Growing up in a musical household and exposed to his parents’ eclectic record collection that included the likes of Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder and Dire Straits, he was particularly drawn to the guitar – being taken by his parents to an Eric Clapton concert left the young Sayce awestruck and in no doubt about which was the instrument for him.
By the time he was 15 he was playing guitar in his first band; he was up and running. He soon became a regular fixture on the Toronto club scene, where his fluid soloing and mesmerising overall musicality turned heads an earned him many fans. With an insatiable appetite for jam sessions at the likes of Grossman's Tavern in Toronto, Sayce began rapidly distilling his own singular guitar style and tonal palette from a melting pot of influences that included such greats as Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Cray, and in particular Stevie Ray Vaughan, to whom he is, understandably, probably most often compared.
While still a teenager, Sayce was held in such high regard that, after jamming on stage with one of his heroes, guitar player and fellow Canadian Jeff Healey, he was invited to join Healey’s band. Sayce was now living the dream. He can still remember the first time he heard Healey – and the effect it had: “It was in a supermarket car park. I was 11 and my parents had gone into the store. This song, See The Light, came on and I was just overwhelmed. I literally punched the radio.”
After three-and-a-half years with Healey’s band, playing with them at the Montreux Jazz Festival and at gigs around the world, Sayce, the apprentice having learned well from the master, felt it was time to move on.
Looking to further expand his musical horizons, in 2001 he moved to Los Angeles. He joined Uncle Kracker, and was with the band when they had their massive US No.1 hit song Drift Away. He starred in and wrote the music for the short film Cockroach Blue, directed by the award-winning Robert Crossman, which received high acclaim when it was shown at the Woodstock Film Festival. Then, in 2003, Grammy and Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge came calling (“very talented – like Stevie Ray Vaughan,” she enthused), and he enjoyed an “awesome” time playing and recording with her band until 2008.
During his stint with Melissa, Sayce released his debut solo album, Peace Machine, using what he describes as Etheridge’s “shit-hot” band and producer Michael Nielsen. Recorded live in the studio in just a couple of days, it’s full of raw, high-energy, low-maintenance retro-blues delivered with startling punch and real style, and showcases Sayce as a soulful, powerfully expressive vocalist as well as a supremely talented guitarist and all-round musician. The album also includes a crunching version of the Neil Young classic Cinnamon Girl, the song often a resonant inclusion in Sayce’s thrilling live shows.
And live is where Sayce, his jam-club years in his pocket, shines brightest, he and his band performing with a potent mixture of power and finesse, the guitarist regularly pulling the trigger and unleashing visceral, mesmerising solos. And while they’re checking out the hot licks, it’s clear that many of the girls in the audience are equally taken by the good-looking guy with the swept-back blond hair and charisma to spare. If you’ve got it…
May 2010 saw the release of, INNEREVOLUTION, recorded with his live band - keyboardist Fred Mandel (Queen, Supertramp, Elton John, Alice Cooper), bassist Joel Gottschalk and drummer Ryan MacMillan (Matchbox 20). This collection of songs, some co-written with Richard Marx, busbee, Mike Bradford, Dave Cobb and Marti Frederiksen among others, further establishes Philip Sayce not only as one of the finest blues guitarists around, but also as a musician, singer and songwriter with tremendous talent and potential.
“Richard came out to a show and we immediately hit it off,” Sayce explains of how he came to write with Richard Marx. “He's a massive talent and to have the opportunity to collaborate and learn from him is something I am grateful for. Anyone I collaborate or co-write with, the goal is to be open and learn, and I've been blessed to work with some of the best of the best.”
More varied than Peace Machine, and overall more sophisticated and more polished in terms of songwriting, sonics and performance, Innerevoltuion is a stylish, engaging and thrilling album that should bring Philip Sayce to the attention of a bigger and wider audience.
