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
Tag: Starfish Room
Teenage slide-guitar ace Derek Trucks says his goal is not to play like Duane Allman
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN EXPERIENCE HENDRIX MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 1998 By Steve Newton Teenage blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd has a great story about how he got inspired to take up guitar. It has something to do with him, as a little kid, watching Stevie Ray Vaughan perform from atop one of the Texas guitar legend’s amp cases. … Continue reading Teenage slide-guitar ace Derek Trucks says his goal is not to play like Duane Allman
Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson sings the praises of unsung Satellite Rick Richards
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 13, 1999 Everyone I’ve talked to about new L.A. guitar band Buckcherry—including Vancouver rocker and reporter John Armstrong, the original “Buck Cherry” of the Modernettes—views the group as a rehash of riff-rock acts from the ’70s (Kiss, AC/DC) and ’90s (the Black Crowes). But Buckcherry’s retro raunch-boogie doesn’t … Continue reading Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson sings the praises of unsung Satellite Rick Richards
Heroin overdose leads to the return of the Cadillac Tramps’ tattooed thugs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 6, 1999 By Steve Newton Five years ago, Orange County’s Cadillac Tramps released It’s Allright, an album chock-full of hyper, street-level punk rock that never quit. The album made my top 10 of ’94, but shortly afterward the group disbanded, vocalist Gabby Gaborno forming the X-Members and guitarist–main … Continue reading Heroin overdose leads to the return of the Cadillac Tramps’ tattooed thugs
Galactic Cowboys meld melodicism and raunch on At the End of the Day
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 21, 1999 By Steve Newton Few bands straddle the line between pop and metal as skillfully as the Galactic Cowboys. On the Texas quartet’s latest CD, At the End of the Day, they meld melodicism and raunch so winningly that it’s hard to tell if these Cowboys are … Continue reading Galactic Cowboys meld melodicism and raunch on At the End of the Day
Susan Tedeschi just enjoys being a musician, pretty much
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 3, 1998 By Steve Newton When Susan Tedeschi’s cell phone rings in an L.A. hotel room, a female voice answers, but it isn’t the one I’m looking for. It’s actually Tedeschi’s mom, who, in a very motherly way, explains that her daughter’s in the bathtub. Sounding concerned that her child might … Continue reading Susan Tedeschi just enjoys being a musician, pretty much
Robbie Fulks tears a strip off the Nashville scene on Let’s Kill Saturday Night
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 26, 1998 Singer-songwriter-guitarist Robbie Fulks is an up-front kind of guy. He lets people know how he feels, and when he’s feeling pissed off, look out. The object of his wrath was Nashville a couple of years back, when Fulks—unimpressed by his treatment there at the hands of … Continue reading Robbie Fulks tears a strip off the Nashville scene on Let’s Kill Saturday Night
Patty Griffin learns how to live on Flaming Red
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 1998 By Steve Newton For her first album, 1996’s Living With Ghosts, Patty Griffin appeared alone, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar. On her new CD, Flaming Red, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter from Maine is in the company of more than a dozen musicians, including such stellar types … Continue reading Patty Griffin learns how to live on Flaming Red
The Refreshments fluked out scoring the King of the Hill theme
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 9, 1997 By Steve Newton If there’s one thing that can lift my spirits on a sombre Sunday night, it’s the driving instrumental theme song of TV’s King of the Hill. I know there’s gonna be some hilarious redneck Texas humour comin’ up, and besides, it’s a damn … Continue reading The Refreshments fluked out scoring the King of the Hill theme
Sister Hazel’s meat-and-potatoes rock is alright by the Allman Brothers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 28, 1997 As bands sometimes do, Florida guitar-rockers Sister Hazel included snapshots from their youth in the booklet for their latest CD, …Somewhere More Familiar. There are photos of four little kids playing piano, violin, guitar (with a Neil Young headband!), and drums—and one of a smiling tyke … Continue reading Sister Hazel’s meat-and-potatoes rock is alright by the Allman Brothers
Freaky ponytail action and ’60s rave-ups set the tone at Link Wray’s Vancouver riff-o-rama
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 10, 1997 By Steve Newton When I heard that legendary instro-rock guitarist Link Wray was performing a few tunes and signing autographs at the Virgin Megastore last Friday afternoon (July 4), I snuck off from work early and headed down to Robson Street clutching my trusty Plexiglas-body Raven guitar and one … Continue reading Freaky ponytail action and ’60s rave-ups set the tone at Link Wray’s Vancouver riff-o-rama
Infant death and screwing up inspire Rob Thomas on Matchbox 20’s debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 3, 1997 By Steve Newton Multitudes of new rock acts release their debut albums every year, but only a small percentage of them garner extensive airplay or achieve major sales figures. So it helps if a baby band gets a hand from a capable producer its first time out. Orlando, Florida’s … Continue reading Infant death and screwing up inspire Rob Thomas on Matchbox 20’s debut
Link Wray: my one and only interview with the inventor of the raunchy riff
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 3, 1997 By Steve Newton There’s been a missing Link on the North American music scene for a long time, but now he’s back, and instro-rock fans have serious cause to rejoice. Two weeks ago in Texas, 68-year-old guitar god Link Wray launched his first North American tour in 25 years, … Continue reading Link Wray: my one and only interview with the inventor of the raunchy riff