Philly Music Spotlight: Jayy Mannon

Philly Future introduces the Philly Music Spotlight interview series. We kick it off with a chat we had recently with one of the real good guys of the local music scene, a man who's played the big rooms yet has always been as approachable as an open mic musician.

Jayy Mannon sprang onto the Philly music scene in the mid-90's as the frontman for the popular cover band Bonehead. He and his bandmates struggled to break the mold of being a mere cover band as they released a five-song self-titled EP in 1997, followed by the 1999 full-length release of Fade. Fade's release garnered some attention from MCA, for whom the band changed its name to Familiar 48 and released Wonderful Nothing in 2002.

Familiar 48 disbanded less than a year later, leaving Jayy Mannon to regroup and contemplate the possibility of a return to the independent music scene. Philly Future really appreciates the chance to catch up with Jayy to ask him how things are going with his new project and find out who he's working with these days, along with other random questions about life and music in general.

PF: In earlier interviews, you've cited groups ranging from Pearl Jam to Matchbox 20 as influences. Have the influences changed any, or maybe just mixed together differently over the past few years? Are any more recent bands getting into your musical palette?
Jayy: Well, I'm still influenced by Pearl Jam and Matchbox 20. Our Lady Peace, Seether, Goo Goo Dolls, Tonic, Fuel, Lifehouse -- yeah, they're all on the turn table.

PF: Most folks in Philly would know you best from your days fronting the popular cover band Bonehead back in the 90's. Since then, the band signed a record deal, changed its name (to Familiar 48), the band broke up, and here you are again as a solo artist. Is the task of songwriting different now than it was as a member of a fixed band? If so, how does it differ?
Jayy: For the most part the song writing remains the same. I have always come to the band with the idea for a song with lyrics and they would add their magic to complete the songs. Now it’s a little different, but it's still Kevin Hug -- and the new guys are really doing great.

PF: Is the biggest benefit of being classified as a solo artist not having to explain an esoteric band name?
Jayy: Yes. It’s an easy way out, I must say.

PF: Back to songwriting. Some of the greatest Rock'n'Roll songwriters have also been published as poets (i.e. Bob Dylan, Lennon and McCartney). Do you have some exhaustive collection of unused lyrics waiting to be discovered and turned into a best-selling collection of poetry? Have you ever written lyrics just for poetic purposes?
Jayy: I don’t have a collection of stuff around. At a younger age I wrote lyrics all the time. They're pretty lame, but as I grew older I wrote lyrics to music. So there maybe some songs lying around, but not many poems.

PF: You're a family man. Does family life affect the direction the songwriting process takes?
Jayy: My family life affects every part of me, but in most cases, not my lyrics, at least not yet. I feel like it’s an age thing. Some of the newer songs I have written show a happier side to my life and relationship. A lot of songs I have written don’t have anything to do with me at all; some have everything to do with me.

PF: You're currently performing with Bonehead on pretty much a weekly basis. I remember going to the bars back in the mid to late 90's and hearing people in the crowd clamoring for the original songs (even though the band was primarily a cover band at the time). Do the setlists at these current shows include many of your original tunes?
Jayy: Yes, we play at least 6-10 originals a night. We are truly lucky to be able to do this. The cover scene has been great to us as an original band -- sounds odd, but oh so true.

PF: Is Broken and Glued still in the works?
Jayy: Yes. It's almost ready.

PF: a. Are all the songs in the Music Downloads section of your website slated to make the cut?
Jayy: Yes, “Better to let go�, “Breathing�, “Fading out of me�, “Didn’t I�, “When you look at me�, “Suffer�, “Time� and “Your infection�.

PF: What song is most representative of the direction you're trying to take with the new music?
Jayy: Well, we are recoding with friend and producer Jim Cravero, who did the Bonehead Fade album. He has done some incredible things with songs like “Breathing,� “Better to let go� and “Suffer.� We hope you like them. They're not too far from off from what you’ve heard from me in the past, but we’ll let you decide.

PF: Is there any new information on when Broken and Glued might be available?
Jayy: Broken and Glued will be a 7 or 8 track EP. I'm trying to get it ready for September or October Release -- following that up with another EP or full CD by summer 2006.

PF: The only bandmate from your former bands that remains is Kevin Hug, longtime Bonehead/Familiar 48 guitarist. After the band broke up, when did you start working with Kevin again?
Jayy: When F48 split I started working with Kevin again a few weeks later. The problem with being a musician is you never stop being a musician. Kevin has that something every song writer needs, natural talent.

PF: Is Kevin as much of a professional as he appears to be onstage?
Jayy: Kevin is all business, but one of the funniest, most down-to-earth guys you’ll ever meet.

PF: You've played everywhere in Philly from bars like the Grape Street Pub and Pontiac Grille to music theaters like the TLA and the Troc. Do you have a favorite venue to play?
Jayy: I have been blessed with playing some amazing places over the years and I hope to continue adding to that list. I really like the new Grape St. and the E center is sweet, but when it comes right down to it, being able to play somewhere for someone is all you can ask for.

PF: Have you had any thoughts about re-recording a long lost hit like "Sink" from the original Bonehead EP? (As a Bonehead old-timer, I had to ask)
Jayy: You know I never thought of it, but for you, my old friend, I just may have to do just that. Watch for it. Thanks for asking.

PF: What current musician or group (known or unknown) do you admire the most musically? (You can give a top two or three if you want)
Jayy: I have a tough time with this kind of question but here goes: Jason Wade (Lifehouse)
Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20)
Jeffrey Gaines
-I won't go on, but I could.

PF: What CD's are in your changer (or on your IPOD) right now?
Jayy: Our Lady Peace, Lifehouse, Rob Thomas, Seether, Foo Fighters, and, dare I say, Sinatra.

PF: I seem to recall you're a bit of a Sinatra fan. If you could pick any song made famous by Frank and do it your way, which one would it be?
Jayy: “Can I steal a little love� (The Capitol Years)

PF: Finally, since we are in Philly, we have to ask: what's the best cheesesteak in town?
Jayy: Genos.

Jayy regularly performs with Bonehead, where you're likely to catch a decent sampling of his original music. Here are some upcoming area performances you might want to check out:

• Tues, Aug. 9 - Grape St. (4100 Main St., Manayunk) *WMMR Tuesday Night Rock Show
• Fri, Aug. 12 - Reed's (1486 Skippack Pk, Blue Bell, PA)
• Sat, Aug. 20 - Brownie's 38th St. (3801 Chestnut St, Phila, PA)
• Sat, Aug. 27 - Whiskey Tango (14000 Bustleton Ave, NE Phila, PA)

For more info on Jayy, feel free to visit www.jayymannon.com, where you can find news of upcoming shows, sample some of the tracks for his upcoming release, or just learn a little more about the man himself. The Bonehead website also has some fantastic music archives for those wanting to know more about Jayy's older work.