There are several things for you to go read right now. Well, if you consider “two” the same as “several.”

- Weekly Dig article about the Somerville Armory Songwriter Residency

- New Dear Boogie about moustaches

Happy Cinco De Mayo Reading! Because that’s what this holiday is known for – reading.

You remember that time when Mr. T was at the mall and you kept saying “Mr. T will be at the mall all day, so I’ll go down later” and you kept putting it off and putting it off and when you finally went to the mall Mr. T was gone?  Remember how disappointed you were, Homer?

Don’t let that happen to you again, my friends. The Songwriter Residency at the Somerville Armory begins this Thursday night. Come on by for one of the more unique lineups in Boston music with the scintillating Sarah RabDAU, myself, and the solo debut of Mike Mirabella of The Future Everybody and The Rationales.

You will also hear the world premieres of both “First Saturday” by Sarah Rabdau and Brendan Boogie as well as “Heart Unbroken” by Mike Mirabella and Brendan Boogie. Two new songs, three full sets, lots of surprises – come on down to night 1 of my residency. I’ll be very excited to see you. I’ll probably say hi and maybe even hug you, depending upon how well we know each other. I’m not going to get too forward or anything. I promise the appropriate amount of body contact.

Come on by and check out some great music at this unique venue. Only $7. Doors at 8pm. And the Armory now has beer and wine! Hooray!

You may recognize Mike Mirabella from seeing him behind the drumkit of the bands Scamper, The Brendan Boogie Band, or currently The Rationales and The Future Everybody. (Or maybe you don’t. I mean, who pays attention to the drummer?)  Besides banging on things loudly, Mike is a songwriter in his own right. Did you know it was actually Mike who penned the Scamper hit “Wait Wait”? True story. 

Mike and I have been playing music together for many years.  When I was offered this residency at the Somerville Armory a few months back, Mike happened to be standing next to me and also happened to be drunk. He asked me to book him for his solo debut show and I (who was equally drunk) agreed.

After a very fun (and shockingly drunken) songwriting session, I chatted with Mike about the experience:

Mike: Once we settled in things started to go real smooth real fast. Did you go into this with any plan? Song Title perhaps?

Brendan: No, nothing at all. I thought of an idea beforehand about everyone thinking we’re brothers, but we ended up not using that. I was surprised the direction the song went in. Not at all like anything we’ve played in bands together before. Were you surprised by the process at all?

Mike: Honestly, I was a bit nervous. When I write songs on my own its very easy to “ignore the rules” and just write what I want. The idea of writing with someone else had me worried that I might be called out as a fraud…so to speak. Instead, as ideas started popping up, we started heading in all of the directions I hoped we would.

Brendan: So you didn’t mind when I pointed and yelled “Fraud!” at you for twenty minutes?

Mike: I would have but it was only minutes later that you accepted one of my lyrical ideas so I figured it was worth the ridicule.

Brendan: It’s funny – we’ve been in bands together for over 5 years now and we’ve never really written a song together. We’ve done so many other things together.

Mike: So, so many other things… In all honesty it is pretty surprising that we’ve never written together before. I’ve always wanted to write like that, a couple of guitars and notebooks bouncing ideas off each other. I am so happy with the results.

Brendan: Yeah, it’s not a bad little tune. Definitely not like anything we did in Scamper. It’s nice to write without those assholes Keith and Nate around to fuck up the awesome sauce.

Mike: Wow! So all this time it was them holding us back. It’s all coming clear now. Hey Brendan – remember that time we almost wrote a hair metal song about being brothers but then came to our senses?

Brendan: We really dodged a bullet on that one. So how are you feeling about your first solo show?

Mike: Nervous, excited, hungry?

Brendan: What’s your worst case scenario of what will happen on May 6?

Mike: I don’t get a record deal. I’m really going for the gold on this one. I feel no one has really ever cornered the market on playing power chords on acoustic guitar and singing about girls who went away and/or are in the process of going away.

Brendan: Well, the good news is there is now beer available for sale at the Somerville Armory. How much political lobbying did you do to make this happen?

Mike: I filled out the form, I posted the link in my profile. Thank heavens, it was enough to keep the beer flowing. I am going to need to have a beer or two to get up there. I hope the good people enjoy a few and get in a FRIENDLY mood before I play.

Brendan: Well, just to let you know – I have no faith in you whatsoever.

Mike: That’s what keeps me going. Keep doubting and I will get up there and (most likely) prove you right. Over all, I’m pretty excited. A few months ago I had one of those drunken moments, demanding that I must play a solo show, you booked me and you’re holding me to it. So thanks for that D-bag!

