The final episode of my little songwriting project took place with Boston’s favorite bearded frontman, Mr. Marc Pinansky of the band Township:

Real men don't own razors

After a few false starts with an ill-advised angry song about domestic violence, Marc and I stumbled upon “Natalie,” a surprisingly Rick Springfield-esque story of a failed attempt to recapture a lost love of youth. After the songwriting session, Marc and I discussed songwriting, music, and (of course) beards…

Brendan: What do you think of the song?

Marc: I like it the more I listen to it. Not to say I didn’t like it from the get go, but now I’m really into it. I originally imagined us coming up with all sorts of crazy things, but when we got together and the song just sort of unassumingly started to form, it made a lot of sense. It sounds like a song that either one of us would write. I kind of feel like it came with relative ease and little fanfare, so it took me listening back to it to go “hey, that’s a catchy tune. Not bad for a couple of hours of hanging out.” Writing with you helps me keep some humor in it, too. I tend to be a little melancholy or overly-sentimental. Your sense of humor and amusement helped serve the sweetness of the song.

Brendan: I always try to walk that line of having a song that’s fun without being “funny.” It’s very poppy, I think. The verse feels very 80′s to me, which is a little weird and not something either of us planned, I think. How do you usually write? Was this significantly different?

Marc: It was definitely different because I had no agenda or ideas for the song before hand. Starting from scratch is usually not something I do, because a melody or something will come into my head and I’ll sit down to catch it and the song comes from there. So couple that with sitting face to face with someone and it made it very different. I often never write face to face starting from scratch. I was intrigued by the possibilities, but a little nervous. You?

Brendan: I was honestly most nervous about working with you than anyone else. Because your band rocks so fucking hard. And I thought whatever I came up with was going to be too fruity for you.

Marc: That’s funny, because it brings up a couple of points:

1) I was looking forward to writing with you because I know your music and melodic sensibilities, so I was excited to hopefully scratch my itch for early 80′s pop, a-la Rick Springfield, Eddie Money, etc. I knew you would be into it and very good at it.

2) It’s funny the distinction (or lack thereof) between the frontman and the band. We all rock our collective tits off, but I write 10 mellow or poppy tunes for every rocker that fits the bill. Then we all sculpt it into a mountain of pure rock pleasure. Also, I’m pretty psyched to have you singing most of the song (although I’m definitely into singing the 2nd verse), because you have a higher, clearer range and I get frustrated with the grittiness and lack of control in my voice. It’s nice to write a tune that can be sung well.

Brendan: It certainly is up there in my range, too. We’ll see what kind of shape my vocal cords are in at the end of the month.

Marc: You’re going to kill it!

Brendan: I have seen your solo show and it’s true – it is quite different than a Township show. I hear a lot of Jeff Tweedy and Elliott Smith in there. Is that my imagination?

Marc: I am a big Elliot Smith fan, for sure. I’m not that big of a Jeff Tweedy fan, but I played Alex some of my new songs the other night and he mentioned Jeff Tweedy, too. That’s weird. 2 folks in the last 3 days. Jeff Tweedy sounds like me, by the way. How are you enjoying this project so far now that it is in the performance stage?

Brendan: It’s actually been kind of sad. Once the song is performed, it’s kind of over and that’s been bumming me out a little bit. But it motivates me to record these tunes, because I like them all.

Marc: Yeah, you should definitely record them. I hear you, though. The baby bird leaving the nest.

Brendan: And just that the collaborations are over. It’s really just been such a pleasure hanging out and making music with all these awesome talented people. So last question – I am hoping my beard is in good playing shape by the show on Thursday. Any tips on maximum beardage?

Marc: There’s a few things you can do, but I recommend trying them all, since time is short:

1) Have shot of maple syrup every morning when you wake up and just before bed. If you miss a shot, you can double up, but you really need to have a regular schedule, and just like psych meds, it takes awhile to build up in the blood.

2) Purchase the entire collection of “Grizzly Adams” on DVD. Watch the series in its entirity while only eating beef jerky and drinking Old Grandad.

3) Enroll in a “Wizadry” Continuing Education class. I think Harvard Extension has one.

4) Listen to more Township!

Because of the awesome power of Marc’s beard and rock, we’ve been moved to the big room of the Armory. See you Thursday!

The final night of the Brendan Boogie Songwriter Residency
Featuring Township and Henry Beguiristain of Aloud
Somerville Armory
Highland Ave, Somerville
$7 8pm doors, all ages
www.artsatthearmory.org

The final week of the Songwriter residency begins with the familiar sounds of an old friend – Henry Beguiristain of Aloud.

