4 To Watch For: Jake Brennan

“Some guys are plumbers, some guys fix cars, and I sing songs. And I write ’em. That’s it.” Jake Brennan’s statement of purpose may seem matter-of-fact and maybe a bit modest, but it’s as double-sided as the name of his band, the Confidence Men. It also breathes a self-assurance that’s reflected in his full-length debut, Love and Bombs, an engaging piece of American music that mixes blistering rockabilly, full-tilt rock ’n’ roll, dusty country rock reminiscent of early ’70s Stones, and emotionally naked singer/songwriter fare—plus a wicked-cool, rocking reinvention of hard-country journeyman Moe Bandy’s classic “It Was Always So Easy (To Find An Unhappy Woman).”

The son of Boston roots-music stalwart Dennis Brennan (his singing at times uncannily like his father’s), Brennan began his music career as a member of local hardcore outfit Cast Iron Hike. But when his interests diverged from what he was playing, he simply walked away from the gig and started fresh.

After forming the Confidence Men, Brennan spent two years playing clubs, honing his craft and, at first, foregoing recording while the band forged its identity. This time included a year of woodshedding with Boston producer Paul Kolderie, and it culminated in recording the songs that make up Love and Bombs. Brennan also attracted the attention of longtime Nashville alt.country impresario Jack Emerson, who signed the band to his label, E-Squared, after seeing them at SXSW; Emerson’s untimely death and the consequent search for a new label delayed the record’s release by almost a year. But, finally, Yep Roc picked up the record.

Brennan says the name of his band came to him when he was reading about various shades of con men past in a college course on Boston history. It’s the sort of band name that rolls off the tongue, but there’s no con in Brennan’s music: in performance, and on record, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he leaves nothing on the table. In the simpler sense of the word, however, “confidence” seems about right as a descriptor. Brennan exudes an undeniable focus and determination to succeed at what he’s doing. He has the air of a natural frontman, but when he’s performing with his band, he says he feels like there’s not just one but five confident men onstage. And, as he points out with a laugh, “confidence” also connotes “ego.” He wants to make albums that live up to the sound of those legends on your record shelf.