Pernice Brothers Take Their Time on 'Goodbye, Killer'

For Joe Pernice, it's not like the old days, when he could simply hole up in a studio and record a whole album. Making the latest Pernice Brothers release, 'Goodbye, Killer,' required a certain mastery of logistics, Pernice tells Spinner.

"I live in Canada, my wife works full-time and we have a kid, so I can't just pick up and go," Pernice says. "It takes a lot of time to arrange our schedules."

That meant a series of recording sessions scattered over two years, when Pernice, his brother, Bob, drummer Ric Menck and guitarist James Walbourne would convene in the studio he and his brother built in his manager's house in Dorchester, Mass.
The relaxed pace had its benefits.

"When you're doing it in one fell swoop, there's a time limit on it because of money or studio time and you're rushing to get it done, even though you're chasing down a vision," Pernice says. "I always felt pressured that way, and this time, there was no pressure at all."

The new album, the Pernice Brothers' sixth studio record, is the band's first collection of original songs since Pernice debuted as a novelist last year with 'It Feels So Good When I Stop.' He and his manager, Joyce Linehan, are also co-authors of 'Pernice to Me,' a collection of Pernice quotes Linehan has disseminated via Twitter. Steering the narrative flow of a book is one thing, but Pernice finds his songs don't happen quite the same way.

"I have to say, I'm not that sophisticated," he reveals. "It's still a vibe thing for me. Like, there's a tune called 'Newport News' on this record. A long time ago, when that song might have begun, I remember thinking, 'I want to write a song about a place,' and Newport News was a good hook. And then that song sort of veered into whatever it is."

'Goodbye, Killer,' is due June 15 on Ashmont.