Henry sweats integrity and pees justice.

It seems like I’ve played over a thousand shows with Aloud. They were a brother/sister band of ours back in the Scamper days. Through all the years of personnel changes, drunken late nights, and arguments about the relative merits of Family Guy (a truly terrible, unfunny show), Henry and Jen have been a fixture of my rock and roll life. So when I started this project, I immediately thought of Henry. Not Jen so much.

Henry has had a busy month, finally making an honest (if taste-impaired) woman of his longtime partner and now wife Jen. We only had about 2 hours of songwriting time before he had to rush off to do wedding-related business (pre-nup, hiding his money, finding a body double to fake his own death, etc.). Unfortunately, we spend the first hour arguing about Two and a Half Men and the virtues of sending poo in the mail to your enemies. (Check it out – www.pooyou.com).

When we finally did get down to the business of songwriting, we ended up with “Younger Man’s Game.” I’ve always admired Aloud’s gumption for taking on political and global themes in their songs, but I thought it might be fun to do the opposite – write a song about how as much as we try, we’re too old and cranky to give a shit. Henry happily agreed and we came up with a rocking number about all the things we used to but no longer care.

A few days after the writing session, I caught up with Henry as he was trying on tuxes:

Brendan: I don’t like to use the word irony much, but even I’ll admit – it’s pretty ironic that you’re about to get married to your long time musical partner Jen and you’re going to celebrate by playing your first solo show.

Henry: Well, my feeling is that a good, healthy relationship is about who is winning the never ending power struggle and this is my way of asserting my independence as a man, post-nuptials. Don’t tell Jen I said that, though. She’s my ride to this gig. This convo is off the record, yeah?

Brendan: Completely. So what was it like writing with someone other than your soon-to-be wife?

Henry: Not all that weird, to be honest. Nine times out of ten when Jen and I write together, one of us will have at least a piece of something ready, so I was more nervous about coming in empty-handed, which was kind of the point, anyway. But I think our session went well. It was easy and in a lot of ways similar to how Jen and I work on a songs. We spent a lot of time bouncing ideas off of each other and talking about what a terrible show Two and a Half Men is. I guess the biggest difference was that Jen and I have the luxury of time, so we can revisit and revise stuff after we let it sink in. We probably spend way more time poring over lyrics, too. You, on the other hand, are a goddamn lyric machine. I am envious of your powers, sir.

Brendan: Thank you. That’s one of the things I am learning in this process is that other people seem to take a lot more time with lyric-writing than I do. But that’s not a surprise – most people spend more time with general hygiene than I do as well.

Henry: Hmm… I was going to talk to you about that smell, but I assumed it was that tuna sandwich I left at the space a few days ago. So when we started up you mentioned that you usually write by yourself. I’ve been writing with someone else for so long that the thought of not at least having some sort of vetting process freaks me out. What’s it like on the other end? What does that horrible, horrible freedom taste like?

Brendan: I like both. I think I’m more likely to take risks when I’m writing by myself because (like most things in my life these days) it’s just me alone in my room. If I write a foul turd sandwich of a song, no one will ever hear of it again. It’s like it never existed. I don’t have to worry about waking up next to someone who’s respect I secretly lost by writing a song about Hobie from Baywatch or rhyming “today” with “Dave Coulier.”

But collaboration is really amazing, too. I love the process of walking into a room with nothing, spending a couple hours with someone I (ostensibly) like and coming out with a song we both created. It hits on this very basic experience of human existence. Making music together is something people have done since the beginning of time. Collaboration taps me into the history of music and the history of people, in a weird way. Sorry – did I just get too fruitbat on your ass?

Henry: It’s cool. When you mentioned Hobie I started humming the Baywatch song, so I think we’re on equally tenuous ground here. Speaking of, what the hell kind of name is Hobie anyway? What kind of a fictional lifeguard names their kid that?

Brendan: I won’t have your Mitch-bashing on my watch. So back to the song – what did you think of the final product?

Henry: I really dug it. It might cure cancer. Like I said, I never know what to expect in these situations, but I’m really happy with the way the song came out. The subject matter isn’t too heavy, but it’s not outright silly, either, and it’s actually kind of sweet. A lot of what I’ve been working on lately has been kind of heady, so it was nice to break out of that to remind myself that it’s okay to goof off in song a little. It’s actually been stuck in my head for days and I’ve been thinking of a bunch of different ideas for it if we ever get around to recording it. At this rate, I may even remember that I have to sing “Oh well” instead of “Oh yeah”. But I’ll be ready. Never you fear.

