Tag: Tom Petty

Chris Whitley figures Johnny Winter is the best blues-rock record ever made

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 1991 By Steve Newton Certain albums hold sacred places in people’s hearts. They know every chorus, verse, and bridge of one particular LP. For me, that ultimate album might be Mott the Hoople’s Mott. For dobro ace Chris Whitley, it’s definitely Johnny Winter’s Johnny Winter. “To me, … Continue reading Chris Whitley figures Johnny Winter is the best blues-rock record ever made

This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 15, 2010 By Steve Newton Several years ago I was combing the CD stacks at Zulu Records—back when they were located on the other side of Fourth and a little further east—and came across the 1995 tribute album Rattlesnake Guitar: The Music of Peter Green. Man, what a find that … Continue reading This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green

Bob Dylan Blu-ray smokes with Johnny Winter, Neil Young & Tom Petty

By Steve Newton Back in October of '92 a mindblowing array of the world's top recording artists performed at New York's Madison Square Garden for Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert celebration, and this Tuesday (March 4) a deluxe edition of the concert is being released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray. I watched the Blu-ray this … Continue reading Bob Dylan Blu-ray smokes with Johnny Winter, Neil Young & Tom Petty

Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1979

Ah, 1979. According to my calculations, that was the last year of the '70s, which was the greatest decade for guitar-based rock music ever. I'd like to thank Fender, Gibson, Marshall, and everyone else who created the instruments of my enjoyment back then. A Million Vacations: Max Webster ("Paradise Skies", "A Million Vacations", "Let Go … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1979

Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1978

I'll always remember 1978 as the year I saw Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, when they were touring behind You're Gonna Get It. I'll also remember it for that time Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham took me backstage when the band opened for Styx at the Coliseum. Unfortunately, I'll … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1978

Spirit of Keef surfaces on top-notch Matt Mays & El Torpedo

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 27, 2005 By Steve Newton There's a foldout poster that comes with the self-titled Matt Mays & El Torpedo CD, but it's not your typical rockers-posing shot, suitable for taping on any starstruck fan's wall. It's more like what veteran Straight scribe Alexander Varty describes as "guitar porn": a photo … Continue reading Spirit of Keef surfaces on top-notch Matt Mays & El Torpedo

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 9, 2010 Man, I gotta quit living in the past, because my expectations are just too damn high. Two of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Commodore in 1978 and then Petty again—with Bob Dylan—at Berkeley, California’s Greek Theatre in ’84. Both … Continue reading Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers

The Drive-By Truckers’ country-soul mojo gets invigorated by Eddie Hinton on Go-Go Boots

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 2011 By Steve Newton Last year the Drive-By Truckers released The Big To-Do, a raucous collection of southern-fried alt-country tunes highlighted by the exuberant single “Birthday Boy”. A totally different vibe typifies the band’s new album, Go-Go Boots, which is surprising since its material was recorded during the same sessions as its … Continue reading The Drive-By Truckers’ country-soul mojo gets invigorated by Eddie Hinton on Go-Go Boots

Sun Wizard takes an old-school approach to rock ‘n’ roll

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 29, 2011 “SUN WIZARD ARE your favourite band from when you were in high school,” begins the bio accompanying local guitar-rock quartet Sun Wizard’s full-length debut album, Positively 4th Avenue. That’s a pretty grand statement, but of course its accuracy depends on when and where you went to high school. It wasn’t … Continue reading Sun Wizard takes an old-school approach to rock ‘n’ roll

The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages

photo by Rebecca Blissett ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 25, 2012 By Steve Newton I've seen a lot of great rock concerts at the Commodore over the years, but the one that's always stood out for me as "best ever" was Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers back in '78, just after the release of the You're Gonna … Continue reading The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages