Galactic Cowboys create melodic prog-metal with a Beatlesque vibe

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 1993 By Steve Newton I heard someone say once that they do things differently down in Texas, and after chatting with Galactic Cowboys vocalist Ben Huggins, I believe it. Take, for example, the photos that accompany the Houston-based band’s latest release, Space in Your Face. While more hoity-toity (pronounced “L.A.”) … Continue reading Galactic Cowboys create melodic prog-metal with a Beatlesque vibe

3-D cover art enhances Voivod’s otherwordly themes on The Outer Limits

ronald mcgregor photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 1993 By Steve Newton I remember, back in the mid-’70s, picking up a secondhand copy of Grand Funk’s Shinin’ On. It wasn’t a very good album—I think it included the band’s hit remake of “Locomotion”, which I still can’t stand—but it had a 3-D cover, and when … Continue reading 3-D cover art enhances Voivod’s otherwordly themes on The Outer Limits

That time I pissed George Thorogood right off. “Is that funny?”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 19, 1993 By Steve Newton George Thorogood’s latest single, “Get a Haircut”, doesn’t sound like a song you would travel 10,000 miles to discover in an Australian pub. It’s a typical 12-bar blues, with unsophisticated, anti-establishment lyrics most songwriters could come up with in their sleep. Thorogood couldn’t think of them … Continue reading That time I pissed George Thorogood right off. “Is that funny?”

Urge Overkill are nuts about Neil Diamond and All My Children

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 19, 1993 By Steve Newton Urge Overkill and my mom have quite a lot in common. My mom doesn’t travel around the country wearing cool outfits and wigging out to hook-laden rock tunes. But I’ll tell ya one thing—she sure loves watching All My Children on the tube. And when the … Continue reading Urge Overkill are nuts about Neil Diamond and All My Children

Midnight Oil’s “tree-hugging a**hole” kicks ass for Clayoquot Sound at the Tragically Hip’s Another Roadside Attraction

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1993 By Steve Newton It didn’t take long for Midnight Oil singer/environmental activist Peter Garrett to bring up the contentious issue of logging in Clayoquot Sound during Saturday’s (July 17) Another Roadside Attraction rock festival at Seabird Island in Agassiz. Right after the band’s introductory tune, the Greenpeace director began … Continue reading Midnight Oil’s “tree-hugging a**hole” kicks ass for Clayoquot Sound at the Tragically Hip’s Another Roadside Attraction

Foxfest ends on a weak note with a Leppard past its prime

@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 8, 1993 By Steve Newton Seabird Island isn’t really an island, and that’s a good thing, because judging by the massive line-ups of cars on the highway heading to the Agassiz site, the wait for ferries would have been brutal. Seabird is actually a great big grassy … Continue reading Foxfest ends on a weak note with a Leppard past its prime

Ugly Kid Joe’s smash hit “Everything About You” was spawned by tinkering on the piano

Ugly Kid Joe’s career skyrocketed on the strength of just one song, the humorous little ditty “Everything About You”.

Bash & Pop’s Tommy Stinson stole plenty from Paul Westerberg

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 1993 By Steve Newton When I first heard the title of the debut Bash & Pop release, Friday Night Is Killing Me, I figured it was something I could relate to a bit, since I’d had a few rough Friday nights in my own lifetime—not to mention Saturday mornings. But … Continue reading Bash & Pop’s Tommy Stinson stole plenty from Paul Westerberg

Classy, driven Tina Turner shows her blues prowess in Vancouver

@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1993 By Steve Newton Before heading over to the Coliseum for Tina Turner’s show last Thursday (June 10), I popped in to the grand opening of the new Mongolie Grill near Robson and Thurlow. The place was jam-packed with hungry schmoozers lining up for free food … Continue reading Classy, driven Tina Turner shows her blues prowess in Vancouver

Blues Saraceno’s amp-blowing reminded Jack Bruce of something Hendrix would do

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 3, 1993 By Steve Newton As a kid growing up in the wee burgh of Middletown, Conn., Blues Saraceno had it kinda rough. He wanted to play guitar, but he couldn’t find anyone his age to jam with. “That was the absolute worst,” Saraceno says on the line from his home … Continue reading Blues Saraceno’s amp-blowing reminded Jack Bruce of something Hendrix would do

Issues with Bob Rock and Sharon Osbourne leave the Quireboys Bitter Sweet & Twisted

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 27, 1993 By Steve Newton After Bob Rock hit the big time by producing Motley Crue’s No. 1 album, Dr. Feelgood—and then accomplished the incredible feat of making former thrash-masters Metallica a mainstream rock-radio fave—it seemed the Vancouver producer could do no wrong. And although Rock’s reputation as a producer with … Continue reading Issues with Bob Rock and Sharon Osbourne leave the Quireboys Bitter Sweet & Twisted

Paul Rodgers proves that he’s the world’s best guy at going “Whoa-yeaah!” in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 20, 1993 By Steve Newton The first time I saw Paul Rodgers perform live was back in the ’70s, when Bad Company played the Pacific Coliseum on the Running with the Pack tour. I didn’t see him again until last Friday (May 14), but lemme tell ya—the guy is still one … Continue reading Paul Rodgers proves that he’s the world’s best guy at going “Whoa-yeaah!” in Vancouver

Jeff Healey gets a bit defensive when the bluesiness of new Feel This album is questioned

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 13, 1993 By Steve Newton Usually when I picture the Jeff Healey Band in concert, I visualize Healey seated at centre stage, his guitar on his lap, surrounded only by a couple of guys with curly black hair (drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman). But when the Toronto blues-rocker plays … Continue reading Jeff Healey gets a bit defensive when the bluesiness of new Feel This album is questioned