Sean Pinchin

Artist Information

Biography

The story-telling Folklore artist, Sean Pinchin, is best known for crafting warm and soulful sounds with nothing but his voice, harmonica, slide guitar and kick board. Using his music as therapy, every performance has an emotional delivery that any audience can feel and relate to.
 Born in Etobicoke in 1981 and raised in Mississauga, virtuoso finger style, slide guitarist Sean Pinchin began his musical journey as any other teen in the 90’s; listening to grunge and alternative rock. It was only when Nirvana’s Unplugged album surfaced that Sean really picked up his guitar. Playing along and replicating Nirvana, Sean became very engaged in his guitar, so much so, that not even school could stop him from practicing.
The youngest of three and the son of hardworking, blue-collar parents, Sean often practiced alone, as no one really expected Sean’s hobby to flourish. However, music was all that interested Sean; particularly the organic vocal sounds of slide. In search of artists that played slide guitar, Sean stumbled upon the legendary, smooth sounding Robert Johnson. Flipping Sean’s musical world upside down, Robert Johnson led Sean down a path he did not understand, but was eager and dedicated to learn.

Quotes:

In my mind there are a number of truly great folk troubadours in Canada, starting with the likes of Dave Essig and Tim Williams, and Sean Pinchin doesn't so much follow in their footsteps, as he strides out on his own to walk with other great performers of the genre.
- Calvin Daniels - Yorkton This Week - Yorkton SK

Sean's hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies resonate with his eloquent slide guitar playing.
- Jay Kana - Tambourine Magazine

Sean inspires with his songs that are full of honesty, growth and love.
- Krista Blondin - Port Credit Village Times

Discography:

Folklore - 2007
In Transit - 2008
A Day Without May - 2009
25 John Street - 2010

Web sites:

www.seanpinchin.ca, www.myspace.com/seanpinchin, www.youtube.com/seanpinchin, www.twitter.com/seanpinchin

Instrumentation

Sean Pinchin- Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Reso-phonic Guitar/Lap Style Slide Guitar/Harmonica/Stomping Board

Discography

Folklore LP - 2007
IN TRANSIT LP - 2008
A Day Without May 2009
25 John Street 2010

Official Website

http://www.seanpinchin.ca

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Web page
• CDBaby sales IN TRANSIT
• CDBaby sales FOLKLORE
• MySpace
• CDBaby sales 25 John Street

Audio

• In My Time Of Dying
  Listen   Download
• The Bird Song
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• Footprint
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Video

Cardigans @Now Lounge 2007

Photo Gallery

Press

• THE STARS CAME OUT THURSDAY [+ Show ]
  

  By: Chris Clay November 5, 2007 - Gravelly-voiced Delta blues artist Sean Pinchin will be front...By: Chris Clay
  
  November 5, 2007 - Gravelly-voiced Delta blues artist Sean Pinchin will be front and centre when the Mississauga Stars Series debuts Thursday at the Living Arts Centre (LAC).
  
  Pinchin, a Port Credit resident who performs almost exclusively on a lap steel guitar, got his start in the world of music a few years ago when the band he was playing with lost its lead singer to a bad case of wrecked vocals. Pinchin stepped in and gave a masterful performance, and he hasn't looked back.
  
  The concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15-$19 and can be purchased by calling 905-306-6000.
  
  The LAC is also offering a promotion in which those who purchase one ticket at regular price will receive the second for free.
  
  Earlier this year, Pinchin released the 16-track album, Folklore. Several tracks, including God Moves On The Water and Cardigans, can be heard by visiting www.myspace.com/seanpinchin.
  
  Most of the songs feature original music and lyrics. Others, including God Moves On The Water, have lyrics pulled from an old book of blues poems, with Pinchin adding his own original music to them.
  
  "Why cover blues songs?" Pinchin previously told The News. "If someone wrote a song that inspired me into playing my guitar 10 hours a day, I want to give them back my own interpretation of it."
  
