’s played with the best of them–guys like Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor. But the two lead players he brought with him to the Commodore last Thursday (October 29) were so hot that they literally stole … Continue reading John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers slay Vancouver with smokin’ guitarists Montoya and Trout

That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts what he’d been listening to in his spare time

By Steve Newton Regular readers of Ear of Newt may have noticed that I, the Newt, really like posting excerpts from my four interviews with Dickey Betts. It’s not just because he’s a guitar legend. Or because he was in the freakin’ Allman Brothers. Though that’s part of it. But I also just like listening … Continue reading That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts what he’d been listening to in his spare time