On stage, Sean Tillmann is a showman. As Har Mar Superstar, he brought a glistening, naked belly, sarcastic R&B jams and unwavering charisma to the Maintenance Shop a few weeks ago.

But offstage, on a cell phone and in a troubled van heading east on I-90 toward Chicago, Tillmann is timid and brief in his conversation.

He says “yeah” 35 times in the 10 minutes he is on the line – half the time, not even to answer a question.

Tillmann is back on the road with his band Sean Na Na, supporting its latest effort, “My Majesty,” which comes out this week.

St. Paul, Minn., Tillmann’s hometown and place where he kicks back and downs 40s, was the first stop on the tour. And it was a success, as Tillmann says Sean Na Na packed the Turf Club with about 400 people.

“Yeah, it was totally sold out, a big party,” he explains.

And that’s it. Next question.

Tillmann doesn’t seem too worried about promoting “My Majesty.”

“I can’t really explain it to you,” he says.

Oh really?

“I don’t really focus on themes when I make a record,” he explains. “It’s all about focusing on songs and spending more time on them. I don’t have any sort of agenda.

“I don’t really have a conscious goal,” Tillmann continues. “`My Majesty’ seemed like it’d be a good title; it’s not like it means anything.”

But even a casual listen to a Sean Na Na album reveals meaningful lyrics filled with angst and insecurity, a mixture that bubbles through the wellcrafted pop songs – “somewhere between Elvis Costello, Thin Lizzy and the Go-Gos,” Tillmann says – that have developed with each new release.

“[The new album] sounds a lot better,” he says, finally coming up with description of “My Majesty” after some nervous laughter and a few more “yeahs.”

“The songs are just stronger.”

Tillmann still is hesitant about saying too much about the new album. Maybe it’s his indie background that subdues the mock bravado, the sonic intensity he brings to the stage.

Or maybe it’s the fabled “Minnesota Nice” that stays his tongue, although Tillmann vehemently denies any defining characteristic of bands from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Still, Tillmann says Minnesota has had its effect.

“It makes me more humble,” he explains. “It’s easier to meet people and play with people than being in a bigger pool, but at the same time there’s a lot of good influence and a lot of other good bands around.”

Never quite fully committed to any answer, Tillmann clarifies his words.

“It’s probably about the same as growing up anywhere else.”

Besides obvious Minnesota influences such as The Replacements, Husker Du and Babes in Toyland, Tillmann says his music was shaped by acts including Michael Jackson, Sonic Youth, and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

“I liked everything that everybody else did,” he says. “I’m sure [I listened to] all the stuff that everybody gets into at some point.”

Not surprisingly, the acts Tillmann cites are both talented songwriters and enthralling performers, characteristics he says Sean Na Na emulates.

“We just try to keep it really fun; there’s four of us having a good time,” he says.

Don’t get ahead of yourself, Sean.

“It’s like a rock band playing rock songs,” he says. “Sometimes my finger bleeds. We don’t just sit there; there’s a lot of energy. But we rule.”

Other than rock songs and bleeding fingers, Tillmann is tight-lipped about Tuesday’s show at the M-Shop.

“Come and find out,” he says. “I can’t give away all the secrets right now.”

A few minutes later, Tillmann’s vehicle forces him to abruptly end his string of revelations.

“Did we just run over something?” Tillmann asks one of the van’s other occupants. “I got a really bad problem here with the van. I gotta go. OK, I’m sorry. OK, yeah, I’ll talk to you later. I’m sorry, this is bad. Buh-bye.”