Tag: Club Soda

10 memorable concerts at 10 lost but unforgotten Vancouver venues

By Steve Newton As a freelance music writer in Vancouver since 1982, I've seen a lotta concerts. Most of the arena shows I reviewed took place at the Pacific Coliseum, until the Vancouver Canucks found a new home downtown in 1995 at GM Place, which was renamed Rogers Arena in 2010. But I wasn't just … Continue reading 10 memorable concerts at 10 lost but unforgotten Vancouver venues

Kick Axe guitarist Gillstrom helps Vancouver metalheads kick ass

Gillstrom with Kick Axe, second from right ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1988 By Steve Newton Heavy metal. The words strike fear into the hearts of Julio lovers everywhere. Luckily Larry Gillstrom isn't an Iglesias fan. The guitarist for local metal merchants Kick Axe prefers his music fast and hard, so, along with Club Soda … Continue reading Kick Axe guitarist Gillstrom helps Vancouver metalheads kick ass

Def Leppard makes a triumphant in-the-round return to Vancouver on the Hysteria tour

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Being a rock critic is not all fun and games. "Sure, Steve," you're probably saying, "all those free concerts and backstage brewskies must be real tough." Okay, so there are worse occupations, but like anything else it can get boring. You become pretty … Continue reading Def Leppard makes a triumphant in-the-round return to Vancouver on the Hysteria tour

Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the neck

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 4, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands spend months—even years—recording albums, poring over technicalities and making sure every little nibbly bit is in the perfect place. Then there are bands like Florida’s Saigon Kick, which knocked off its debut in 11 days flat. That’s movin’. “Everybody says that,” … Continue reading Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the neck

Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1990 By Steve Newton When the Royal Court of China's debut album hit the record racks three years ago, it took a few people by surprise. By the daintiness of the band's name, possible buyers might be forgiven for taking it as yet another panty-waist British synth duo churning … Continue reading Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed

“Weird guy” Donald Trump gets dumped by Precious Metal after “Mr. Big Stuff” video debacle

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 21, 1991 By Steve Newton Even in the big-bucks world of pop metal, rock ’n’ roll and money don’t always mix. Just ask Precious Metal vocalist Leslie Knauer, whose band had a recent run-in with billionaire developer Donald Trump that—apart from generating lots of publicity—didn’t benefit either side. As the story … Continue reading “Weird guy” Donald Trump gets dumped by Precious Metal after “Mr. Big Stuff” video debacle

NRBQ tars and feathers a Cabbage Patch Kid just for kicks in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 14, 1985 By Steve Newton "Are you having a good time?" asked Terry Adams. And the capacity crowd at Club Soda--who obviously were--answered with a resounding 'Yes!". "Yes what?!" countered bassist Joey Spampinato. And that's the way it was last Thursday--with the New Rhythm & Blues Quartet (NRBQ) making fun of … Continue reading NRBQ tars and feathers a Cabbage Patch Kid just for kicks in Vancouver

NRBQ likes to go by the way it feels at the time

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 7, 1985 By Steve Newton NRBQ stands for the New Rhythm & Blues Quartet, but NRBQ isn't a rhythm and blues band. A bit misleading, wouldn't you say? "It might be to some people, " says bassist Joey Spampinato, over the phone from somewhere in Maryland. "Actually, the … Continue reading NRBQ likes to go by the way it feels at the time

Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton You might have seen the movie Fame--or the TV series that followed it--which traced the exploits of young students at Manhattan's renowned High School of the Performing Arts. With all the dancing in the streets that went on, you'd figure anyone enrolled in the institution was having … Continue reading Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy

Bass god Billy Sheehan pooh-poohs Mr. Big’s supergroup status

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Seeing a destined-to-be-huge band in a small venue can make for one of the most memorable nights in any rock fan's existence. Kiss at the Commodore, Jeff Healey at the Yale, Living Colour at the Town Pump, Metallica at the New York Theatre--those are just a … Continue reading Bass god Billy Sheehan pooh-poohs Mr. Big’s supergroup status

That time my buddy Stick of Mad Duck ticked off Metallica’s Lars Ulrich by asking him to jam

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 22, 1997 By Steve Newton Back when the Starfish Room was still a headbanger’s haven known as Club Soda, a rock-crazed pal of mine named Stick bumped into Lars Ulrich there. The Metallica drummer was hangin’ out with his entourage after one of the band’s intense Vancouver gigs when Stick—whose band … Continue reading That time my buddy Stick of Mad Duck ticked off Metallica’s Lars Ulrich by asking him to jam

Stu Hamm says that seeing bass god Jaco Pastorius for the first time changed his life

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 7, 1991 By Steve Newton There are rock heroes, and then there are rock heroes’ rock heroes. For virtuoso bassist Stuart Hamm, it was the cosmic abilities of the late Jaco Pastorius that made the most profound impression on him. He couldn’t sleep for two days after seeing … Continue reading Stu Hamm says that seeing bass god Jaco Pastorius for the first time changed his life