Brendan: Yeah, I’m happy with it, too. I definitely didn’t want to do a “joke” song, but I think it was clear when we decided to do this that there was going to be some sort of wit and cheekiness to it. It’s certainly better than our other idea entitled “Don’t Get Glitter On My Culottes.”

Henry: I’m still holding out hope. It’s a song that needs to be written. Tens of culottes in this country are ruined because of errant glitter at night clubs. Not even thrift stores will take them. We need to spread awareness about this issue.

Brendan: Besides our tour de force, what else can people expect from your first solo acoustic set?

Henry: Probably a couple of covers here and there and some really old stuff Aloud hasn’t played since the early aughts. I’m debating playing a few that we wrote but never did anything with. I don’t know. I’m still working stuff out, been going back and forth on a lot of stuff. I didn’t realize it until a few weeks ago that this is actually the first time I’m actually performing a show by myself. It’s a strange opportunity, and I want to make it a little more interesting than just playing current Aloud songs by myself. But not too interesting. I don’t want to blow my wad before we debut our supergroup. Should we make up a band name or something?

Brendan: I’m thinking we should go with something really pretentious like “The Spectres of Ignominity” or “Henry Wondercoat and The Sands of Time.”

Henry: How about HendoBrendo? Or Pearl Jam II?

Brendan: Either works for me.

Henry: So, are these songs going to be beautiful butterflies that die as soon as they’re played, or are there plans to record this stuff? Because I’ll tell you right now, I haven’t been consulted. And I’m litigious.

Brendan: No concrete plans, but Jason and I recorded ours so I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t record them. I mean, keeping in mind that juggling schedules with eight busy musicians has been so easy so far.

Henry: We should make it happen. I’m not busy at all. Most days I just hang out on the couch in my underwear watching Real Housewives of New Jersey. Crying, mostly.

Brendan: You tell me that like I’m NOT in the tree across the street from your window right now with high-powered binoculars.

Henry: Why do you think I’m wearing my fancy Hanes without the holes in it?

Brendan: Look, I’m waving at you. Hiiiii!

Henry: I spilled cheese on my glasses, so it’s really hard to… oh wait, I see something moving. That big tree, right?

Brendan: Yup! That’s me. Hiiiii!

Henry: Hiiiiii! I’m waving back at you! Hiiiiii!

The final night of the Songwriter Residency takes place in the big room of the Somerville Armory this Thursday night. Doors at 8pm, $7, all ages.

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

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:

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

Big thanks to Mike Epstein for capturing this video from last night’s Somerville Armory show. Here is “The Last Time” by Magen Tracy and myself:

Not to toot my own horn, but I really love this song. Hopefully, it will be the first of many that Magen and I write together.

Getting excited about Week #2 of the Songwriter Residency over at the Somerville Armory? No? You’re not? Well, how about this to whet your appeties…

Here is video of “First Saturday” written by Sarah Rabdau and myself:

And here is “Heart Unbroken” by Mike Mirabella and me:

Thanks a bunch to Sophia Cacciola for the video!

Songwriting session #4 was with my old pal Jason Dunn of The Luxury.

True story - Jason actually knit this vest

Since Jason and I have made two records together (available for easy and convenient download here and here), there wasn’t much of a feeling-out process. We hammered out a catchy, cheeky pop song entitled “Listen To Me” in about 55 minutes. A few days after the sprint writing session, Jason and I chatted wif each others on this thar computer box:

Brendan: What do you think of the song we wrote?

Jason: I think it’s good, but considering the time we wrote and recorded it in, it’s probably the best song ever written. If you self-impose limitations straight out of the gate, it’s a lot easier to pull the “genius card.”

Brendan: If we judge it per minutes spent, I’d say we certainly we are in the top five of all time. Rumor has it that Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner” while getting a handjob and he was a famously premature ejaculator. True story.

Jason: I met him. And he is.

Brendan: I have to say I wasn’t surprised that we worked together so quickly because of all the time we have spent making music together. Did anything about the process surprise you?

Jason: Not really. I pretty much figured one of us would spout something that the other could misinterpret as a catch phrase, and then off we’d go. And I also figured I’d wind up writing the bridge, and when I was struggling to write a verse and you were already calling the song finished and moving on to the rest of the record, that didn’t really surprise me either. Hey shouldn’t we be talking in txt spk? lol ur songwritr

Brendan: OMGIASHWMBES! (That means “Oh my God I am so happy with my breast enhancement surgery!”)

Jason: LOLGASM 2.0 (Mine means “lolgasm 2.0″ except louder.)

Brendan: So how do you usually approach collaborative songwriting? Did it differ at all with me?

