Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 2009 By Steve Newton Back in 2006, power-pop stalwart Matthew Sweet and sometimes-Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs collaborated on Under the Covers Vol. 1, in which they performed versions of ’60s hits by groups like the Beatles, the Who, and the Beach Boys. On Under the Covers Vol. 2 the … Continue reading Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)

That time 26-year-old Stevie Salas told me about opening for Joe Satriani on the Blue Dream tour

By Steve Newton Way the funk back in June of 1990 I interviewed singer-songwriter and kick-ass guitarist Stevie Salas, who at the time was promoting his Stevie Salas Colorcode album, which I liked enough to put on my Top 10 list that year. "Hendrix meets Funkadelic in the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ practice space," was … Continue reading That time 26-year-old Stevie Salas told me about opening for Joe Satriani on the Blue Dream tour

God bless Steve Cropper’s guitar solo on Rod Stewart’s “Stone Cold Sober”

By Steve Newton Aw crap! I interviewed guitar legend Steve Cropper today and forgot to thank him for the guitar solo he did back in '75 on "Stone Cold Sober", a killer tune he cowrote with Rod Stewart for the Atlantic Crossing album. As the weird kids say on social media these days, that solo is … Continue reading God bless Steve Cropper’s guitar solo on Rod Stewart’s “Stone Cold Sober”

Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 29, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were in a rockin', blues-based guitar band and wanted to cover a song from the Beatles' White Album, you'd probably pick one of the heavier Lennon/McCartney tunes like "Yer Blues" or "Savoy Truffle" or "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me … Continue reading Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

Album review: Rod Stewart, Unplugged…and Seated (1993)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1993 By Steve Newton I always thought that the opening riff of Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla” was one of the most simple and beautiful things in rock ’n’ roll, so I wasn’t too thrilled when I first heard Clapton’s lounge-style, Unplugged version of the song, … Continue reading Album review: Rod Stewart, Unplugged…and Seated (1993)

Rod Stewart box set captures his post-Faces hits and the odd clunker

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 2002 By Steve Newton Before Rod the Mod became the kind of guy who would release a CD of golden-oldie pop standards called It Had to Be You—and then shamelessly plug it on Larry King Live—he was quite a ferocious rock crooner. Nothing will ever match the … Continue reading Rod Stewart box set captures his post-Faces hits and the odd clunker

Santana’s guitar magic outshines Rod Stewart’s showmanship in Vancouver

photos by Jet Sutherland By Steve Newton In a perfect rock 'n' roll world, Rod Stewart would quit releasing those snoozy Great American Songbook golden-oldie albums, hook back up with Ronnie Wood and whatever other old Faces members are still kickin', start drinking again, and go out in a blaze of glory on a Faces club tour … Continue reading Santana’s guitar magic outshines Rod Stewart’s showmanship in Vancouver

Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 21, 1989 By Steve Newton All the acts at last Sunday's (July 16) rock 'n' roll bash at B.C. Place had played Vancouver last year—Rod Stewart at the Coliseum, Tom Cochrane at the Orpheum, and Jeff Healey at the Commodore. But that didn't stop 21,000 rock fans from shelling out … Continue reading Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed

Rod Stewart shows he’s still got it in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 23, 2011 Who’d have thought that two Vancouver concerts in the same week by a couple of ancient rock headliners from the ”˜70s would be so damned impressive? Rod Stewart’s hugely entertaining show at Rogers Arena Friday night (April 22) was a real nice follow-up to Robert Plant’s impeccable performance … Continue reading Rod Stewart shows he’s still got it in Vancouver