Tom Phillips and the DTs bring gritty life to Forestburg

Tom Phillips and the D (difficult) T (transitions) took to the Forestburg Concert Series stage on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Community Hall, where they played a mix of Phillips’ original songs and covers.

Phillips and the band played some songs from the recently released album “Plastic Machine,” including the title song.

Phillips lyrics paint mental pictures, and the scene isn’t always pretty, but a raw, gritty, happy/sad cut scene from life. Phillips voice is strong, true, and authentic, as he sings songs like “The Downtown Cowboy,” “Deeper Blue,” and “It’s only money, Tyrone.” Phillips is a spectator of life.

He and the band delivered a solid performance, with great vocals.

It was great to have a full band on stage, including drummer Ian Grant, as well as returning artists Tim Leacock, on electric guitar, and Shaye Zadravec, who have visited Forestburg as part of different bands in the past. Also joining Phillips on stage was Sydney Zadravec and bassist Geoff Brock.

Phillips says that he’s from Calgary, and has been there his whole life, and introduced sisters Sydney and Shaye Zadravec, who sing backup vocals and each performed a song.

He was playing in a bar that allowed youth when accompanied by adults, when he says Sydney joined him onstage, her idea, not his. “She knew the lyrics to all my songs,” he said.