Hey all,
“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.
Just a friendly reminder that “Songs From The Armory Volume 2″ will be available for download starting on February 1. Here is the very sexy, long-awaited track listing:
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!
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
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:
Those of you who follow the Boston music scene have probably read the recent article about Township in the Boston Phoenix in which my friend Marc Pinansky is (uncharacteristically) cranky about the state or in fact the very existence of the Boston music scene. A few of my compatriots who have worked hard to build said scene are (understandably) a little miffed at this sentiment. Here’s my (unsolicited) take:
Do I think there is a vibrant Boston music scene? Absolutely. Can it be cliquey and unimaginative at times with the same 4 or 5 bands playing bills together over and over again? Sure. Is there any writing device more annoying than a series of three rhetorical questions? Not really.
Personally, I feel like I play with a lot of different types of bands. Part of what I try to do with my shows – whether its with the Cover-Up series or any of the myriad events like Festival Holidad or the Champagne of Bands reunion – is to do something different, original, and creative. One of the main goals of these events to me is to play with people outside my little circle. In my mind, it’s been a great success – the Cover-Up alone has featured an incredible variety of acts from different circles and different age groups. We bring out different audiences and expose people to some of the great talent this town has to offer. In general, I am pretty much in love with the Boston music scene.
That being said – I’m a pretty positive person in general. I tend to see things through a “glass half full of tasty strawberry Quik” perspective. Not all local musicians are like this. Many of them are depressed alcholics with undiagnosed personality disorders. Some were positive at one time, but had the love of the scene ground out of them by too much time in shitty rock clubs and not enough Vitamin D from the sunlight. Some are frustrated that their obvious talent isn’t being rewarded with money, fame, adulation, or whatever. Some are just tired of it all, but don’t know what else to do. And some are just bitter assholes.
And honestly - that’s cool, too. That’s their bag. Convincing someone to be positive about something is one of the more useless wastes of energy of which I can imagine. There are a ton of us who recognize the greatness and positive support in this lovely Boston music scene. Last night, I was at the Middle East and saw five amazing bands, hung with a bunch of equally talented friends in the audience, and made connections with new people, planned future shows, etc. Tonight, I’m going to do it again at the Rosebud (with those controversial assholes Township, no less). It’s a great life.
Those of us in this scene that work hard, stay positive, and feel like we’re a part of something awesome can’t be discouraged when a band or a writer or a fan shits on us. They’re seeing it through their shit-colored glasses. I don’t get mad about it – I just feel bad for them. By allowing themselves to feel isolated in a sea of potential friends, they’re missing out on a lot of connection, creativity, and love. Sharing music with others is one of the great joys of my life and I try to appreciate it every day. And I pity the fools that don’t.
This situation reminds me of an old Chinese proverb. A man is walking toward a village and sees an old man by the side of the road.
“Old man,” he says, “What are the people like in this village?”
The old man responds, “What were the people like in your last village?”
“They were wonderful, generous, and kind. They’d give you the shirt off their backs.”
“You’re in luck,” said the old man, “That’s what the people in this village are like.”
The man smiles and moves on. A second man approaches the village.
“Old man,” he askes, “What are the people like in this village?”
The old man responds, “What were the people like in your old village?”
“Terrible. Gossipy, back-biting, and complete untrustworthy.”
“You’re out of luck,” responds the old man, “That’s what the people in this village are like.”
Thus endeth the proverb. See you out at the shows.
