Bio

The song is everything. The attitude is not.

For years, this has been Stephen Sinnicks' motto. Armed with his voice and an acoustic guitar, Sinnicks proves melodies and words can still mean something.

It used to be that, if you lived in southern Ontario, you probably saw the ubiquitous Mr. Sinnicks at some point - even if you didn't know it. Today, the same holds true...except it's no longer just southern Ontario. For almost 365 days a year, Sinnicks has played pubs, clubs, union halls, benefits, campuses and festivals all across the U.S. and Canada, either as a solo artist or backing musician.

Stephen Sinnicks started playing clubs before he could drive (let alone order pints). The 15-year-old drummer began to rack up credits, live or in the studio, with artists such as Tom Wilson, Ray Materick, Coyote Shivers, Big Smoke, Kim Deschamps, the Tartan Terrors, and even played a stint with Stompin' Tom Connors! Accomplished on the skins, Sinnicks decided to take another route. Armed with his acoustic guitar, he began to write and perform his original songs. His music has been likened to Nick Lowe, Billy Bragg, Lucinda Williams and other performers whose songcraft comes first. Due to a wealth of songs (not to mention keen observations and one-liners), no two gigs are ever the same. Since he began writing and performing on his own, Sinnicks has played anywhere and everywhere, so long as draft beer or solidarity can be found. Preferably both.

To date, Sinnicks has recorded three solo releases - Slow Learner, 5 Songs 5 Bucks and If You Don't Want The Genie, Don't Rub The Lamp. All three garnered campus, community and CBC radio play and featured an excellent line-up of serious players including Kim Deschamps (Blue Rodeo, Cowboy Junkies) Shelley Woods (The Killjoys), Randall Hill and Robin Aube (Sarah Harmer). The songs had the frank appeal of country without the cowboy hat...Celtic without the plastic shamrock...and a songwriter's sensibility that reflected the times in which we live. Singled out for praise and radio play were "1914," "The Ballad of Sam Lawrence," "Back Up The Chevy" and a break-neck version of "The Day The World Turned Upside Down." All three discs continue to sell online and off the stage.

After several years on the road, Sinnicks returned to Canada to record Red Meat and Blue 88's. In doing so, he has also returned to his roots: words, music and solidarity; acoustic guitar, meaningful lyrics and enduring performances. Blue 88's has been described by one reviewer as a cross between Mermaid Avenue Vol. II and someone at a kitchen party reading Gwynne Dyer's next book at 4 am (sponsored by Stoli vodka). There's a bit of Celtic kiss-off in tracks such as "Well-Heeled Man" and "Franklin Co. Queen", some nods to Difford/Tilbrook-style pop on the title track, and throughout there's a view of the world that's sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued - without being cynical. There is a war on...sarcasm, yes, cynicism, never.

Steve Sinnicks - union made and proudly Canadian!

James Tennant
Program Director, 93.3 CFMU FM
Hamilton, ON
http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca