Jay Brannan Kicks Off Tour With Spinner Staff

Posted on Jul 9th 2009 11:00AM by Ashley Iasimone
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After Jay Brannan's cover of 'Man in the Mirror' was featured on Spinner and received a huge response across the Internet, it was only fitting that the singer-songwriter should stop at the Spinner office and meet the staff, who were impressed by his timely tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

"I started recording that video before they even announced he was dead. I turned on the news and they said he was in the hospital," Brannan told Spinner when he came by. "I just didn't realize it would make the rounds like that."

Brannan, who took out his guitar and broke into song for us, played two of his own tunes -- 'Can't Have It All' and 'Beautifully' -- as well as a Bob Dylan classic, 'Blowin' in the Wind.'

"I don't really know chords or anything," the singer admitted. "I just kind of make stuff up and write songs to them, which is funny, because that's why I never really sang covers -- 'cause I couldn't learn them."

Ironically enough, Brannan has just released 'In Living Cover,' an album of seven covers and two original songs. Brannan, who tours by himself sans tour manager, will be staying on the road for most of this year promoting his latest music, and he admits that the extensive traveling and singing can wreak havoc on his health. "I just need to drink more water and make sure I eat bananas," Brannan joked. "I have a little personal steamer I'm bringing this time, so I'm going to do steam treatments at night."

We didn't want to send Brannan off on tour alone and empty-handed, so we offered him a coveted Spinner t-shirt as a parting gift. "A tour t-shirt! Thank you. I need more clothes," Brannan said. "I have like one pair of jeans and five t-shirts. I'll put it to good use."

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Jay Brannan Visits Spinner

Jay Brannan stops by the AOL Music office on July 6, 2009.

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Kristen Winter, AOL Music