This Thursday, night 3 of the Songwriter Residency is a-happenin’. This time, I’ll be joined by the great rock and roll band Sidewalk Driver, featuring flamboyant frontman Thomas “Tad” McKitterick:

You may recognize Tad from my One Night Band supergroup Champagne of Bands. Tad and I very much enjoyed working together, so I wanted to rekindle our musical love affair and write a song together for this residency. What we came up with was “Let’s Pretend” – a cheeky, hooky pop song about self-delusion and heartbreak.

On the eve of the show this Thursday, I chatted with Tad over email and it came out a little something like this:

Brendan: After the triumphant success of The Champagne of Bands, this is the second time you and I have been thrown into a “write a song really fast” situation together. Was it as epic for you as it was for me?

Tad: It was! I was really excited about it. It’s like if The Red Baron and Maverick were the ones who flew the Enola Gay. Or if John Holmes and Ron Jeremy performed with Jenna Jameson in her first “scene”. I knew the results were guaranteed to be history making.

Brendan: I’d like to think I’m the Jenna in that scenario. How do you think the song turned out?

Tad: Horrible. For real, I really like it. I think it’s the best of both of us. Like how our parents hoped we would be the best of them…before we dashed their dreams and robbed them of hope.

Brendan: I was raised by wolves.

Tad: Oh yeah? What do your wolf-parents think of your band?

Brendan: They generally like it, although they do prefer the poppier stuff to the melancholy crap. Due to overworking and undersleeping, I was probably the crankiest I’ve been in any of my songwriting sessions. How was it to work with me when this kitten had her claws out?

Tad: I hardly noticed. I think you under-estimate your seemingly endless cache of charm. You being cranky Is like taking away 2 of my girlfriends. Sure, it’s no longer a bakers dozen, but it’s still a whole lot of muffins.

Brendan: Sure – your “girlfriends.” So how did the experience working with me differ from your usual process of writing with Sidewalk Driver, other than the fact that I’m way hotter than Kate?

Tad: As far as you being hotter than Kate, I mean it’s nothing to brag about. It’s like bragging about being taller than Webster. Writing with you was different in the sense that you and I really crafted this thing. We laid out all the pieces and worked them until they fit. With Sidewalk Driver, I usually bring in an idea and we work on it by simply asking one question over and over again: “Is this gay enough?” When the answer is finally “yes,” it’s done.

Brendan: What do you have planned for your acoustic set on Thursday?

Tad: Something very romantic… and sans electric guitars.

At the Champagne of Bands reunion over the winter, I got a sneak preview of an acoustic set from Sidewalk Driver. They were truly fantastic. You don’t want to miss this show on Thursday.

Somerville Armory, Highland Ave Somerville
with Sidewalk Driver and Dan Nicklin of Old Jack
Thursday May 20
8pm doors $7 All ages
www.artsatthearmory.org

Tags: Sidewalk Driver, Somerville Armory, Songwriter Residency, Tad McKitterick, wolf-parents

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