Album review: The New Odds, Cheerleader (2008)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 19, 2008 By Steve Newton The original Odds team of singer-guitarists Craig Northey and Steven Drake was a pairing made in pop heaven. On its best songs, like “I Would Be Your Man” and “Nothing Beautiful”, its melodic sensibilities rivaled the Beatles-esque beauty of Crowded House. Mind you, … Continue reading Album review: The New Odds, Cheerleader (2008)

That time Craig Northey told me what he really thinks about the Hip not being big in the States

By Steve Newton I did the last of my five interviews with Gord Downie back in October of 1996, when the Tragically Hip was at its peak of popularity. At that point the latest Hip CD, Trouble at the Henhouse, had sold about 100,000 copies in the U.S., which, while a respectable number, still paled drastically … Continue reading That time Craig Northey told me what he really thinks about the Hip not being big in the States

Craig Northey covers Art Bergmann’s “Faithlessly Yours” to show support for The Apostate

By Steve Newton Vancouver music great and all-around good guy Craig Northey recently recorded a version of Art Bergmann's 1991 song "Faithlessly Yours" to show support for Bergmann's new album, The Apostate. If you want to follow Northey's lead, you can help in the creation of Art's new music via Pledge Music. Here's the original video … Continue reading Craig Northey covers Art Bergmann’s “Faithlessly Yours” to show support for The Apostate

Brent Butt + Craig Northey = “shits ‘n’ giggles”

When I talked to Vancouver-based comic and actor Brent Butt a couple months ago we spent most of the time chatting about how he came to make Corner Gas: The Movie, which he described as "the little-cherry-on-top kinda thing" in relation to his popular Corner Gas TV series, which had halted production back in 2009. But we … Continue reading Brent Butt + Craig Northey = “shits ‘n’ giggles”

2nd annual Burnaby Blues Fest suits yard apes and beer drinkers alike

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 26, 2001 As any local fan will tell you, the Vancouver area has needed a full-fledged blues festival for so long that it hurts. Harmonica ace and CFMI Sunday Blues radio-show host Stormin’ Norm Casler tried getting an annual all-day blues fest going at Granville Island a few … Continue reading 2nd annual Burnaby Blues Fest suits yard apes and beer drinkers alike

Brett Butt calls Corner Gas: The Movie “the little cherry-on-top kinda thing”

Hard-core fans of Corner Gas were pretty miffed when the popular CTV sitcom stopped production back in 2009 after six seasons. Lucky for them, creator and star Brent Butt hasn’t gotten the show completely out of his system, because today (December 3), Corner Gas: The Movie opens for a five-night run at select Cineplex theatres. On the phone from … Continue reading Brett Butt calls Corner Gas: The Movie “the little cherry-on-top kinda thing”

Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 13, 1997 By Steve Newton What better place to interview Odds singer-guitarist Craig Northey than at the Roxy Cabaret on Granville? Not only do they have beer there, but it’s also the old haunt of Dawn Patrol, the Odds’ alter ego house band, which played there from 1988 to ’91, delivering … Continue reading Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest

Bittersweet Gin Blossoms encounter UFOs and Alice Cooper in their Arizona ‘hood

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 29, 1996 By Steve Newton If there were such a thing as a Webster’s Dictionary of Pop Music, you could probably look up the word bittersweet and find a picture of Arizona’s Gin Blossoms nearby. Like fellow southerner Matthew Sweet and local buddies the Odds—who will tour with the Gin Blossoms … Continue reading Bittersweet Gin Blossoms encounter UFOs and Alice Cooper in their Arizona ‘hood

Warren Zevon talks Odds, “Werewolves”, scoring films, and managing to remain poor

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 6, 1992 By Steve Newton Once upon a time, there were four young men who played in a band called Dawn Patrol. At a bar called the Roxy, they’d play fired-up versions of classic rock tunes and intersperse them with zany patter and goofy jokes. Then one day the band revealed … Continue reading Warren Zevon talks Odds, “Werewolves”, scoring films, and managing to remain poor

My first ever e-mail interview, because it’s Billy freakin’ Gibbons, that’s why!

I've done hundreds of interviews with famous rockers since I started writing for the Georgia Straight back in 1982, most of them over the phone--in advance of a Vancouver tour date--some of them in person. It's always been the policy at the Straight to turn down offers of e-mail interviews--where you send in questions and … Continue reading My first ever e-mail interview, because it’s Billy freakin’ Gibbons, that’s why!

Craig Northey stays in the game

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 24, 2005 Craig Northey is best known for his work with the Odds, the whimsically rockin' local quartet that spent most of the '90s churning out some of the most enchanting, Beatlesque pop this city has ever heard. Since the Odds called it quits in 2000, he's stayed deeply involved … Continue reading Craig Northey stays in the game

Colin James shines bright on the talent-packed Limelight

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 24, 2005 By Steve Newton On Limelight, his new, Juno Award-worthy CD, Colin James pulls off a sharp cover of Bob Dylan's "Watchin' the River Flow", but the coolest thing about that track is what happens at the end of it. Just as the final strains of the 12-bar-blues number … Continue reading Colin James shines bright on the talent-packed Limelight

New Odds mix lightness and darkness

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 3, 2008 THERE ONCE WAS a Vancouver band called the Odds, which rose up from its night job as a cover band at the Roxy Nightclub to win over the hearts and minds of pop-rock fans far and wide. Between 1991 and ’96 the group released four major-label discs that spawned … Continue reading New Odds mix lightness and darkness