HAYDEN IN CONCERT:
Alt-folk troubadour Hayden has been wearing his heart on his sleeve since his earliest recordings in the '90s and, and he's steadily won over a devoted legion of fans with his evocative and emotional songwriting. At his live shows he treats ticket buyers to a broad spectrum of styles – one minute he's kicking out ragged grunge rock with his talented backing band and the next he's offering up heartbreaking folk with nothing but an acoustic guitar and harmonica. At both extremes of his sound, the frontman's gravelly baritone brings out the raw emotional power of favorites like "Trees Lounge," "No Happy Birthday," and the shambolic epic "Dynamite Walls." Hayden's stirring sentiments become even more palpable during his performances as he delights longtime fans and newcomers alike with the unrestrained passion he injects into his masterful sets.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Paul Hayden Desser's music career started off with a bang when he won CFNY-FM's songwriting competition in 1993 with his song "Take". Although he didn't actually sing on the track, he debuted his trademark gruff vocals a few years later on the celebrated 1995 album Everything I Long For. Hayden achieved greater notoriety the following year when he played both nights of Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit and contributed the theme song to Steve Buscemi's film Trees Lounge. Following his headlining tour in support of 1998's The Closer I Get, the singer kept a low profile and opted for brief tours that would allow him to focus more on recording. Despite Hayden's preference for keeping out of the public eye, fans and critics alike helped spread word about efforts like Elk-Lake Serenade (2004) and Us Alone (2013). Hayden's rare live performances remain a special treat for fans, taking his poignant sound to new emotional heights.