Jason: Well, in my band usually someone comes up with a song that they think is totally finished (it’s not), or they come up with a part that they’re absolutely married to, and then we just argue until we scrap the song. So it was different from that. With you I wasn’t going to sit there all night and bitch about things, I was going to spend a couple hours between sex with my girlfriend and then getting my drink on and just crank out something fun. Also, I know you’re a fellow wordsmith and share a similarly twisted sense of humor, so something like this was remarkably easy, despite being insanely catchy and brilliant. There’s something to be said for using 95% open chords and singing the first thing that comes to mind.

Brendan: Agreed. If you spend more than two hours on a song, you’re just being a dick.

Jason: Yeah. Wait. No, screw it, you’re pretty much right.

Brendan: So this is your first solo show in a while, right?

Jason: I’ve only played a handful ever.

Brendan: You excited? Nervous? Gassy? Gassy? Is it gas, Marge? Gas?

Jason: Normally I require three or four other guys and a whole shit ton of decibels to drown out the rising sound of my own self-loathing so I usually stick to full band shows. You’re on some kind of drug that makes it easier, right?

Brendan: No, I just have no consideration for my bandmates’ busy schedules so I book shows without consulting them. Sometimes, I’m the only one that’s free, so bam! Instant solo show. This is also probably why I have a different lineup every show. I should change the name from Brendan Boogie and the Best Intentions to Brendan Boogie and Whoever Shows Up. Speaking of which, you’ve been an honorary Best Intention on a few occasions. Whats it like playing under my tyranny?

Jason: I don’t really pay attention. I hope that doesn’t mess with your ego too much. Or at least I hope the drugs help you coast through it. But yeah, I generally just hope I remember the chords and try to out-sing you.

Brendan: Not a hard feat. So other than our masterpiece, what do you have planned for your set?

Jason: Planned?

Brendan: Yes, sometimes people plan things.

Jason: Whoa. I’ll play guitar and sing, mostly. I don’t know, I have a whole psuedo-illustrious career behind me so I might grab bits and pieces from it. Maybe play a couple would-be-The-Luxury-songs that got scrapped ‘cuz Pez didn’t like them. Mostly material from my upcoming solo album.

Brendan: Are you really doing a solo album? Why is this the first I’ve heard of this? It’s like… I don’t even know you anymore, man.

Always one to take it to that next level, Jason even recorded our song at his home studio. So we present to you a preview of Thursday night’s show (don’t worry – it’s safe to click):

Listen To Me

Night #2 of the Brendan Boogie Residency with Jason Dunn and Magen Tracy is this Thursday at the Somerville Armory. $7 all ages, doors at 8pm.

The third songwriting session of the residency was with the smokin’ Magen Tracy of St. Helena:

Meow. Right? Know what I’m saying? How was I supposed to concentrate on songwriting with that sort of lovely all up in my grill? It’s not fair, really. She wears that dress ALL the time. Just to be a jerk.

Luckily, I am a complete professional and was able to fold my tongue back into my mouth and get down to the business of songwriting. Magen and I (predictably if you know us) wrote a ballad about heartbreak called “The Last Time.”

A few days later, I sat down at the old laptop for a gchat with Magen about the songwriting process:

Brendan: What did you think of the way the song turned out?

Magen: I’m really happy with it. It’s been stuck in my head for days.

Brendan: I hate to say this because I don’t want to insult any of my other great collaborators, but I think the one we did is my favorite.

Magen: I’m sure you say that to all the girls. But I’ll take it.

Brendan: How was the process of writing for you? Was I a complete gentleman or what?

Magen: A complete gentleman? Always. The process itself was actually really great for me – I don’t tend to write as quickly, or as frequently as you do. It usually takes me a long time to get a song from its original concept to it’s final form. It was great to have the time constraints and to see how you go about getting lyrics on paper so quickly.

Brendan: It’s because I fired the quality control department.

Magen: Right, right. (Taking notes.) Is that about how quickly it’s gone with the rest of your collaborations for the residency?

Brendan: More or less. I think it’s more because of the time constraints. Finding the time to get together with people has been so hard that we know we’ve got to get the job done while we can.

Magen: Right – are we gonna have a chance to run it again?

Brendan: I’ll sing it to you on the phone from my car on the way over.

Magen: Works for me.

Brendan: How was working with me different than collaborating with your St. Helena bandmates? I mean, besides the obvious sexual tension.

Magen: Well, besides the equally obvious answer about it’s different with four dudes than it is with one… in St. Helena we all work together on parts and structure, but the lyrics are usually written by one person.

