News of the World

Friday will always bring two things to the Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records blog. Label news, then a new song or two that is not officially released yet.

This week has been a slow week label news wise. Tullycraft / Smittens single is well on it's way to being completed for the next singles club mail out. Keith John Adams, Ideal Free Distribution, and James Husband have their tracks in as well. Red Pony Clock are recording their singles club song next week, and the Velcro Stars are finishing their mix on their single as well this weekend. The second round is coming together nicely. Keith John Adams is a little over half way done with his personal songs for preorders, and we also filled the last slot for custom songs this morning. The label blog started this week, and after doing inventory I found a few items that I thought were long gone and out of print. I'm going to post those on the website and over the myspace this weekend. The Bearsuit CD is at the plant, and should be in late next week. 2007 overall was the best year yet for HHBTM with five seven inch singles released, 1 CD ep, 1 compilation CD, and eight full length CD's, our infamous Twee as Satan t-shirt, another CMJ showcase, an Athfest showcase, and the Athens Popfest it's insane to think we got through it all.

2008 is looking to be even bigger already, especially with a new record coming out in the fall from Andy Gonzales who was once Marshmallow Coast and M Coast, but is now Andy From Denver. Andy's songs are a fun and bouncy, and always quirky. However when you listen to the lyrics you discover how the songs as happy as they seem are usually a bit dark or sad underneath their shiny pop overcoats. Andy from Denver will be playing 2 shows soon in Athens.
Jan 18th @ the Flicker Theater & Bar
Jan 19th @ the Go Bar w/ the Lolligags
Please check out Andy from Denver at their MySpace page.

Every Wednesday I'll be posting about a new band that is not on HHBTM. Spring Tigers are a new Athens band which is fronted by ex-Capes front man Kris Barratt. The overall vibe is very early XTC with lots of herky jerky pop hooks. So far they have only played two shows in Athens, but I'm already looking forward to the third. These days pop bands are very few in Athens, so when one as exciting as Spring Tigers pops up it has me hoping there might be another pop band explosion inside our little loop that surrounds our tiny college town. Please go check out the Spring Tigers at their MySpace page.

bringing in the new with a bit of the old

It might be a bit strange to kick off a label blog with a band that is not on the label, but the Cure were the first band I fell in love with as a kid. It all started in 1981 being given the gift on my birthday of the LP of "Boys Don't Cry". I will be posting at least four days a week. Tuesdays will always be video days, so you'll have to check tomorrow to see what the middle of week holds.