In 2020, Bielanski released his first in a series of four full-length albums titled “Bryan’s Super Happy Fun Time.” As of right now, there are four albums in the series.
On the debut cover, a yin-yang symbol, turned sideways and appearing to smile, takes the place of what would otherwise be cartoonish sunshine. Each subsequent “Super Happy Fun Time” album — aside from the third — uses that symbol to indicate that the songs contained within are super, happy and fun.
There are parody elements derived from “Weird Al” Yankovic, and acoustic-punk via Violent Femmes. But the music itself is one-of-one, a total display of originality that can easily be written off as too simplistic, too positive, or lacking in self-awareness when it’s really tongue-in-cheek.
But, according to Bielanski, that wasn’t the original idea.
On the first of the series, the super-happy-fun mystique was built on irony and sarcasm. It was pure angst, dark, with much more distorted tones than found on subsequent albums. Still, despite its heaviness, pop was at the forefront of the debut. Bielanski said that he was equally influenced by Nirvana and the Beatles for that record, which can be heard in the melodic songwriting and the high-energy stage performances he continually puts on.
After he released the sequel — “Bryan’s Super Happy Fun Time II,” for those keeping score — and saw the response to the quirky song “Elf Girlfriend,” Bielanski doubled down on the funnier songwriting.
“People tend to like the more lighthearted songs, which is why I started writing more stuff like ‘Rock the Library,’ ‘I’m Your Super Mario’ and this new one ‘Thank God for Tacos,’” Bielanski said. “But as ‘Super Happy Fun Time’ has grown, it’s definitely become a true philosophy that I try to live by. I feel like if you keep your attitude in the right place, you can overcome obstacles and challenges.”
In 2012, Bielanski went from weekend warrior with a daytime job to gigging full-time without one. He was still touring with a band then — a two-piece, just him and a drummer — but decided in 2020, after the release of the first “BSHFT” record, that touring solo was the next logical move.
“The road is definitely not for everyone,” Bielanski said. “A lot of people would consider it a really rough life. My drummers would quit halfway through the tours and I’d have to finish them alone.”
As a solo acoustic act, Bielanski has played everywhere from college coffee shops to biker bars to saloons in the South. He’s performed in 26 countries and 49 states — he added seven countries on his last European tour. He’s still vying for work in Alaska.
His music is apolitical, with the ability to bridge demographic gaps, which speaks to the true unifying philosophy of Bielanski’s canon: life is not always great, but collectively we can try to make it so.
“There are some rough times, but that is another reason why I named the albums the way I did,” he said. “It reminds me that sometimes you’ll have an audience that doesn’t get you, or venues that will try to pull funny business. But when those things happen, they’re problems on the road. Those are problems that a lot of people wish they could have. So I try to ground myself in that.”
Bryan Bielanski, prolific in songwriting and self-management, is currently filling in the vacant dates for this year’s tour. He’s also working on recording a new single, which will be released on vinyl, as well as four songs for digital release.
The titles are yet to be determined, but they will more than likely be super, happy and fun.
Brandon Berry writes about the Dayton and Southwest Ohio music and art scene. Have a story idea for him? Email branberry100@gmail.com.
How to go
What: Bryan Bielanski / Kid Bigfoot / Joshua Freshour
When: 8 p.m., Jan. 30
Where: Blind Bob’s, 430 E 5th St., Dayton
Cost: $10
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