Brendan: Yeah, I think lyrically we had the advantage of spending the previous 3 weeks on gchat talking about each other’s heartbreak. I think that gave us a certain comfort level with the subject matter.

Magen: That’s true. As you said when we started, there was no way we were about to write a happy song.

Brendan: The chances of that were zero. And even when you wanted to put a little hope in at the end, I was like “Nope. No hope. Love will never end well.”

Magen: Yeah, I just started to type that… but then I realized we do kind of leave it on an up note. In spite of ourselves, I guess. Apparently, we’re hopeless romantics. (Don’t tell anyone.)

Brendan: What can people expect from your solo set?

Magen: My solo stuff is different from what I do with St. Helena. More piano-based. Moody chick stuff. Sad songs about girls (and a few boys.)

Brendan: Hot.

Magen: It’s great for the Armory, actually, there aren’t that many venues in Boston that are ideal for singer-songwriters in that way.

Brendan: Yeah, last week’s was pretty awesome. The room sounds terrific.

Magen: I’m looking forward to it. And to Highland Kitchen after.

Brendan: Yes, all the people can join us and buy us drinks in celebration of our awesomeness.

Magen: Or we can buy people drinks with the tons of money we’ll make off the cover…right?

Brendan: Of course. We’re in this music thing for the cash.

Night #2 of the Songwriter Residency happens this Thursday at 8pm at the Somerville Armory with Magen Tracy and Jason Dunn of The Luxury. $7, all ages.

After all the preparation, frantic scheduling of songwriting sessions, and laundering of hot pink shirts, it was finally time last Thursday for the Songwriting Residency at the Somerville Armory to begin. Some highlights:

- We arrived at the venue for load-in only to find that the Armory parking lot was full. Why was it full? Because there was a yoga chanting event scheduled for the big room. Of course there was. That’s the thing about Somerville – maybe you can get a few folks out to a rock and roll show, but you’ll always sell a chanting event right the frig out.

- We also learned that although the Somerville Armory’s beer and wine license has been approved, it has not yet been issued. Furthermore, the approval of the license meant that the days of the temporary one-night licenses could no longer be obtained. So in a rare moment of actual irony, the Somerville Armory’s liquor license was preventing us from drinking.

- Before the show, I spent the majority of my non-drinking time chatting with Keith from Scamper’s 5-year old son Jason. The subject of the conversation was “What if everyone suddenly forgot how to do everything?” As it turns out, they’d just sit around and go “Duh…” That kid blew my fucking mind.

- On first was Mike Mirabella, drummer extraordinaire of The Rationales and The Future Everybody. And by the “first,” I literally mean first, as it was his first solo singing performance ever. And Mike was, shall we say, a little on the nervous side. When he found out that there was no beer on the premises, three of us had to hold him down so he didn’t go around the corner to buy some oxys just to take the edge off.

Mike Mirabella rocks the Armory

Once he got started, it turned out there was no need to fret. Mike gave the performance of a veteran. The songwriting was poptastic and his singing voice has never sounded better. He even managed to squeeze in a little banter in between racing through his songs.

When it was time for our song, Mike was good and warmed up. We played “Heart Unbroken,” the song we wrote only a few days before the performance. Our new song was warmly received by the crowd and I was very pleased with how it came out. Overall, I couldn’t have been prouder of Mike’s performance.

Just a couple of handsome dudes playing sad songs at an Armory

- When it was time for my set, I had realized that I had spent so much time working on the collaborations that I had neglected my own set. Luckily, I stumbled my way through a few pop songs, trying to drown out the chanting coming from the next room. When things got a little to zen for my liking, I told Buddha where to stick it. I’m a class act.

Bringing it

- After my set, I brought Sarah RabDAU up to perform our song, a heartbreak ballad entitled “First Saturday.” Playing music with Sarah was, as always a joy and a pleasure. She even wore pink patent leather shoes to match my stage outfit. What a sport!

Sarah and me emoting

- Sarah’s set was predictably terrific. She is such a monster talent that I have no idea how she writes songs in the way she does. She strikes that balance in which she is able to be musically artistic and risk-taking without coming off as pretentious or ironic. She’s the real deal, folks.

The lovely Sarah

Overall, a tremendous night of music and fun. But wait – there’s more! We’re going to do it again this Thursday with Jason Dunn of The Luxury and Magen Tracy of St. Helena.

[Photos by Gonzalo Plaza]

Here it is – Night 1 of my May residency. Here’s the info:

Somerville Armory
8pm $7 All ages
with Sarah Rabdau and Mike Mirabella (solo debut)

Drop on by! It promises to be a lot of fun.