John Gallagher Jr.
The Record: Issue 3
The Record is a brand new column that gives Broadway performers an outlet to discuss their solo music. We love and support our favorite stage performers but this will be your first chance to really find out what their music is all about. You can learn about their CD's, concerts, influences, upcoming projects and much more.
We are excited to present our third issue with the wonderful John Gallagher Jr.. We sat down with him to discuss his original music and plans for a album.
Gallagher is perhaps best known for originating the role of Moritz Stiefel in Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's rock musical Spring Awakening, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. He recently played Johnny aka "Jesus of Suburbia" in Green Day's musical, American Idiot. He recently starred in the 2011 Broadway production of Jerusalem as Lee. In November John begins filming a series coming to HBO created by Aaron Sorkin.
John Gallagher Jr.
When did you begin picking up your guitar and creating your music?
When I was about 15. As soon as I could play more than three chords I was off to the races.
How do you define your music?
I have a hard time doing that so I try to let whoever is listening decide. I know I come back very often to the tradition of folk and roots singer/songwriter because I grew up around a lot of music in that vein so it comes natural. I rarely know what a song is going to turn into when I sit down to write it so I try to get out of it's way and let it be what it wants to be without worrying if it's going to sound like other songs I've written.
What are some of the musicians and bands that you listen to that inspires your sound?
John Prine will always be one of my biggest influences. I've been listening to my parents sing his songs since I was a baby. Elvis Costello is another of my singer/songwriter heroes. I try to let everything in though no matter how different it sounds from me and filter it into my music if I can.
