Jay Brannan Announces North American Tour
November 24, 2008
Jay Brannan Announces North American Tour
After spending a month playing sold shows across Europe and Australia, Jay Brannan will kick off a special ten-city North American tour on November 8th at Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA.
The tour will include a performance at Anti*Pop ’08 and will conclude with an already sold out hometown performance at Joe’s Pub in New York City. This tour will be in support of his critically acclaimed debut album goddamned which was released earlier this year on Brannan’s own Great Depression Records label. In addition, Jay will be releasing a new music video for the hit song “Can’t Have It All” to coincide with the upcoming US tour.
Brannan has operated an enviable online campaign from his studio apartment, premiering bedroom versions of his songs on MySpace, YouTube and Facebook. An EP entitled Unmastered has sold over 30,000 tracks through iTunes and a 1,000 piece run of this EP, each with a different Polaroid cover, sold out in a day. Almost 4 million people have watched his clips which were shot entirely from his laptop. This online devotion has translated to a live draw, with worldwide sellouts including Los Angeles, London, Paris, Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Vancouver.
11/09/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
11/13/08 – Orlando, FL @ Anti*Pop 08, Gibson Showroom
11/15/08 – Boulder, CO @ Club 156
11/17/08 – San Diego, CA @ Delta Room, House of Blues
11/18/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
11/20/08 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
11/22/08 – Houston, TX @ Jet Lounge
11/23/08 – Austin, TX @ Cactus Cafe
12/12/08 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
For information regarding these dates, check out www.jaybrannan.com
Beyond Shortbus: One on one with Jay Brannan
November 20, 2008
Beyond Shortbus: One on one with Jay Brannan
New York singer-songwriter Jay Brannan has come a long way since Shortbus, writes Garrett Bithell.
You may know Jay Brannan from cult indie film Shortbus – or from the cover of SX in October of last year – but the beguiling New York singer-songwriter has come a long way since then.
Having recently released his debut long player, curiously titled Goddamned, he is coming to Australia for the first time to play a special one-off gig at the Oxford Art Factory.
Prepare to be seduced by Brannan’s sweet and touching pop ballads about love, life and romantic failures. But perhaps what’s most alluring is his honesty.
“The things that inspire me to write are mostly frustration and anger and sadness,” he tells SX. “It’s almost therapy in a way – I think of it as like suicide prevention!”
Brannan admits to always feeling like an outsider – something that hasn’t dissipated as his successes as a musician mount. “No, it’s getting worse honestly,” he muses. “I haven’t dated anyone in six and half years, so there’s nothing really hopeful on that front! I’ve never felt like I belong in any particular place or group or circle.
“But my cynicism is sometimes a defence mechanism, and sometimes it also masks a certain hope and optimism that I just like to keep under the surface.”
Nevertheless, he is keen to experience an Australian audience for the first time. “I have no idea what to expect,” he laughs. “But I suppose I’ll find out soon!”
Jay Brannan at the Oxford Art Factory (with supports Gin Wigmore and Jackson McLaren), one show only on Thursday, October 30. For tickets go to moshtix.com.au, and all participating outlets. For more information on Brannan, check out jaybrannan.com. Goddamned is out now on Itunes.
anti*pop music fest
November 17, 2008
In its fourth year, the Anti*Pop Music Festival continues to celebrate good music with a distinctive indie DNA. For four days starting on Thursday, more than 50 acts will perform on eight stages in downtown Orlando. It’s a diverse array of acts that ranges from singer-songwriter Jay Brannan (making his only Florida appearance) to the underground hip-hop of Murs to the iconic Conor Oberst. The latter will showcase intimate material from his Mystic Valley Band project in an all-ages closing-day show at Club Firestone.
As in previous years, tickets are available at Ticketmaster or the Social box office (54 N. Orange Ave., Orlando) for individual shows under the Anti*Pop banner, at prices ranging from $7 to $20. There also is a festival pass for $45.
International telephone card – buy online!
Beyond Shortbus: One on one with Jay Brannan
November 14, 2008
Beyond Shortbus: One on one with Jay Brannan
New York singer-songwriter Jay Brannan has come a long way since Shortbus, writes Garrett Bithell.
You may know Jay Brannan from cult indie film Shortbus – or from the cover of SX in October of last year – but the beguiling New York singer-songwriter has come a long way since then.
Having recently released his debut long player, curiously titled Goddamned, he is coming to Australia for the first time to play a special one-off gig at the Oxford Art Factory.
Prepare to be seduced by Brannan’s sweet and touching pop ballads about love, life and romantic failures. But perhaps what’s most alluring is his honesty.
“The things that inspire me to write are mostly frustration and anger and sadness,” he tells SX. “It’s almost therapy in a way – I think of it as like suicide prevention!”
Brannan admits to always feeling like an outsider – something that hasn’t dissipated as his successes as a musician mount. “No, it’s getting worse honestly,” he muses. “I haven’t dated anyone in six and half years, so there’s nothing really hopeful on that front! I’ve never felt like I belong in any particular place or group or circle.
“But my cynicism is sometimes a defence mechanism, and sometimes it also masks a certain hope and optimism that I just like to keep under the surface.”
Nevertheless, he is keen to experience an Australian audience for the first time. “I have no idea what to expect,” he laughs. “But I suppose I’ll find out soon!”
Jay Brannan at the Oxford Art Factory (with supports Gin Wigmore and Jackson McLaren), one show only on Thursday, October 30. For tickets go to moshtix.com.au, and all participating outlets. For more information on Brannan, check out jaybrannan.com. Goddamned is out now on Itunes.
