It’s that time of the month again – EP release #4 hits your (virtual) record store shelves this coming Sunday May 1. Or at least, we hope it does. More on that in a minute, but first here’s the tasty track listing:

1. The Real Danielle
2. Every Day
3. The Last Night
4. Sundown
5. Hot Licks

During this “6 EPs in 6 months” project, I’ve already had a lot of different recording experiences. “Songs from the Armory Volumes 1 and 2″ were my way of celebrating the fantastic diverse Boston music scene through collaborations with several different writing partners. “I Hate New York” (my first solo record) was my attempt to strip away all artifice and present a much more raw and intimate look into my songwriting. With the latest EP, I am aiming to capture the power and energy that I feel while playing in my band The Best Intentions.

Playing with the Best Intentions behind me never fails to send a charge up my spinal column. Justin Tibbetts is a great drummer for many reasons (his chops and technique are top notch), but mostly because he has such a great sense of what a song is supposed to do. My songs don’t really come to life until Justin locks in on them. And hearing Tim Delaney and Nate Leavitt play guitar together is as exciting as it gets for me, musically. During rehearsals, I just try to let them loose and see what happens. “Fiction Memories” aims to give the listener a peek into what it is like for the four of us to get in the room and make rock and roll music together.

Helming the producer’s chair is recent Rock & Roll Rumble finalist Dan Nicklin of OldJack. If you saw any of OldJack’s three Rumble rounds, it should be obvious that the man is no stranger to great performances. In working on this EP with Dan, we decided to focus less on perfection than on vibe. We want to transport the listener into a late-night beer-soaked filthy rehearsal space where four seemingly mild-mannered white guys in their mid-30′s magically transform into a kickass motherfucking rock and roll band.

Speaking of kickass performances, OldJack’s “underdog” run in the Rumble may have actually set our recording schedule back a bit so there is an ever-so-slight possibility that “Fiction Memories” might be out to you a hair later than midnight on May 1. But don’t worry – it’ll be worth the wait.

Featuring Dan Nicklin:

And Mike Mirabella:

Video courtesy of Mike Epstein. Thanks, Mike!

Although I certainly didn’t plan it, there seems to be a hidden theme tying together the seemingly unconnected guests of this week’s Songwriter Residency at the Armory: these fellas are not afraid to don the flamboyant attire. In addition to the always colorful Tad from Sidewalk Driver, I will be joined by the fashion plate known as Dan Nicklin from Old Jack:

Real men wear puppy fur

Known as an affable chap about town, Dan is also a soulful troubador with infectious enthusiasm for music, so I was very much looking forward to writing with him. Unfortunately, the volcano in Europe extended his English mother’s visit to an unearthly 5 weeks, making scheduling a songwriting session very difficult. So although this was not the last song in the series, it was the last song written chronologically. (Follow me? I can draw out a diagram if you need it.) With seven songs in the bank, I was a little nervous as the clock ticked down to this Thursday without our song written.

Once we sat down to write, I quickly learned that my fears were unfounded. Dan is an absolute dervish when it comes to lyric-writing. Calling on his background as a hip hop MC (and no, I’m not joking about that), Dan’s speed and efficiency at lyric writing was something to behold.

The song we came up with is “Interrogatives,” a simple sparse melody that echoes something Ryan Adams might write if he were feeling particularly exhausted from putting the lumber to Mandy Moore that day. Lyrically, we ended up with a bunch of specific and vague questions about love and loss (hence the title).

I chatted with Dan over email after the session:

Brendan: What do you think of the song?

Dan: I am a fan. I keep finding myself singing it. At least my parts, I don’t know your lines.

Brendan: My lines are the best ones. Throughout this entire process, you are the only collaborator who had the good sense to bring me cookies that your wife made. How did you get such an awesome wife?

Dan: Two parts perseverance, one part luck, and one part cancer. True story.

Brendan: Ok. It’s probably best if you don’t elaborate on that one, so I’ll move on. Almost everyone else I wrote songs with marvelled at how fast I came up with lyrics. With you, it was the complete opposite. You are a lyrical dynamo. What is your approach to lyric writing?

Dan: The words are all about the first line. Everything else falls into place quickly after the first line is set. The chorus is all about singing through the verse and then improvising what ever comes out when the chords change. Then the words will happen there too.

Brendan: How was the collaborative process with me? Was it everything you dreamed it would be?

Dan: Songs were never part of my dreams you were in, so it was a new experience. All kidding aside, it was perfect.

Brendan: This is your first solo show ever, right? Are you nervous? What can people expect?

Dan: Yes, yes… and people can expect me not to be solo.

Brendan: I frown on guests. You’re famous for your outlandish wardrobe, especially your enormous fur coat. Things get a little warm in the spring months. What can we look for as your next fashion statement?

Dan: Fashion is like a melody – you never know what it will be till it happens.

Brendan: What is going on with Old Jack? Any gigs coming up you want to tell the people about?

Dan: Right now, we are playing once a month at our Rosebud residency. The last Saturday of every month we invite two bands to come play with us and see what happens. The vibe of the room is great and the crowds responsive, which is the most important thing for me. We are also recording a new EP with a local producer that is due out in September.

Dan’s sort-of solo debut will be happening this Thursday at the Somerville Armory. I wonder what he’ll wear!

Night #3 of the Songwriter Residency
Thursday May 20
Somerville Armory
Highland Ave, Somerville
With Sidewalk Driver and Dan Nicklin of Old Jack
8pm doors $7 All ages

You may be wondering what’s with the slow April in Boogieland.  When are the gigs, Brendo?  We’re tripping all over ourselves to see your music again, goddamn it!  Our lives are empty without you!

Rest easy, honkies.  Here’s the big announcement for which you’ve been waiting:  I’ll be playing every Thursday in May at the Somerville Armory.  What’s more – check out the great lineups I have uh… lined up:

You’ve always wanted to download a video of me, Will Dailey, Nate Leavitt from Blizzard of 78, and Dan Nicklin from Old Jack dancing like elves at Christmas time?  Well, you’re in luck:

Elf Dancing

Thanks to Dan for putting that foolish thing together.