The Friendly Jay Allan
Don’t let the photographs fool you. Jay Allan is very friendly guy who smiles often. He is a talented & accomplished musician, who also built his own Lap Steel guitar.
I first met Jay at The Dubliners’ open mic, run by our mutual friend Krystal Baker from The Waters, one pre-COVID Sunday evening.
The sweat coming from his brow? Good vibes. They just seem to continuously ooze from somewhere deep in his soul. Every time I see him perform, he looks like he has the best job in the world.
ABMR: In your bio, it says you are originally from Colorado. What year did you move to Arizona?
Jay: I moved to AZ when I was about 8 yrs old and stayed thru high school and then left for many a year traveling, living up and down both coasts, in between and a little out of the country as well. Ending up back in AZ in mid 2004.
ABMR: I was reading your interview in Entertainer Mag from 2017 where You referred to Phoenix as being more of a "covers town". Do you still feel that way?
Jay: Phoenix has come a good way more toward original music being embraced and sought out. With so many great songwriters and performers here in town I think the “originals” music scene is definitely quite a bit more nurtured and accepted not only from crowds but from some great venues as well.
ABMR: Same interview you talk about not wanting to be pigeonholed into being known as a "covers artist". How do you balance your performances to satisfy the artist & please the covers crowd?
Jay: I have been very fortunate as of lately to pretty much be able to get hired for the gigs I do with them having full knowledge that I will be playing a fair amount of original songs. My fans and friends who come see me request my originals often. But I definitely encounter plenty of situations where people are primarily asking for covers, which is fine for the most part. I’ve gotten a lot better at saying either “I don’t do that one” or “how about this instead”. But again, the original music aspect has been more widely accepted which is great!
ABMR: It also says in your bio that music has been your sole profession for the last 5 years. What was your previous profession?
Jay: Other than music (which has now been my sole profession for nearly 10 yrs), I have usually always done bar/restaurant/hospitality work since I could get a job. So in many ways, I have always been a glorified beer salesman as we all are in this profession. But of course we prefer singing for our super instead of serving it.
ABMR: Your brother seemed like your musical guide when you were young. Was he also a musician?
Jay: My brother was a huge musical guide for me growing up. He introduced me to so much and took me to many shows when I was young. He and a few of his friends played some guitar but he never got into really trying to perform or have a band. But he definitely helped facilitating giving me the bug initially.
ABMR: What is the most obscure music you listen to? And what was the first piece of music that touched your soul?
Jay: I am quite the jam band freak. My brother took me to Dead shows and I loved the scene and the free form music I then found my way to Phish and then to some off my favorite band like Umphrey’s McGee. I really love the musical conversation and improv and how every time a song is played its often different and in the moment. Also, the jam band scene is such a wide umbrella of genre spanning music it has definitely sent me to so much obscure and interesting musical territory.
ABMR: We WEre both in a punk band during our teenage years. What were your favorite punk bands at the time?
Jay: I loved Operation Ivy, Agent Orange, The Vandals and really dug a local band called Kongo Shock.
ABMR: You have a few different projects & just released a new song. Tell me all about it.
Jay: I am really proud and excited about the JTM3 project. Its basically two of my long time best friends. We have played in some projects together but when the 3 of us got together it clicked so well. Both Matt Henderson and Tony King are such talented guys too it just makes me play/sing/write better. Its powerful 3-part harmony and solid Americana folk rocking goodness and it keeps getting better. We have only been at this project for such a short time, it is exciting to see/hear it grow and to see what it could be as we do.
I am also working on releasing a lot of solo tunes over this whole next year and beyond. There is such a wealth of amazing musicians and I am honored to call a lot of them my friends so I have been kind of sending out the feelers with a bunch of original songs that don’t or haven’t fit into any project over the past many years. I have a fair amount in production now and and am going to be releasing regularly.
ABMR: You recorded your live album on Jan. 26th 2020. Just before things started shutting down. I bet for some people that was the last proper concert they got to see since the shutdown. Has anyone told you any stories like that?
Jay: That has definitely been a conversation topic often with friends and fans etc. A lot of our last big shows to see were the festivals in late February and early March 2020. Innings and M3F Fest. I really really miss festivals and can’t wait for them to return full force when the coast is clear.
ABMR: Going back to making ends meet solely with music, how did COVID impact that? How did you get by? Are things getting back to normal for you now?
Jay: It was definitely scary to start but I got on the live stream train pretty quick and was doing about 3 a week for a couple months and those actually kept us afloat for the time being. But with having mouths to feed and whatnot I picked up a few odd jobs like working at a old folks home on a sanitizing crew and then doing some pest control work from a friend’s company for about 6-7 months. But it seems that I am thankfully back to music full time again and I am very grateful and trying to not take any gig for granted.
ABMR: You were one of the few heading out in the early days of the reopening. Were you nervous getting back on stage & out in public?
Jay: I was a bit nervous but most all of the gigs I have had have been cautious and safe, the venues have been following the protocol needed to make it feel safe and comfortable.
I think we are in for quite the entertainment renaissance in the coming years. Not only from the artists who haven’t got to play and tour but just everyone not being able to experience live music and all forms of entertainment. People (including myself) are craving it and I think when it does, it will return with a fervor.
ABMR: I found the Goose song on your Soundcloud. Is there any place I can find the Batman song?
Jay: Haha. Unfortunately the Batman song isn’t fully mine. Its originally by Bob Schneider. I definitely change it for my name and often change it to suit the venue/day/crowd that I play it. But its not mine so I won’t be recording it most likely unless on some live recording in the future :(
ABMR: What is next for Jay Allan?
Jay: As much music as I can get into and perform and get out into the world. I think JTM3 will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming year and beyond. I am also writing a lot and very excited about a lot of collaborations and recordings I have coming up. I am also building lap steels and stoked to continue to do that and improve my building skills and learn more about the instrument.
ABMR: Give me 1 random fact about yourself, non music related
Jay: I’m a pretty big Star Wars geek, but who isn’t?
ABMR: Check out a few of my picks. One from each project.
Born & Raised by JTM3
Break My Fall by Jay Allan & The Uncommon Good
Supposed To Be by Jay Allan
Follow Jay around the interwebs
Official Website Facebook Instagram YouTube
SoundCloud ReverbNation Spotify
Follow JTM3
Spotify Facebook
Check out more on the Uncommon Good band
