David Sinclair Trio

I saw the David Sinclair Trio at the Lexington a few weeks back and had a rare old time – they are a real, honest and straightforward Rock/Blues outfit headed up by David Sinclair and this album is a pretty good representation of what they are at.

Mr Sinclair writes real songs about his life and history, the sort of story that can put you right in the middle of his tales, and the playing is fine if not revelatory. He plays a mean guitar and bassist George Andrew anchors him well, supplying harmony vocals as well.

But this is about the songs and from ‘Living Like A Yo Yo’ which drives along with a terrific Telecaster riff describing the ups and downs of life through to ‘Years Disappear’ which anyone with some history will be able to relate to or ‘Looking For The Big Idea’ with a huge riff to go with the theme he makes you understand the twists and turns of his life without any bleating or self-abasedness.
There were a few times that I was reminded of Ray Davies in his stories, real characters and real situations, and his voice has a similar lack of perfection – the kind of think that has its own character and individuality.

This is the kind of album that you can go back to many times – he doesn’t make any huge statements and the playing is not better than pretty good but they are very listenable to and that, sometimes, is all you need.