With Peace Machine, Innerevolution, Ruby Electric, Silver Wheel Of Stars, and Steamroller, Philip Sayce continues to write his own chapter in the long and continuing history of popular music. And it’s clear that this gifted young musician has many more pages yet to write.
Blood on Your Hands
Philip Sayce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blizzard child with a siren song
Texas jewel in the velvet air
New york ghost and misguided prayer
Said you were a cosmic child
Electric eyes an amber smile
Behind the sun you wait and hide
Yeah - blood on your hands
Yeah - blood on your hands
Yeah - you made your last stand
With my blood on your hands
Bleeding moon on broken wings
Summer's dead with the widow's sting
You left me to die on crimson shores
And you buried me in a sinner's storm
You said i was a broken chind
With daydream eyes, & a tombstone smile
You drank the stars, skies and land
A viper in the sand
Yeah - blood on your hands
Yeah - blood on your hands
Yeah - you made your last stand
With my blood on your hands
The lyrics of Philip Sayce's song, "Blood on Your Hands," speak of a complex relationship with a persona referred to as a "wicked pearl," a "Blizzard child," a "Texas jewel," and a "New York ghost." These descriptions hint at a character with a mysterious and elusive personality that has a vast range of emotions and motivations. The persona is described as having "electric eyes and an amber smile," which suggests a charismatic and seductive figure, capable of luring people in. The song's protagonist seems to have experienced betrayal and heartbreak, hence the reference to "blood on your hands." These lines indicate that the relationship resulted in a tragic end, with the persona having blood on their hands, culminating in the song's protagonist's demise.
The song's lyrics also hint at themes of redemption and justice as the singer seeks retribution for the wrongs committed against them. The use of poetic imagery and metaphors adds depth and complexity to the song, painting an intricate and vivid picture of a tumultuous relationship. The lyrics' somber and melancholic tone is enhanced by the haunting music, creating a sense of longing, regret, and despair, emphasizing the singer's pain and difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Wicked pearl where did you go wrong?
Addressing the subject and asking about the mistakes made in life.
Blizzard child with a siren song
A symbol of innocence with an alluring yet deceptive nature.
Texas jewel in the velvet air
A beautiful representation of something from Texas portrayed in an almost mystical way.
New york ghost and misguided prayer
A prayer that was not answered - an unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the other side.
Said you were a cosmic child
A reminder that the subject claimed to be highly spiritual or otherworldly type of being.
Electric eyes an amber smile
Describing the energy of the subject's gaze and smile.
Behind the sun you wait and hide
A hint of secrecy or shadowy energy surrounding the subject.
And prey on souls tonight
The subject's objective is to capture and manipulate people's souls.
Yeah - blood on your hands
Acknowledgement that the subject's actions have caused harm and even death to others.
Yeah - you made your last stand
The subject's final stance or final moments before an irreversible decision is made.
With my blood on your hands
Reiterating the fact that the subject has caused harm or pain to others.
Bleeding moon on broken wings
A symbol of pain and sorrow represented by a bleeding moon and broken wings.
Summer's dead with the widow's sting
The sorrow and pain of a dying summer, symbolized by a widow's sting.
You left me to die on crimson shores
The subject left the singer to suffer and slowly die in a place symbolic of bloodshed and pain.
And you buried me in a sinner's storm
The subject has led the singer into a situation where they are completely surrounded by sin and darkness.
You said i was a broken chind
The subject mentioned that the artist is no longer whole and has lost its ability to function at full capacity.
With daydream eyes, & a tombstone smile
Even though the artist is aware of their flaws, the subject is still attracted to them in some way.
You drank the stars, skies and land
The subject has consumed everything, essentially swallowing the world whole.
A viper in the sand
A poisonous snake in a dry, lifeless environment.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steph
on Give Me Time
Well I had a similar experience but I was in grad school. My parents thought they were doing me a favor by setting me up with a guy my own dads age. Turns out he has tons of issues. Falls for everyone hes with extremely fast, and super creepy!! Wont leave me alone!! Nightmare!