“Songs From The Armory Volume 2″ is now available for download! Absolutely free for the entire month of February! Just click on the “MUSIC” link above and download away! It features songs written and performed with Tad McKitterick of Sidewalk Driver, Marc Pinansky of Township, Henry Beguiristain of Aloud, and Jason Dunn of The Luxury.

You can still get Volume 1, but now you have to pay for it. That’s what you get for being a waity pants.

1. “Let’s Pretend” with Tad McKitterick of Sidewalk Driver
2. “Natalie” with Marc Pinansky of Township
3. “Younger Man’s Game” with Henry Beguiristain of Aloud
4. “Listen To Me” with Jason Dunn of The Luxury

Don’t forget to click on the “Music” button up above and download “Songs From The Armory Volume 1″ for free.  Only 10 more days til you have to pay, bitches!

Glenn did a tremendous job recapping the campaign right here:

CAMPAIGN RECAP VIDEO

Lock up your daughters.

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

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:

I must admit – I have done a lot of ridiculous shit in this series (my Freddie Mercury outfit comes to mind), but nothing was as intimidating as trying to embody the spirit of Jack Black without resorting to imitation.  Luckily, I had the best Rage Kage that I could imagine by my side – Nate Leavitt of The Blizzard of ’78.  A pure pleasure and joy to work with as well as an absolute shredder on guitar.  What a fun memory.

And don’t even get me started on the other talented performers from that night.  Golden Bloom absolutely brought it as a one-man Weird Al on some sort of hallucinogen.  I had the pleasure of singing (or really slurring my way through) “Sweet Young Thing” with Oranjuly as the Monkees.  Always fun to play with those guys.  And Sidewalk Driver as Spinal Tap brought things to a whole new level – including a to-scale replica of the mini-Stonehenge. 

As far as the comics, Ken Reid, Tim McIntire, and Lamont Price turned a potentially difficult gig (lots of drunken assholes that were all riled up by me) into a roomful of people losing their shit from laughing.  Three of the best, which is why I booked them.

Actually, fuck all these accolades for other people.  The success of the Cover-Up is all about me, baby, me!  (Sorry, still in character as JB for a second there.)

We shift gears on May 15 as the Cover-Up presents…. Fleetwood Mac!  Hooray!

Also!  The Cover-Up presents April Fools is happening THIS Saturday!  We’ve got a killer lineup for you, which is as follows:

Sidewalk Driver as Spinal Tap

Oranjuly as The Monkees

Myself and Nate Leavitt as Tenacious D

Golden Bloom as Weird Al

Plus, comedy by Ken Reid, Tim McIntire, and Lamont Price

You’ll want to get your tickets in advance, as these things do sell out every time.  The direct ticket link is here.  See you all on Saturday!  Links aplenty!