Tag: Town Pump

Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 1995 By Steve Newton When I first heard Brother Cane’s self-titled debut CD three years ago, I was mightily impressed by the Alabama quartet’s bluesy, southern-tinged guitar-rock, spurred on as it was by the multiple talents of Damon Johnson, lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and main songwriter. But aside from the … Continue reading Brother Cane melds Zeppelin-style raunch and southern-rock spirit in Vancouver

13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 1995 By Steve Newton Toronto guitar-rockers 13 Engines recorded their first two albums in a one-room schoolhouse in the bush near Ann Arbor, Michigan. They made their third one on top of a mountain in Malibu and their fourth in the village of Morin Heights, in Quebec’s … Continue reading 13 Engines felt right using the Coop’s Nimbus 9 board for Conquistador

Ian Moore’s social commentary stings like his Strat on Modernday Folklore

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 28, 1995 By Steve Newton On the cover of Ian Moore’s 1993 self-titled debut, he is pictured hugging his worn Stratocaster, perched on a beat-up Fender amp, a drum kit and large speaker cabinet looming in the background. That simple shot of the longhaired, cowboy-booted dude set the impression of Moore … Continue reading Ian Moore’s social commentary stings like his Strat on Modernday Folklore

My first and last interview with underrated blues-guitar great Luther Allison

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 21, 1995 By Steve Newton Why would a gifted bluesman from the Windy City ever think to leave his sweet home in Chicago and take up residence in a place like Paris, France? Maybe so he could get some inspiration for a tune called “Nuclear Weapon–Testing Weasel Blues”, but that’s about … Continue reading My first and last interview with underrated blues-guitar great Luther Allison

Junkhouse at the Town Pump evokes the Beat Farmers’ Glad & Greasy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 14, 1995 By Steve Newton It’s midnight on a Friday (September 8) at the Town Pump. The brew has been flowing freely for hours already, and the hard-rocking headlining band is about to take the stage. The crowd is definitely stoked for some good old...spoken-word performance? Apparently, Junkhouse singer-songwriter Tom Wilson … Continue reading Junkhouse at the Town Pump evokes the Beat Farmers’ Glad & Greasy

Moe Berg sings “Gretzy Rocks” but actually he likes the ‘Hawks

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1995 By Steve Newton When The Pursuit of Happiness made a splash on the Canadian music scene with its 1988 Love Junk album, it was signed to Chrysalis Records. When 1993’s The Downward Road came out, the band had hooked up with the Mercury label. Now that the group’s new … Continue reading Moe Berg sings “Gretzy Rocks” but actually he likes the ‘Hawks

Collective Soul’s Ed Roland wants to start over at the Commodore

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1995 By Steve Newton You might wonder why a band as popular as Collective Soul is playing the Commodore, when it’s obvious the group could pack in at least a few thousand more folks somewhere else. The gig next Thursday (September 14) sold out instantly, and scalped tickets will no … Continue reading Collective Soul’s Ed Roland wants to start over at the Commodore

Barstool Prophets rile the censors at the nation’s music station

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 31, 1995 By Steve Newton One of my favourite Canadian indie releases of 1993 was Deflowered, the debut disc by the Barstool Prophets. Quickly made but brimming with conviction, it ended with the particularly memorable “Robin’s Song”, a sweetly swaying, acoustic guitar–driven ode to the ravages of emotional abuse sung with … Continue reading Barstool Prophets rile the censors at the nation’s music station

Duke Robillard finds a sense of balance with Temptation

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 2, 1995 By Steve Newton Some music-crazy kids will do anything to get their youthful paws on their first electric guitar. They’ll beg, borrow, or steal. Or, if they’re like Duke Robillard, they’ll pull a fast one. As a 14-year-old in Providence, Rhode Island, he came up with a highly original … Continue reading Duke Robillard finds a sense of balance with Temptation

Gilby Clarke plays Pawnshop Guitars, says “everything’s cool” in Guns N’ Roses

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 27, 1994 By Steve Newton With a volatile dude like Axl Rose at the helm, it’s no wonder Guns N’ Roses breeds fast-flying rumours about everything from the singer’s supposed spousal abuse to how long he brushes his teeth. Then of course there’s the intriguing question of who’s gonna be in … Continue reading Gilby Clarke plays Pawnshop Guitars, says “everything’s cool” in Guns N’ Roses

Pride & Glory’s Zakk Wylde says he’ll always be Ozzy’s guitar player

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 20, 1994 By Steve Newton Rock guitarists have a few things to worry about during a live performance—such as blowing an amp, breaking a string, or dropping a pick during a crucial guitar freak-out. Personal injury isn’t usually one of the main onstage concerns for today’s rock artists, but—as Pride & … Continue reading Pride & Glory’s Zakk Wylde says he’ll always be Ozzy’s guitar player

Bob Rock gets the Payola$ back together for a Mick Ronson-inspired raveup in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 20, 1994 By Steve Newton Ya gotta like that Bob Rock guy. When he gets tired of producing platinum-plus CDs for bands like Metallica and Mötley Crüe, he forms his own group, Rockhead, and gets back to his ’70s-rock roots with melodic, radio-friendly sing-along tunes such as “Bed of Roses” and … Continue reading Bob Rock gets the Payola$ back together for a Mick Ronson-inspired raveup in Vancouver