the RED BANANA: FEATURED ARTIST 7/14/08- JAY BRANNAN

JAY BRANNAN:

More than just a Housewife

Lindsay Van Osten

When writing a feature on Jay Brannan, where does one even begin? He is one of the most beautiful singer-songwriters I have ever come upon in my lifetime. Not only is his music remarkable, but he has a beautiful soul as well, and it is luminous in his work.

Jay Brannan is originally from Texas, and has lived in California, but luckily for us East Coasters, he has found a home in NYC. He first entered my life last Spring, through the wonderful world of MySpace. I was browsing the folk database, and there he was. As so many before me, and so many after, I was instantly captivated by his painfully honest, yet quirky, lyrics, as well as his crystalline vocals. Brannan's music encapsulates an ever-present feeling of broken innocence, and once you begin to listen, you are left gasping for more- as if his music were the oxygen that filled your lungs.

While I originally sold my soul to his music through MySpace, the true home for Jay Brannan fans can be found on YouTube. It is through this site that Jay has been able to open up to fans, and provide an extremely intimate experience. His sass and humour provides endless entertainment! He has also never been afraid to expose his emotions (and if he has been afraid, he does it anyway), and the rawness and relatability he brings to viewers has gained him diehard fans all around the globe. He has performed live for his international fans in the UK, Paris, Brazil, South Africa, and countless other locations.

Those who do not know Brannan from his wealth of exposure on the internet, may recognize him as Ceth from John Cameron Mitchell's film, Shortbus. This film needs a separate write-up in itself, perhaps a dozen, before the degree to which it has touched so many can begin to be explained. In short, it is a film about self exploration, and discovery, through sexuality. It is in Shortbus that Jay is able to showcase his song, "Soda Shop", which has become somewhat of cult classic.

Here is a video of "Soda Shop" that Jay uploaded on YouTube. It does a great job of exposing you to his sass if you have not experienced it already. haha You will soon understand what I mean:

Not long after I discovered Jay on MySpace, I suddenly found myself watching him perform at my college. He was opening for Jason Mraz, and since Mraz himself was a last minute booking (I know, I have no idea how they got him to play on such short notice), I had no idea beforehand that Jay would be playing. By the time he started playing "26-Hour Day", I was completely breaking down.

Here is a video of "26-Hour Day" that Jay posted for us all on YouTube:

"Marinettes for Presidents, strung out on wars..."

When he left the stage to make way for Jason, my heart completely dropped! How could he be leaving! I want--- no, I NEED more! At this point in time, I would have been completely content if Brannan had continued to play all night long, and we had skipped the Mraz set entirely. My love for Mraz has been made clear on countless occasions throughout this publication, so the level of admiration I have for Jay should be easy to gage. I have only seen him play twice since; once on my 21st birthday last July at Joe's Pub, and once this Winter at the Bowery Ballroom. Both shows were sold out. If any of you have been to these venues, you know how different they are. Joe's Pub is one of the most intimate venues in NYC, while the Bowery Ballroom is far larger. This being said, the performances were barely different at all.

I encourage you, with all of my being, to get out and see Jay Brannan play live. His performance with captivate you. His personality will woo you. His vulnerability will produce unshakeable chills across your body. You will laugh a lot, you will cry more, and you will love it. Lucky for all of you, Jay is currently embarking on his first official tour! The "FAT IS A FEELING, NOT A SHAPE" Tour will be passing through a city near you very soon! The dates and ticket information can be found on his website: http://www.jaybrannan.com. They are also posted in the entry directly before this one!

Jay launched his "FAT IS A FEELING, NOT A SHAPE" Tour to publicize his newly released debut record, Goddamned. I will be writing a separate review for this record, but for now all you need to know is that it is amazing, and you need to buy it. It is available on iTunes, and hardcopies are also available through his website and at shows! This makes things ridiculously convenient, since you will all be attending shows throughout his tour! :)

One song that I am very happy made the record is "On All Fours". Here is a version Jay did for YouTube last April. It's different than the one heard on the cd, but still equally as fabulous!

Jay has a way of formulating ideas and choosing the exact words to strike a nerve. Every line is poetic, and in my mind, brilliant. He is able to bring to light issues that other musicians would not touch, and he does so with a flawless elegance. I will be seeing him perform again tonight, at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. Ironically, the last person I saw there was Jason Mraz. Jay Brannan is clearly no longer just an opening act. He is a force to be reckoned with.