Brendan: No problem. Brendan Boogie makes performance anxiety nightmares come true!

Mike: There is a good chance that I’ll get up there, freeze up and start playing air drums while shouting out the chorus to “Two Princes.”

Come on by the Somerville Armory this Thursday to support your pal Mike in his solo debut. 8pm doors.

While the Brendan Boogie Songwriter Residency at the Somerville Armory doesn’t begin til next week (every Thursday in May as a matter of fact), the songwriting sessions have begun.  In order to bring you my lovelies into the process, I am going to do my best to document the stories behind the collaborations.  My first songwriting session was with the vivacious Sarah RabDAU.

I first met Sarah during last year’s WBCN Rock and Rumble.  As I stood at the back of the Middle East Upstairs and patiently listened to some mutual friends heap praise upon her band for advancing to the semi-finals, I said to her – who I had just met, mind you – “I heard your band was so bad that the CDC considered shutting the Middle East down entirely.”  Keep in mind – I hadn’t even seen her band’s performance.  I was just being a dick to a complete stranger.

Luckily, Sarah happens to be a very cool chick, so she got that I was just kidding and we spent the next few hours watching bands and busting each other’s balls.  (Don’t let the sweet smile fool you – girlfriend can go).  By the end of the night, there was no question:  Brendan Boogie and Sarah RabDAU – the music scene’s unlikeliest new best buddies.

So when I came up with the idea for this residency, Sarah was one of the first people I approached.  Our musical styles are drastically different, so I thought it would be a fun challenge for both of us to try to meld something together.  I wasn’t wrong – we had two songwriting sessions at her house and ended up not only having a blast, but coming up with a ballad of heartbreak and regret entitled “First Saturday.”

After the last session, I gchatted with Sarah about the project:

Brendan:  First off, I can’t believe you have never written a song with anyone before. I’m so honored you let me be your first.

Sarah: I write in fits of inspiration, so the idea has always frightened me.  But I knew you were a song machine so i thought ‘why not’?

Brendan:  Was it any different than you expected?

Sarah: Hmmmm. Yes and no.  I am familiar with your style and preferences in song structure, et.  But I was still surprised that people write songs in formulas. I know it happens, but I had never done it before. I found it terribly fascinating.

Brendan:  Oh yeah, I’m all about the formula.

Sarah: It’s really very interesting.

Brendan:  I was interested in how you work as well. I got the impression you cared a lot about point of view of the voice of the singer. You are very tuned in to how certain words and ideas sound coming from a woman’s voice.  That’s obviously something I don’t think about very much.

Sarah: I think that stems from a lot of different things. When I was a kid I was always encouraged to sing, but if you hear tapes back I was dreadful. I had decided that the only way I could deal with my voice is if I could define it by character.  To me a vocal performance has to be done in a character or it’s not believable.  It also probably comes from the fact that I have a rather ‘girlish’ voice and I love ballsy girl voices.

Brendan: I’ve been told I have a very ballsy girl voice.

Sarah: I was thinking the same thing.  A girlish voice can’t sing about the same things as a male can or a ballsy girl voice.  Lots of subjects can be heard as pathetic or sappy.

Brendan:  Like my heartbreak.

Sarah:  Yes, especially like your heartbreak.  I can sing about heartbreak, but the lyrics have to be fantastic and visual.

Brendan: So what do you think of the final product?

Sarah: I’m pleased with the product.  It’s outside my realm, it’s catchy, and it was insanely fun to make.  I would have loved to spend a few more months writing the lyrics, but alas…. I think too much.

Brendan: Writing on a deadline is really fun for me for that reason. You can’t spend endless hours tweaking every lyric.  It’s kind of like “Does it get the point across? Good. We’re moving on.”  Not that I do spend all that much time tweaking.  Songwriting is kind of a volume business for me.

Sarah: Ugh. That’s the part I hated. There are so many ways to say something, the key is coming up with the best option. The one phrase that can relate to people, seem so everyday, but is always overlooked.  I am definitely not about volume.

Brendan: I just get bored of what I’m doing so I want to finish it and move on to the next thing. I also get distracted easily by jangling keys.

Sarah:  Haha. I can stare out the window for hours.

Brendan:  The reason I knew I would enjoy songwriting with you is that you are a person that takes the music seriously but doesn’t take yourself seriously.

Sarah: That is definitely true. And I felt the same way, but without the part about you taking the music seriously.

