CATCHING UP WITH HHBTM

With the Athens PopFest coming up, and the singles club still a major project that takes up a lot of my time, I have been a bit slack on posting lately. Lots and lots of stuff is in the works currently, so there should be lots more posts over the next few weeks. We have the PopFest going on from August 12th – 16th. The new Cars Can Be Blue album Doubly Unbeatable is doing great. Nate & Becky will be doing a short two week tour with Hotpants Romance right after PopFest. The Smittens new album The Coolest Thing About Love is moving quickly with just a handful of preorders left. The Smittens are having a blast in the UK and will be playing the Indietracks Festival along with their label-mates Red Pony Clock who are also touring the UK. The newest signing to HHBTM Hotpants Romance are getting ready for the stateside release of their debut album It’s a Heatwave. The Lolligags are also preparing for PopFest while also being excited to debut their new EP Out of Perversity Join Hands. In singles club news the Apples in Stereo / Patience Please split single is at the plant and the sleeve is being designed by David Crane of the band Boat. The All Girl Summer Fun Band / Cars Can Be Blue single is being mastered this week, and will be in the plant next week while Jen Sbragia finishes up the sleeve. We are also working out a fall tour for Cars Can Be Blue of the Midwest / Northeast / Southeast for October and November. Andy from Denver is working on the artwork for his new CD for a fall release. We are also hoping for word anyday now about our CMJ showcase. If we get it, then be on the lookout for a awesome show with Bearsuit, Velcro Stars, Cars Can Be Blue, Eux Autres, the Lolligags, Andy from Denver, and Keith John Adams. Bunnygrunt, Casper & the Cookies, the Love Letter Band, and Velcro Stars are all hard at work on new albums. Shortly after PopFest I will also be announcing a special compilation and zine with a early 2009 release. I think it might even be mailorder only, still working out the cost of doing it. Also anyone wanting one of the HHBTM Twee as Satan shirts be sure to have someone grab you one at PopFest. Till next time. Mike

Pop Yr Heart

Happy Happy Birthday to Me is pleased to present “The Coolest Thing About Love”, the new album by The Smittens, the gentlest gang in town! Sincere honest pop music with a gentle heart and good intentions! Herein lie some of the Smittens softest and sweetest songs yet. Lovingly home recorded by the Smittens themselves with new sounds and friends chipping in and then mixed and produced with Eric Masunaga and the gang working to make their new favorite record to share with friends and lovers and family and fans the world over. Look out! Tune in! Don't mess with the rainbow! PREORDER – the Smittens “the Coolest Thing About Love” for $12.00 postage paid in the US and Canada. The preorder comes with a bonus button & artwork print outs. Limited to 50 preorders. You can also catch the Smittens over in the UK over the next two weeks.

Jul 21st @ the Red House – Sheffield - The Parallelograms, The Seven Inches

Jul 22nd @ the Sunflower Lounge - Birmingham – Zebras, Red Pony Clock

Jul 23rd @ the Captain’s Rest – Glasgow – Zoey van Goey, The Just Joans

Jul 24th @ the Brudenell – Leeds – Ballboy

Jul 25th @ the Cardigan Arms – Leeds – Red Pony Clock, The Rocky Nest, Cliquant

Jul 26th & 27th @ INDIETRACKS – Butterley –

Jul 28th @ Fuel – Manchester – The Seven Inches, Awesome Wells

Jul 29th @ Club Ifor Bach – Cardiff – Ballboy, Red Pony Clock, The Bobby Mcgees

Jul 30th @ Thekla - Bristol – Ballboy

Jul 31st @ the Luminaire - London – Ballboy, Pocketbooks

Aug 1st @ the Rescue Rooms - Nottingham – The Deirdres, The Pete Green Corporate DJs

Gumdrops

The Smittens are back with another new video. It's for the soon to be international indie pop hit "Gumdrops". I say international as the Smittens will be doing their first UK tour starting this weekend. Tour dates, new album news, mp3's, and more news coming tomorrow night. Enjoy the video. Mike

NEWS UPDATE - SINGLES CLUB

For all the HHBTM Singles Club subscribers round two of the singles club shipped out last Friday through Monday. You should all be recieving your new split singles by Tullycraft / Smittens, Poison Control Center / Ideal Free Distribution, Red Pony Clock / Andy from Denver, and Keith John Adams / Velcro Stars. The Apples in Stereo / Patience Please single is going into the plant next week, and Cars Can Be Blue / All Girl Summer Fun Band will follow in early August. The goal is for round three to be completed and shipped out before the end of the year.

Hotpants Romance - It's a Heatwave

Hotpants Romance are the newest kids on the old Happy Happy Birthday to Me block. These ladies will be coming over for the Athens PopFest and then for a 2 week tour with Cars Can Be Blue. Dates to be posted soon.

Yet Another KJA video

Keith John Adams just never stops making videos. The new video from Keith is for the song "Looking Around the Planet" from the album Unclever. we'll miss Keith At this year's PopFest, but we'll see him this fall for sure.

Like the McRib Cars Can Be Blue never went away, but they are back.

Today we have two new songs from Cars Can Be Blue. The new album “Doubly Unbeatable” hits the streets on June 10th, 2008. We are doing a special pre-order where you will get the CD, a button, a bonus CD, and a cheap Cars Can Be Blue t-shirt all for $15.00 postage paid. The album was recorded by Jeff Walls (Guadalcanal Diary & the Woggles) and engineered by Joel Hatstat (Pegasuses XL) and mastered by Jason Nesmith (Casper & the Cookies). Nate & Becky are also hitting the road this May and June so catch them if you can.

NEW SONGS

Cars Can Be Blue - Sun Blows Up

Cars Can Be Blue - Coat Tails

MAY
29th - Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
30th – Chattanooga – J.J.’s Bohemia
31st - Murfreesboro, TN @ TBA
JUNE
1st – Memphis, TN @ TBA
2nd - St Louis, MO @ CBGB
3rd - Chicago, IL @ South Union Arts
4th – ???
5th - Toledo, OH @ TBA
6th - Cleveland, OH @ Bela Dubby
7th – Washington DC @ TBA
8th - Philadelphia, PA @ HOUSE SHOW
9th - New York City, NY @ Cakeshop
10th - Boston, MA @ TT the Bear’s
11th- Brattleboro, VT @ Tender Box
12th- Northampton, MA @ Sierra Grill
13th - Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Art Space
14th – Charolette, NC @ Snug Harbor
15th – Florence, SC @ 511 House