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.
Cinnamon Girl
Philip Sayce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a cinnamon girl
I could be happy
The rest of my life
With a cinnamon girl.
A dreamer of pictures
I run in the night
Chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.
Ten silver saxes,
A bass with a bow
The drummer relaxes
And waits between shows
For his cinnamon girl.
A dreamer of pictures
I run in the night
You see us together,
Chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.
Pa sent me money now
I'm gonna make it somehow
I need another chance
You see your baby loves to dance
Yeah...yeah...yeah.
The lyrics to "Cinnamon Girl" by Philip Sayce express the desire to live with a particular woman, referred to as the "cinnamon girl." The singer indicates that life would be happy if spent with this girl. The repeated reference to cinnamon conjures up images of warmth, comfort, and sensuality, suggesting that this girl has these qualities as well. The singer also describes himself as a dreamer of pictures who runs in the night with the cinnamon girl, chasing the moonlight. There is a sense of longing and romanticism in these lines, as if the singer is seeking a lost love or a romantic ideal.
The verses also refer to specific instruments, such as the ten silver saxes and the bass with a bow. The music seems to be a central aspect of the singer's life, as he notes that the drummer relaxes and waits for the next show with his cinnamon girl. The final verse speaks of the singer receiving money from his father and needing another chance. The idea of dancing is also mentioned, suggesting that the singer wants to have fun and enjoy life with the cinnamon girl.
Overall, "Cinnamon Girl" is a song about love, music, and the pursuit of happiness. The repeated references to cinnamon create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort, and the dreamlike imagery suggests a longing for a perfect romantic partner. The song's focus on music and dance highlights the joy that can be found in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna live
The desire to live life to its fullest and enjoy all its pleasures
With a cinnamon girl
Desiring to do so with a person who is exotic and unique
I could be happy
The belief that life would be fulfilling and joyful
The rest of my life
For the remainder of one's time on earth
With a cinnamon girl.
With the aforementioned exotic and unique person
A dreamer of pictures
An imaginative person who creates scenes in their mind's eye
I run in the night
A desire for freedom and spontaneity
You see us together,
An image of the dreamer and the cinnamon girl in a loving relationship
Chasing the moonlight,
Pursuing happiness and fulfillment, regardless of the time of day
My cinnamon girl.
Reinforcing the love and desire for the unique partner
Ten silver saxes,
A reference to music and the beauty of its sound
A bass with a bow
The classic, smooth sound of the bass guitar
The drummer relaxes
Acknowledging the importance of relaxation and taking a break
And waits between shows
The time after one performance, before the next begins
For his cinnamon girl.
Taking rest and relaxation in preparation for time with the unique partner
Pa sent me money now
Acknowledging the role of the family and the support they provide
I'm gonna make it somehow
Believing in oneself and the ability to find success
I need another chance
Desiring a second opportunity to achieve one's dreams
You see your baby loves to dance
Expressing joy and happiness in the activity of dancing
Yeah...yeah...yeah.
Reinforcing the happiness and excitement of the moment
Contributed by Bailey B. 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!