Twenty-five years ago today—on March 12, 1990—Nirvana played Vancouver's Town Pump on a double-bill with fellow Seattle grunge-rockers Tad. Remember that amazing gig? I don't. For some strange reason I didn't go, although a year later I'd return to the fabled Gastown venue to review Tad, and then six months after that, the mighty Pearl Jam. I've been … Continue reading Nirvana plays the Town Pump in Vancouver (two days after the Beat Farmers)
Tag: Town Pump
13 Engines are runaway locomotives at the Town Pump in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 15, 1991 By Steve Newton 13 Engines once played a gig in Memphis to a total of two people, which is less of a crowd than most bands get at rehearsals. But the Toronto foursome did a heckuva lot better than that at the Town Pump last week (August 7), pulling … Continue reading 13 Engines are runaway locomotives at the Town Pump in Vancouver
John Doe goes solo on some “basic roots shit” but that doesn’t mean X is dead
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 2, 1990 By Steve Newton Some rock musicians, when you ask them about their music, go to great lengths to describe the sounds they create. Not John Doe. "It's your basic roots shit," says the recently-gone-solo former bassist/vocalist for California's X. "But we try to keep twisting it … Continue reading John Doe goes solo on some “basic roots shit” but that doesn’t mean X is dead
Toronto’s Rusty made Vancouver home for its Sophomoric CD
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 24, 1997 I’m usually a pretty patient guy, but sitting at a table in the Web Café, waiting for Rusty singer Ken MacNeil to show up, I’m losing it. He’s only 10 minutes late for our scheduled 6 p.m. interview, but it seems like an hour, because every … Continue reading Toronto’s Rusty made Vancouver home for its Sophomoric CD
Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 13, 1997 By Steve Newton What better place to interview Odds singer-guitarist Craig Northey than at the Roxy Cabaret on Granville? Not only do they have beer there, but it’s also the old haunt of Dawn Patrol, the Odds’ alter ego house band, which played there from 1988 to ’91, delivering … Continue reading Foghat cymbal crashes require no caffeine buzz on Odds’ new Nest
Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 30, 1997 By Steve Newton Thanks to the popularity of an angst-ridden grunge-pop ditty called “Bound for the Floor”, Illinois rock duo Local H is making tsunami-sized waves on North American radio right now. The group is also garnering attention for its unusual configuration, although vocalist-guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe … Continue reading Illinois duo Local H is bound for glory with “Bound For the Floor”
Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 28, 1996 Chatting with hungover rock musicians isn’t always a ton o’ fun, but sometimes you can’t blame them for knocking back a few cocktails the night before an interview. When Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock calls from New York one early afternoon, he’s still feeling the … Continue reading Ocean Colour Scene gives shout-out to southern soul with Moseley Shoals
Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 10, 1996 By Steve Newton It’s times like this—when Punchbuggy’s Jim Bryson calls from the chilly wastelands of Saskatchewan—that I feel good about being an observer of rock instead of a participant. I’m cosy at home while he’s shivering at the side of the Trans-Canada Highway, the intermittent swoosh of passing … Continue reading Punchbuggy’s indie status makes $100 speeding tickets hard to take
The Doughboys’ John Kastner is sick of hearing about the Hip
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 19, 1996 When Doughboys singer-guitarist John Kastner rings up and informs me that he’s calling from Kingston, Ontario, I casually comment, “Oh, the home of the Tragically Hip.” I suppose I could have said, “Hey, nice penitentiary they’ve got there.” That might have gone over a little better. … Continue reading The Doughboys’ John Kastner is sick of hearing about the Hip
Zakk Wylde draws from Shannon Hoon’s O.D. for his heavy Book of Shadows
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 5, 1996 By Steve Newton Most hard-rock fans know Zakk Wylde as the young musician who helped rejuvenate metal veteran Ozzy Osbourne’s career by cowriting the hit “No More Tears”, in the process taking the coveted guitarist’s spot previously held by the likes of Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee. Others … Continue reading Zakk Wylde draws from Shannon Hoon’s O.D. for his heavy Book of Shadows
Dan Wilson’s journey from Trip Shakespeare to Pleasure to Semisonic led to a Great Divide
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 2, 1996 By Steve Newton There are all kinds of stories about bands being threatened by lawsuits over their names, but you can add another one to the list with the case of Minneapolis power-pop trio Semisonic. They were touring Midwest clubs as Pleasure last year when, out of the blue, … Continue reading Dan Wilson’s journey from Trip Shakespeare to Pleasure to Semisonic led to a Great Divide
Ruth Ruth’s free tapes and gratis gigs led to American Recordings debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 4, 1996 If you’re a musician, working a day job at a record shop certainly has its perks. First off, you get to listen to music all day. Then maybe you get a discount on CDs. For New York City pop-punks Ruth Ruth, guitarist Mike Lustig’s record-store employment … Continue reading Ruth Ruth’s free tapes and gratis gigs led to American Recordings debut
Seven Mary Three blasts straight outta Florida with American Standard
As soon as I saw the title of Seven Mary Three’s debut release, American Standard, I felt an affinity for the Florida guitar-rock quintet.