  The album was recorded live in homes, mostly bathrooms and bedrooms, in Port Credit. The singer/songwriter eschews an overly-polished album and did all the tracks in one take.
  
  The original songs are intensely personal and a form of therapy for the artist. Robin's Nest, for example, is about a woman he loved and with whom he developed a solid friendship, but who would ultimately remain elusive to him.
  
  Also on the bill are local ska-punk heroes, The Knockouts, who'll be joined by the atmospheric The Paint Movement.
  
  Gil Moore, legendary drummer with local rock act Triumph and owner of the world-renowned Metalworks Studios, will introduce the first show. The series continues throughout the winter and spring.
  
  For more information on the artists, or to hear the music, visit www.theknockouts.ca and www.myspace.com/thepaintmovement.
  
  

• Sean Pinchin's Folklore [+ Show ]
  

  Friday, January 11, 2008 Review -- SEAN PINCHIN -- Folklore FOLKLORE Sean Pinchin Independent ...Friday, January 11, 2008
  Review -- SEAN PINCHIN -- Folklore
  FOLKLORE
  Sean Pinchin
  Independent
  9-out-of-10
  In my mind there are a number of truly great folk troubadours in Canada, starting with the likes of Dave Essig and Tim Williams, and Sean Pinchin doesn't so much follow in their footsteps, as he strides out on his own to walk with other great performers of the genre.
  Pinchin knows an underlying truth of great folk music is simplicity, and he comes at it with his slide guitar, his handy harmonica, and a voice unique enough to be memorable. In terms of instrumentation nothing is more appropriate to folk stylings than a slide guitar which is well played, and added to by some well-timed harmonica. These are the instruments a minstrel can throw over his shoulder and hop the rails to the next town. That is the heart of folk laid bare for all to see.
  To add some variety to folklore Pinchin has drummer Geoff Elliot contributing on three songs, and bassist Mike Pellitier there too. The three songs are Robin's Nest, The Women I Meet and Sick of Sunday.
  This is a fat offering with 16 songs, and frankly I wish it had been 26, this effort is that good.
  As a lyricist Pinchin can write a darn fine tune too. I think in terms of folk's commentary on the efforts of the common man Killing Floor stands out as the best.
  That said, the soulful harmonica on Sweet Cherie makes it a favourite too.
  If you are looking for a CD to spend some of the Christmas money on, then you won't go far wrong on this. A truly wonderful Canadian folk effort. Check it out at www.myspace.com/seanpinchin
  -- CALVIN DANIELS
  
  -- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan.9, 2008 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
  
  

• An Evening at The Central [+ Show ]
  

  Posted on 30-08-2007 Lastnight, I was at one of the greatest local music concerts I’ve ever been ...Posted on 30-08-2007
  
  Lastnight, I was at one of the greatest local music concerts I’ve ever been to at The Central. Maneli Jamal, Sean Pinchin and Robyn Dell’Unto each blew my mind in turn, in their own unique ways.
  
  I’ve actually had the privilege of sharing the stage with both Maneli and Sean in the past on several occasions. When I heard they were playing a show together, I knew it would be good. I’d never heard of Robyn before, but I figured that if Maneli and Sean had decided to play a show with her, she must be good. What an understatement.
  
  Maneli and Sean will change the way you think of the acoustic guitar. Maneli is a virtuoso and with his rare two-hand tapping technique he can make music on his own that four other competent guitarists couldn’t produce in a collaborative effort. When you first witness a live performance, you’ll find yourself staring at him trying to figure out if all that sound is really being produced by two hands. Sean plays lap-style guitar with a slide for most of his tunes. The combination of his guitar playing and his voice is absolutely hypnotic; the two instruments are made for each other. When he plays alone, the sound is so full that you constantly get flashes of a full band playing behind him, yet it’s pure and personal in the way that only a man and his guitar can be.
  
