Been lucky enough to catch Phil Sayce twice in the last year over here, and each time I have to pick my jaw up off the floor. He's got a great fun side too: when he played Newcastle the venue was shared with a X-Factor runner-up and in the quiet moments you could hear their stuff in the room Phil was playing. So he kept popping off stage to have a listen and come back passing a few (unflattering) comments before cranking it up to 11.5. Wish I could tell you some of the things he was saying, but you really had to be there to appreciate. Chucking X-Factor and American Idol participants of tall buildings was one, but I think Health and Safety people would complain about that - repetative strain injury can be a #@$@#.
After shows, he really does make time to connect with fans, and is a really genuine guy. Again at Newcastle he was going to do a signing session but the venue has a policy of getting folk out as quick as possible, so you can imagine, Phil must have come out and been crushed that there was no-one by the CD stand. As it was, a handful of us hung round outside and he really lit-up when he came out and saw us waiting. He and the band spent a good half hour chatting, signing and posing for pictures for a small group of fans on a cold wet night in the middle of Newcastle in November. At Holmfirth when he did a double-header with Joanne Shaw Taylor, he played first and no sooner had the last note died from his guitar when he leapt off stage, over the crowd barrier and ran the length of the hall to be at the stand to do signings, to spend the maximum time he could to meet folk.
Not saying that Philip is unique in this, don't think I've met a blues/rock player yet who doesn't value their audience, but he's toward the top of my list for being one of the best and most geniune.
Mike
When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons. Why were the lemons free? What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
We're set to go up to LA on the last Wednesday of the month and catch him. I hope his gig is still on. 
I'm a deadhead (non paying passenger) and the trip sold out, which is a good thing for the boat in these times. Next week looks like the deal now.