Brendan: Ha ha.  I don’t take anything seriously.  Imagine how great I’d be if I actually tried!

Sarah: Galaxies would explode from awesome. You should stay the same way.

Brendan: True, I don’t want anyone to get hurt.  I think on May 6 we’re going to cement our legacy as Boston’s most lovable musical odd couple.

Sarah:  I would hope so. It would be nice to be appreciated for this most excellent talent we have. Oddness.

Brendan:  There was definitely some magic happening. Any chance of working with me again?

Sarah: Yes, of course. I’ll pull out all the stops next time.  I don’t know what that means.

Brendan:  Not ALL the stops. Leave a couple of stops in.

Sarah: Just you wait, Brendan. Our next song’s going to have, like, 6 chords in it, and be in 8/9.

Brendan: Will a few of the lyrics I wrote actually make the cut?

Sarah: Absolutely not.  Okay, maybe a few.  Just don’t make me play in 8/9. I don’t know how to do that.

Brendan: Yeah, me neither.

Sarah: How did this experience vary from person to person?

Brendan: Well, I’ve only written four out of the eight so far. It may be coincidence, but the two I’ve written with the two women (you and Magen Tracy) are about much more raw emotional content.  Whereas with the guys, the process seems to be more about being clever than evocative.

Sarah:  Hahaha. That’s a very boy thing to say.

Brendan:  Oh, Sarah – always falling back on gender stereotypes.

Sarah: I would also just like to point out that I wasn’t the one that came up with the subject matter. For the record.

Brendan:  I know. Maybe I feel more comfortable writing songs about heartbreak with women than with men.

Sarah: That may be true.

Brendan:  Although I haven’t written with Dan Nicklin or Tad McKitterick yet.  They’ve promised to help me write some great “getting dumped” songs.

Sarah: I’m sure they will write some amazing ones.

Brendan: Well, I want to thank you for doing this little project with me. I was in a horrible mood when I came over to your house to work on it and spending a few hours making music with you completely turned me around.  You, Sarah Rabdau, are a human antidepressant.

Sarah: That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.  I had an absolute blast being a part of it. I was honored to be asked.

What a nauseating lovefest, huh?  I promise to attempt to keep it in my proverbial pants on May 6 at the Somerville Armory.  Come on by to hear the debut of “First Saturday” as well as full solo acoustic sets by Sarah and me as well as Mike Mirabella of The Future Everybody.

As promised, here’s more info on the Brendan Boogie Songwriter Residency, every Thursday in May at the Somerville Armory.

When I had the idea to put this residency together, I just wanted to make music with my friends.  I was all about the collaboration.  So I decided to ask each of my guests if they’d be willing to write a song with me to perform that night.  Much to my pleasure (and surprise) they all said yes.

Of course now comes the daunting task of scheduling songwriting sessions with 8 busy musicians.  It has been, in a word, a giant clusterfuck.  Nothing like trying to squeeze creativity into 2-hour windows.

Still, things are going swimmingly so far.  As the songwriting processes progress, I’ll post some thoughts and notes about the songs, the collaborations, and thoughts from some of my collaborators right here on this very website!  So stay tuned!

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:

Time for a recap of this past weekend’s show at the Somerville Armory:

-  Despite driving by several times, I had actually never been inside the Armory.  It turned out to be a really cool venue.  We played in the Cafe room which was absolutely perfect for an acoustic show.  Great sound system, a nice front section with tables for the people who wanted to pay attention, room in the back for the chatters to drink beer and wine – overall a really great set-up.  Not nearly as many bazookas as I was hoping for, but I suppose that’s ultimately a good thing.

-  Upon arrival at the venue, Nate Rogers was finishing his soundcheck.  We quickly ran through an early Brendan Boogie Band tune that I hadn’t played in years, setting the tone for an evening of musical adventure and collaboration.  Then, we made out, setting the tone for an evening of regret and self-loathing.

-  When my drummer Justin arrived at the venue, he apparently had some trouble negotiating the Armory’s walls, as I got a text “Can someone come out and lower the drawbridge?”

-  As the venue started to fill up, one of my guest artists Jillian Santella was getting a wee bit nervous.  See, this was her return to music after several years off and she was getting a little, what’s the word, edgy.  Jillian and I have been writing some music together recently and this seemed like a good time to debut a few of the songs.  After a few minutes of taking the full brunt of Jillian’s anxiety, I pointed her to the wine bar and got ready for the show.  Thank you, wine bar.  You have my eternal gratitude.