  Or a woman and her guitar. From the moment Robyn started singing, she had my full attention. Her playful stage banter quickly gave way to heartfelt and passionate expression. Simple and beautiful acoustic guitar provides the backbone for her powerful vocals and lyrics. It’s hard for me to describe the emotion she conveys and I don’t think her recordings alone can give you a true sense of what I experienced at the concert (though they’re good - buy them!). You have to witness it live to really understand what I’m trying to say.
  
  Same with Sean and Maneli. No matter how good their recordings are, witnessing it in person is another experience altogether. (Check out their websites for upcoming shows!)
  
  

• Sean Pinchin [+ Show ]
  

  By Jay Kana February 1, 2008 Being a one man show isn’t the easiest job to have; everything st...By Jay Kana
  February 1, 2008
  
  Being a one man show isn’t the easiest job to have; everything starts and stops with you. There is no reason to say: “the drummer wasn’t consistent”, “the guitar player made so many mistakes and it totally threw me off” or “the bass player wasn’t locked in to the groove of the song”. In a band there isn’t one single person that the entire performance relies on. Enter Sean Pinchin. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, slide, and harmonica, Sean’s hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies resonate with his eloquent slide guitar playing. The “less is more” approach has been successful and coupled with songs written from life experiences makes for a stellar debut album. Having been a guitar teacher, working in various music stores as well as bands, it’s no surprise that he’s one of the most talented and hardest working musicians in the GTA. Performing 150 to 250 shows per year for the past 3 years is a clear indication of his work ethic. Sean always knew that he had musical talent, but it wasn’t until he was introduced to a lap steel guitar that he realized performing would be the perfect avenue to channel his talent through. Musicians who have influenced Sean’s attractive and simple style include: Kelly Joe Phelps, Ben Harper, Tom Waits and Jimi Hendrix. Sean’s debut album “Folklore” is packed with soulful songs all written from personal experiences. The 16 track disc thankfully lacks “filler” tracks. I almost expect to hear the few mediocre songs put at the end of the CD; again, being a one man show Sean has definitely selected the proper combination of songs to be grouped together. With tracks including “Robin’s Nest”, “God Moves On The Water” and “True Love Story” Sean bares his soul for the listener. He’s not out to reinvent music, the way slide guitar is played, or even to revolutionize songwriting. Instead what you get from Sean is a very straight forward “This is me, these are my songs” attitude, which is what really drew me to this album and artist. While listening to the CD it was as if he was a storyteller telling me about factual events in his life with soothing & emotional music in the background. I’d seen Sean perform a few years ago at the Duke of Marlborough (which seats 50 at most), also, I’d seen him every time I went to Long & McQuade in Mississauga. When I was deciding on whom to write about for this month’s issue his name was at the top of the list. His solo performance still stands out as one of the best of an unsigned artist that I’ve ever seen. He’s an easy going musician who supports other local musicians and most importantly, Sean’s humbling personality made interviewing him effortless. I’d planned on a quick 20 minute interview but when all was said and done, we’d had a full breakfast and chatted for over an hour. I hate to use the cliché term “time just seemed to fly by” but it really did. He’s a focused individual who knows what he wants and how to get it. He also intelligently realizes that things won’t happen overnight and that anything worth having is worth working for.
  
  Going forward, he’s going to be more selective of how often he performs. He feels as if he’s over saturated himself with the GTA and I agree with him. Its one thing as a new artist to want to play as much as possible, spread the word, gain a fan base and have your music available to as many people as possible, but it is an entirely different thing to be known as the guy “who I’ve seen about 10 times over the last year in random bars coincidentally.” - which is something Sean doesn’t want to happen. As a musician myself I completely understand his mentality; it’s great to gig all the time and log all sorts of hours on stage, but when you’re working a 40 hour work week and playing 3-4 nights a week there’s very little time remaining to work on new material. A musician is only as good as your last song or album. Evolving as a musician is important; you have to continue to write songs and take the next step. Although “Folklore” was recently released, Sean is already working on new material for his highly anticipated sophomore album. For upcoming performances and sound clips visit: www.myspace.com/seanpinchin As an added bonus, youtube has several videos of Sean performing
  

Setlist

Basic Requirements

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