ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 23, 1995 By Steve Newton Ever wonder what happened to the Aussie Invasion? Back in the early- to mid-’80s it seemed as if a band wasn’t on top unless it was from Down Under. Two-hit wonders Men at Work kick-started the worldwide interest in the music of koala country in ’82 … Continue reading Aussie songwriting great Paul Kelly hits 40 and treads into Deeper Water
Tag: 1995
Junkhouse’s Tom Wilson believes there’s a Birthday Boy in all of us
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 30, 1995 By Steve Newton If you happened to see the Beatles Anthology series on the tube last week, you’re probably aware that the Fab Four quit touring in 1966 and became just a recording act. That move worked out alright for them—but it probably wouldn’t suit Hamilton, Ontario, rockers Junkhouse. … Continue reading Junkhouse’s Tom Wilson believes there’s a Birthday Boy in all of us
Southern Culture on the Skids: the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock since 1985
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 16, 1995 By Steve Newton “High-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock.” That’s how singer-guitarist Rick Miller describes the œuvre of his band, Southern Culture on the Skids. And he’s mighty proud of it, too. Miller’s been striving to produce the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock ever since forming the band back in … Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids: the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock since 1985
Skydiggers look forward to getting into a groove with Warner Music Canada and Road Radio
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 9, 1995 By Steve Newton When a couple of Skydiggers show up at the office to chat about their latest CD, I’m expecting to see at least one goatee, but instead I get sideburns (courtesy bassist Ronnie Von Johnnie) and long, straggly hair (courtesy singer-guitarist Peter Cash). The guy who’s front … Continue reading Skydiggers look forward to getting into a groove with Warner Music Canada and Road Radio
UFO sightings and mining disasters fuel Weeping Tile’s Cold Snap
Only six years ago, Kingston, Ontario, was a place best-known for its contrasting institutions of promise and penance.
Seven Mary Three blasts straight outta Florida with American Standard
As soon as I saw the title of Seven Mary Three’s debut release, American Standard, I felt an affinity for the Florida guitar-rock quintet.
Quadrophenia: Live in London gets primo packaging in a collector’s edition
By Steve Newton I've long posited that the Who's Quadrophenia is the greatest rock album of all time. The 1973 double-disc captured the British rock quartet at its creative peak, firing on all cylinders, and—thanks to Pete Townsend's songwriting skills—told a thoroughly engrossing tale of a young man's struggle for identity amid the Mods vs. Rockers turmoil … Continue reading Quadrophenia: Live in London gets primo packaging in a collector’s edition
Cosmic encounters inspire Locoweed’s Scott Towaij to get a message out
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 2, 1995 Vancouver’s homegrown talent pool has never been stronger than it is right now, but there’s a lot to be said for musicians who bring their talent here from other places, too. The most prominent transplants to Vancouver are folks such as Sarah McLachlan, k.d. lang, and … Continue reading Cosmic encounters inspire Locoweed’s Scott Towaij to get a message out
Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 1995 By Steve Newton When I first heard Brother Cane’s self-titled debut CD three years ago, I was mightily impressed by the Alabama quartet’s bluesy, southern-tinged guitar-rock, spurred on as it was by the multiple talents of Damon Johnson, lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and main songwriter. But aside from the … Continue reading Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver
Horror-loving Tom Bagley gets ghouled up to rock out in Forbidden Dimension
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 12, 1995 By Steve Newton It’s not hard to figure out where Forbidden Dimension is coming from when you check out the Calgary horror-rock trio’s latest disc, Somebody Down There Likes Me. The cool cartoon cover art by singer-guitarist Tom Bagley (stage name Jackson Phibes, as in The Abominable Dr. Phibes) … Continue reading Horror-loving Tom Bagley gets ghouled up to rock out in Forbidden Dimension
13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 By Steve Newton Toronto guitar-rockers 13 Engines recorded their first two albums in a one-room schoolhouse in the bush near Ann Arbor, Michigan. They made their third one on top of a mountain in Malibu and their fourth in the village of Morin Heights, in Quebec’s … Continue reading 13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador
Robben Ford bounces back from exhaustion, brings the Blue Line to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 I’ve been reviewing bands in the Georgia Straight since 1982—“Geez, when’s that old hack gonna pack it in?”—but this is the first time I’ve reviewed a gig at Richard’s on Richards. Since its inception, the upscale downtown club has been prone to hiring nondescript Top 40 … Continue reading Robben Ford bounces back from exhaustion, brings the Blue Line to Vancouver
Santo & Johnny put the instrumental bug in Friends of Dean Martinez
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 5, 1995 By Steve Newton You could foresee that by calling your band the Friends of Frank Sinatra, you’d be leaving yourself open for a spot of legal trouble—or worse—should Ol’ Blue Eyes catch wind of the misleading moniker. But could you forgive an instrumental quintet from Arizona for not concerning … Continue reading Santo & Johnny put the instrumental bug in Friends of Dean Martinez