-  The show began with Nate  regaling the crowd with some of his finest sad songs.  Here’s a sample video, courtesy of Mike “Big Flapi” Mirabella.  Check out the sexy mood lighting:

-  After Nate brought the house down, it was my turn to play my little songs with a few special guests.  Jillian had no reason to be nervous, as she knocked everyones socks on their asses.  If she’s going to be that good, she should take another several years off.  We were also joined by the always delightful Beth Holub on viola for “February” and a cover of Dire Straits’ “So Far Away,” one of my favorite songs of all time.  Here’s a video of Ken, Justin, and I doing “Primary Love Object” from the first record:

-  Most inappropriate thing I said from stage:  “We have CDs and t-shirts available.  I have the ability to take credit cards now.  I just bend over and you run your card right up my ass.  Somehow, it charges your card.”  I spent the next song and a half giggling while the audience looked on in unamused silence.

-  Golden Bloom took the stage, featuring the multi-talented Shawn Fogel.  If you haven’t had the chance, I strongly recommend checking out a live show if you can.  Definitely buy his record.  The Golden Bloom set featured Armando the drum machine and a pineapple shaker.  Also, a bunch of killer songs.

-  After the first round of sets, Nate and I joined Mike Mirabella and a triumphantly returning Keith Michel for an impromptu Scamper reunion.  It’s always a magical moment to lure Keith out of retirement to sing a few harmonies.  Sadly, there is no video of our version of “Wait Wait,” but just close your eyes and imagine it being really awesomely sexy.

-  To close out the night, Nate led Shawn and I in a version of the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy.”  Nate is always looking for an excuse to play that song, so he didn’t need much prompting.  Before we played, Shawn asked “Do you want to play drums or should I?” to which I responded “Drums?  I could barely handle keeping time with the pineapple shaker.”

-  After the show, we spent the evening closing out the Highland Kitchen with friends old and new.  I learned that you shouldn’t say to Nate, Mike, and Justin, “Hey, hold my beer while I go to the bathroom, will you?”  Those guys are a bunch of assholes.

All in all, a tremendous night.  The Somerville Armory is a great space and I can’t wait to get back there again soon.  Hooray for rock and roll awesomeness!

Hey all,

Thanks so much for a terrific show at the Somerville Armory this past Friday.  It’s now officially my favorite new room in town.  And I don’t just mean “room” as in “music venue” – it’s actually my favorite four walls in which to be encased.  Sorry, bathroom at the Harvard Coop with “I LOVE TO POOP!” graffiti on the walls.

When I have a little more time to wax poetic, I’ll give you a full recap of the evening’s festivities.  Just as an appetizer, the night included a pineapple, a Gin Blossoms cover, and an impromptu Scamper reunion.  Fa fa indeed, Brendo.  Fa fa, indeed.

All you Somervillians need to brave the elements tonight to hit the Somerville Armory tonight .  Doors at 7, music starts at 8pm sharp.  It’s a really cool venue, but the room is small, so be sure to get there on time or you may be shut out.  I’m just saying.

Sets from Golden Bloom and old Scamper-mate Nate Rogers (now helming The Future Everybody).  There will be collaborations, guests, new songs, old songs, covers, shenanigans.  Its going to be a fun night.  So be there.

Brendan Boogie:  First off, how does it feel to be the first interview on brendanboogie.com who is NOT a former bandmate of mine?

Shawn Fogel:  I’m feeling some pressure to make up fake memories from the fame band that we were in together.

BB:  People may think that “fame band” was a typo, but we were actually in the movie Fame together.

SF:  I wanna live forever!  Thanks for turning my typo into something clever.

BB:  No problem.  So why don’t you give the people not familiar with you guys a brief, pithy history of your band. Remember… keep it pithy!

SF:   Well, Golden Bloom for the most part is me, myself and I.  I played all of the instruments on the album, but can’t quite pull that off live so I am joined by a rotating collective of top notch musicians when Golden Bloom takes the stage.

BB:  Was it tough to resist the urge to name the band after yourself?  I certainly couldn’t do it.

SF:  Well, I did play under my own name for many years, up until last summer when I made the switch.

BB:  I considered changing my band name to Brendan Boogie and the Brendan Boogies.  That’s how much I’m all about me.

SF:  I like it!  Can I join that band?

BB: Only if we do the theme song from Fame.

SF:  Sold.

BB:  I first saw you guys play at the Middle East Upstairs with The Motion Sick and remember turning to Mike (Epstein) and saying, “This is my new band I’m going to like.  These guys have everything I want in a band.”  That’s not really a question.  I just think it’s not a professional interview without a little game of Asskiss Rodeo.

