By Steve Newton Neil Young has been in the news a lot lately for his opposition to the Alberta tarsands, but not everyone is in a mood to bash the controversial moneymaker. On his new album, Weightless, Matt Andersen has a song cowritten with Dave Gunning called “Alberta Gold” that—in its lyrics about Maritimers heading west … Continue reading Matt Andersen tones down the flashy fretwork on Weightless
Tag: True North Records
Kroeker Fulfills His Wish List
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 13, 2003 WHEN JOEL KROEKER shows up at the Straight office gripping a backpack, it's easy to mistake him for one of the bike couriers who frequent the place. With his short, dyed-blond hair and pierced right eyebrow, he's got that alternative vibe that hard-core couriers favour; the slim 30-year-old also looks in … Continue reading Kroeker Fulfills His Wish List
54-40 thrives on new blood
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 20, 2005 During Dave Genn's last year of high school, U2's The Joshua Tree, the Cure's The Head on the Door, and the Smiths' The Queen Is Dead were discs that drew heavy rotation on his personal play list. And right up there was the self-titled major-label debut by local … Continue reading 54-40 thrives on new blood
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings ebullient about a Band classic
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 22, 2006 By Steve Newton Like Brian Wilson used to do in his Beach Boys days, Colin Linden gets around. When the Straight catches him on his cellphone he’s just leaving a Calgary hotel with his fellow members of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings—Tom Wilson and Stephen Fearing—for a … Continue reading Blackie & the Rodeo Kings ebullient about a Band classic