ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 4, 1999 By Steve Newton Matthew Sweet is best-known for stripped-down, three-and-a-half-minute pop-rock tunes that require no more than five people to perform. But on his new CD, In Reverse, the Nebraska native goes hog-wild in the personnel department, lining up as many as 17 musicians to play … Continue reading Matthew Sweet channels Phil Spector, goes session-player crazy on In Reverse
Tag: Jim Keltner
Album review: Mick Jagger, Wandering Spirit (1993)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 8, 1993 By Steve Newton Not satisfied with being just “the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band”, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Mick Jagger are now shooting for the title of “world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll solo artists”. And, for the most part, they hit the mark. … Continue reading Album review: Mick Jagger, Wandering Spirit (1993)
That time Warren Zevon called me from Alabama and said that the Odds had “pretty big feet”
By Steve Newton Back on January 28, 1992, Warren Zevon called me up from a soundcheck in Alabama. I know what you're thinkin': how cool was that? Pretty damn cool. At the time Zevon was touring behind his Waddy Wachtel-produced Mr. Bad Example album, and his road band was the Odds, the Vancouver power-pop quartet who'd … Continue reading That time Warren Zevon called me from Alabama and said that the Odds had “pretty big feet”
Laid-back legend J.J. Cale tells me “there’s no hurry”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MARCH 1990 By Steve Newton Eric Clapton has a lot of admirers, most of them appreciative of the fine music the British guitarist has delivered over the years. But J.J. Cale has another reason for feeling indebted to Clapton, and you spell it with a dollar sign. If Clapton is indeed God, … Continue reading Laid-back legend J.J. Cale tells me “there’s no hurry”
Warren Zevon talks Odds, “Werewolves”, scoring films, and managing to remain poor
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, 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 … Continue reading Warren Zevon talks Odds, “Werewolves”, scoring films, and managing to remain poor
The North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson says corn liquor is the secret ingredient of hill-country blues
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 22, 2005 By Steve Newton With its new CD, Electric Blue Watermelon, the North Mississippi Allstars head straight back to the hypnotic roots of the hill-country sound. On the track "Moonshine", singer-guitarist Luther Dickinson relives the group's youthful experiences jamming with late blues legend Otha Turner and playing all-night boogie at … Continue reading The North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson says corn liquor is the secret ingredient of hill-country blues
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