Philip Sayce "Steamroller"

Saw this guy's 2011 album mentioned in a credible blues music publication as a Top 20 selection for the year.  The list was populated with several titles that I owned and artists that I respected, but also a few names of which I had no familiarity.  You regular readers out there know by now that it's those names I tend to seek out, so I jotted down four to keep an ear out in the future...

...which arrived pretty quickly as I saw this record from one of them hit my 'New Release' screen about a month ago.  Figured the 2011 album had a first quarter bow.  Some artists just have more ideas and motivations than others (ie. Joe Bonamassa.....just purchased his new solo LP which is his 5th full-length project in the past fourteen months, not to mention his multiple guest appearances on others).  Discovered the 2011 record was a summer release and "Steamroller" arrived late February overseas, slated for domestic release very soon.  That's about an eight-month window between projects.  Hmmmmm..."verrrry interesting..." (insert Artie Johnson accent). 

Philip Sayce?  Couldn't say I was familiar with the name.  Now that I know, I admit to being slightly embarrassed.  He's UK born, raised in Canada and Los Angeles-based for the past ten years or so.  The root of my red face comes from the fact that he played in fellow Canadian Jeff Healey's band for a few years around the turn of the century. 



His next gig was touring with Uncle Kracker, and that in itself is why I didn't know him, but he played in front of big crowds thanks to the "Drift Away" cover.  Then fate found him available for Melissa Etheridge's band for a five-year run.  He joined her about the time I got out of retail, so following major artists did not have to be my thing anymore. 

"Steamroller" is his fourth solo release in the four years since leaving Etheridge.  He's flown under the radar domestically, but has a substantial following in Europe and Canada.  He'll be opening again for ZZ Top overseas this summer, so that says he's got some cred.  Here is the title track...



If you played the two video selections, you'll notice a difference.  There not a damn thing on the current record remotely close to being as good as the Albert Collins cover from the Healey clip.  Much more rock than blues, the same route that kid-wonder Tyler Bryant took.  The album contains tons of 60's/70's sounds, tricks & licks, but doesn't come off as dated.  Somewhere during the decisive third spin, I noted that he is possibly shooting for what Jack White is doing. 

Overall, I wasn't as impressed with "Steamroller" as I wanted to be.  The guy plays some very good guitar and has a decent voice, but it's not very cohesive and certainly not as much blues as I was led to believe.