That time I asked Carlos Santana how he gets his guitar tone

By Steve Newton One of the biggest thrills of my life as a rock journalist came when I interviewed Carlos Santana in August of 2011. His guitar sound has just entranced me ever since I first heard "Black Magic Woman" as a kid. So of course I had to ask him where he gets his … Continue reading That time I asked Carlos Santana how he gets his guitar tone

Uli Jon Roth invented the Sky guitar because 24 frets weren’t enough

By Steve Newton German guitar legend Uli Jon Roth plays Vancouver this Saturday (March 19) on a bill with fellow six-string sensations Jennifer Batten and Andy Timmons. The show is part of Uli Jon Roth's Ultimate Guitar Experience, a tour that promises to be a perfect warmup for the Generation Axe show in April, which … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth invented the Sky guitar because 24 frets weren’t enough

Shit-hot picker Greg Koch shows off the Robin Trower signature Strat

If you were big fan of guitar-based rock in the '70s and your head wasn't too far up your ass you probably listened to Robin Trower, the bluesy British picker who released a string of soulful albums heavy on the Hendrix that went gold on the charts and in my rock-lovin' heart as well. Now Fender guitars … Continue reading Shit-hot picker Greg Koch shows off the Robin Trower signature Strat

The Bright Light Social Hour made the Austin Music Awards its bitch

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 6, 2014 By Steve Newton If you're a rock-music fan in Austin, Texas, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard of a band called the Bright Light Social Hour. A year after releasing its self-titled 2010 debut, the quartet made the 29th annual Austin Music Awards its bitch, taking an unprecedented … Continue reading The Bright Light Social Hour made the Austin Music Awards its bitch