SF:  Oh good, I couldn’t think of answer

BB:  But seriously, I really dig your live show and your record.  You, like me, are all about the pop.  It’s hard out there for us happy popsters in a world of hipster indie cred, isn’t it?

SF:  I totally agree.  I don’t think a band/artist should have to choose between being cool and being great.

BB:  You definitely have the craft of pop songwriting down pat.  What’s your approach to writing?  Slow, fast?

SF:  I wish it were a faster process, but sadly it is a long, slow road for me.  I tend to sit on a hook, or a chord progression or even a chorus for a while before it develops into something bigger.

BB:  I’m learning more and more that my process is way faster than most people’s.  I can’t tell whether that’s a good thing or not.

SF:  I once read that Neil Young would sit down to write a song a not get up do do anything else until it was done.  One shot, that’s it – song done.

BB:  I’m definitely not that quick, but I do write a lot and tend to not look back.  The artform I would compare it to is probably photography.  You learn how to take a good shot and then go out and take as many as possible.  Not all of them are going to be winners, but you’ll have a lot from which to choose.  You sound like more of a painter.  Or maybe a kabuki theater performer.

SF:  Yeah, I think I usually determine whether I like a song before I finish writing it and sometimes end up scrapping it before its done.  Time is like canvas (going with the painter analogy) and canvas ain’t cheap.

BB:  Really?  Canvas seems like it would be cheap to me.  I have no idea what the going rate of canvas is these days.

SF:  Blast!  My on the spot word of wisdom have been totally destroyed!

BB:  It’s… what I do.  So you are based in NY, yes?

SF:  A beautiful and exotic part of NY called NJ.

BB:  I’ve heard its lovely there. Want to hear my favorite New Jersey joke?

SF:  Please!  Is Bon Jovi in it?

BB: Nope. A guy and a girl are making out in a car, getting hot and heavy.  And she says, “Kiss me where it smells.”  So he drove her to New Jersey.

SF:  Isn’t that the name of your new album?  “Kiss Me Where It Smells”?

BB:  Yup.  And I’ll write that song in the time it takes to transcribe this interview.  So you spend a lot of time playing up in Boston. How do you find the audiences?

SF:  A lot of people mistakenly think we are a Boston band!  Maybe because I try to play Boston as often as I can, maybe because people actually pay attention and like us when we play!

BB:  You guys seem to have been able to break into the Boston scene more than any out-of-town band I can remember in a while.

SF:  That’s great to hear!  NYC is so tough and competitive, I’d rather play Boston any day.

BB:  And I think we’d rather have New Jersey-ites invading.  If I hear a band is from Brooklyn, I usually groan.  But if they’re from New Jersey, I can usually get down with that.  I feel like there’s a weird Jersey/Boston kinship.

SF:  Well, Boston bands are good kinfolk.

BB:  Speaking of Boston bands, you are doing a project with our buddies The Motion Sick.  Tell the people about that.

SF:  Just mastered it today so it is FRESH!  Golden Bloom covered their song “30 Lives” and they recorded Golden Bloom’s “Doomsday Devices”.  We’re putting it out as a 7″ single in February.  And playing a release show together at Middle East on 2/19.

BB:  Looking forward to it.  Anything else on deck for 2010?  A little bird told me you might be making an appearance in the successful Cover-Up series.

SF:  Smart bird!  Rumor has it I’ll be acting a bit of the fool in April.

BB:  That should be quite the extravaganza.  Anything else big coming up?

SF:  Over the summer I made an album with some fellas which was my first stab at music for kids.  We’re called The Macaroons and our album Let’s Go Coconuts comes out on JDub records in the coming months.

BB:  Did you sneak in any subversive messages for the kids?

SF:  Nope, we are 4 Jews making fun clean music about bagels and the like…

BB:  Finally, what have you got planned for our big show at the Somerville Armory on Friday?

SF:  Big fun!  I’ll play some tunes on my own and the fellow Golden Bloomer and Boston resident Josh Cohen will join me as well.  Working on a special cover or two and my baritone ukulele will even make an appearance!

BB:  Well, you know the old expression: “It’s not a party until the baritone ukulele comes out.”

SF:  Absolutely.

Check out Golden Bloom with yours truly and Nate Rogers from The Future Everybody THIS FRIDAY at the Somerville Armory.  And if you get a chance, visit www.goldenbloom.net and help Shawn with his attempted feud with Rachael Ray by checking out the “Golden Bloom Chicken Challenge”.  Yup, you read that right.