Why the shift in direction with The Wreath?

New England was recorded completely live — even the vocals — with all the players — some of my best friends in the world — sitting in a circle. Two of the songs on the album were even written during the session, and my friend Phil — who produced — even threw in one of *his* songs. The entire experience was a perfect snapshot of where we all were at the time, and for that reason it is very, very special to me. I realized, in the wake of its release, that it would certainly be easy — and comfortable — to go back into a studio and make New England, Part Two, especially since haphazard, slightly-country sounding, rag-tag folk music is making such a comeback right now. But that wouldn’t inspire me, since I felt like with New England, that I had made my Neil Young record, and I wasn’t going to do it any better. Also, even though ‘NE’ is intended to be an ultimately hopeful record, I noticed that some of the reviews — albeit very positive — were putting me into the “shy, sad singer-songwriter” category.

At times, The Wreath reminds me of early Freedy Johnston, at other times Will Johnson of Centromatic or even Silkworm — bands you probably never heard of (and are probably waaay off base). What did you grow up listening to (or are listening to now) that influenced your music?

You’re right, I haven’t heard those bands, but now I really want to! Like most everyone, my parents brought me up with amazing songwriter stuff from the ’60s and ’70s: The Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel’s The Stranger, James Taylor, etc. And, like most everyone, throughout middleschool and highschool I moved from Guns ‘n’ Roses to Nirvana to Green Day to Weezer to the kind of indie rock that got me through college: classic stuff like the Pixies and the Smiths, and ’90s stuff like Pavement and Guided by Voices.

Now I just listen to everything, with an emphasis on passion and sincerity. Not in a contrived emo way, of course; rather, I’m referring to legends like Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder — two of my all time favorite songwriters — and contemporaries like Ted Leo. For the record — on an Omaha tip — I’d like to passionately add that I think the Good Life’s Blackout and Son, Ambulance’s Key are two of the greatest — and bizarrely, unfathomably underappreciated — albums that have come out in recent memory. Those albums are deep, dense, emotionally epic and just plain amazing. Everyone should own these!!

Your songs are personal without being cloying, I think because you add little pieces of yourself in the lines. Ferinstance, Our Winter. “The heating bill’s so goddamned high / I wear this pea coat all the time / My mom says I need snow tires bad / But man I just assume spend that money on records and sit /with friends /in living rooms / and sing the songs we know / by heart / they start / one two three four five six seven EIGHT!” The songs are snapshots of (your) life captured in the glare of fast-food road signs seen through windshields. It feels like journal entries. Is that where the lyrics come from?

You’re spot on with the lyrics! Totally! My entire goal, as a writer, is to write songs about incredibly — and almost embarrassingly — personal events — real life stuff! — that, even though the details are specific to me, deal with emotions and situations that *everyone* has dealt with. So, more simply, using the minutely private to connect with the shared public.

Who are Rachel and Jeremy Jensen? Are they related? Where’d you find them and how did they get involved in making the record? Will they be touring with you?

They are siblings, from Boise, Idaho. We just met and became friends through touring and hanging out after shows and around the northwest. Jeremy is an excellent producer, and we decided to make a record together in his living room. It was recorded in three days, and completed even BEFORE New England was released. And one of my most favorite songs, ‘My Balancing Act,’ was written in a spurt of inspiration after lunch one day, and then recorded minutes later. It was a very, very special experience. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to make live music together, yet, but I know we will soon!!!

I know you have friends in Omaha (and so does anyone who’s heard “When Will You Say”). Who are they and how did you become friends with them? How is Omaha and the friends you have here important to you? And while we’re at it, who is in The Legend of Zelda? Does it still exist?

Omaha is very important to me. I lived there — off and on — for almost a year, and every time I go back I wonder — “WHY DON’T I STILL LIVE HERE???” I love Joe (Knapp, of Son, Ambulance). As I said above, he is an amazing songwriter and his albums need to be heard by everyone; he also is a brilliant Scrabble player, but — it should be noted — has yet to beat me.

I think one of the greatest bands — anywhere, period — right now is Tilly and the Wall, and getting to know them was one of the most wonderful joys of calling Omaha home. They are incredible musicians, performers, and the nicest people ever. I hope we can tour some time. I don’t want to make this a name-drop fest because that seems cheap, and would be a disservice to friendships. Suffice to say, I love my Omaha friends, and miss them a lot. Oh yeah, and Legend of Zelda was me and Chris and Andy. That band was awesome and we only played two shows, but they were the absolute best. I will try to get you a copy of our tape. It’s lovely.