Julian Velard Returns to Joe's Pub with FANCY WORDS FOR FAILURE Album Release Show

Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan - at least, that's how the old saying goes. But as passionately as we're conditioned to strive for first place in our success-driven world, deep down we all know we're our truest selves when we're confronted with failure. It's a sobering subject, and perhaps not the first you might expect to inform a hook-filled, piano-driven pop album, but Julian Velard isn't your average recording artist. The New York-based singer/songwriter's fifth full-length LP, Fancy Words for Failure, surveys that universal chasm of disappointment with the bemusement reflected in the its title.

Suffused with the same musical warmth and melodic sophistication fans have come to expect, the album adds another batch of unforgettable characters to Velard's growing gallery of hangdog rogues - potentially unreliable narrators who cop to professional jealousy, domestic discord, thwarted ambitions, and money woes; who acknowledge their lives are really pretty great, even as they can't help but wonder why that brass ring remains stubbornly out of reach.

Leavening the melancholy strain that runs through the record is the classic songcraft that's earned Velard a devoted cult following (and helped make him an unlikely favorite among pop connoisseurs in the Netherlands). Fans of Billy Joel's early Brill Building eclecticism and Randy Newman's acid wit will hear strong echoes of those traditions in Fancy Words for Failure, which - much like its songs' protagonists - tucks its darkest moments behind a quick joke and a (mostly) sincere smile.

As a songwriter, Velard continues to mature, weaving together chord changes that belie the depth of his musical background without ever forgetting the value of a hummable hook.

Title notwithstanding, Fancy Words for Failure finds Julian Velard honing his creative craft while balancing his growing discography against a number of other musical gigs, including a relationship with The Howard Stern Show as the bandleader on the long-running radio hit's wrap-up segment, a guest musician spot on NPR's Ask Me Another, and a jingle-singing sideline that's put his voice in spots for Coca-Cola, Wix.com, Google, and the New York Knicks. Along the way, he's also co-written extensively and landed a number of cuts (including a song on Olly Murs' debut LP) and toured extensively, sharing international stages with a growing list of acts that includes Paul Carrack, Jamie Cullum, Amy MacDonald, José González, and Goldfrapp. Raw and honest, bruised yet hopeful, Velard's latest proves Failure isn't the end - if anything, it sounds like he might just be hitting his stride.
Find out more at JulianVelard.com

Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually

Tickets Available Online at joespub.com / Phone, 10AM-7:00PM, Daily 212-967-7555 Available In Person: The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC (Open daily at 2PM) Note: There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show.

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