u/Careless-Wait-2532

NEW EPISODE — PART TWO WITH MIKE TURNER OF HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME RECORDS!

Can you imagine starting a record label without even realizing you were starting a record label?

That’s essentially what happened when Mike Turner put together the first Happy Happy Birthday to Me compilation—a DIY project featuring a ridiculous lineup of bands that would help define indie rock at the end of the ’90s and beginning of the 2000s.

We’re talking of Montreal. Elf Power. The Minders. Masters of the Hemisphere. @Marshmallow Coast. The Mendoza Line. Birddog—whose story even brings an Elliott Smith connection into the mixand so many more.

And that compilation? It became the beginning of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records, a label that would go on to release more than 200 records over the next 30 years.

Pretty incredible for something that started with Mike simply wanting to put together a compilation of music he loved. And trying to stop doing a ZINE!

On this episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts, we continue our epic conversation with Mike and go deep into the creation of that very first HHBTM compilation.

We talk about the completely DIY way it came together, how Mike connected with the bands, how he actually got the songs, and then we go track by track through the compilation, talking about the artists, the songs, the stories behind them, and why each one mattered.

It’s a snapshot of a very special moment in indie rock—and an incredible story about what can happen when somebody decides to just make something.

If you’ve ever wanted to start a record label, make a film, put out a record, book a show, start a zine, create a podcast—or do anything DIY—this is an episode for you.

Sometimes you don’t need a master plan.

You just need to start.

Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records (HHBTM) Michael Turner Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts

Huge thanks to Mike Turner for spending so much time with us and taking us inside the story of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

Episode 2 of our conversation with Mike Turner is streaming NOW everywhere you listen to podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1D9iSNWlIdo8HGqZE3bLgc?si=3syZX8IfRmKzRZXK0giyRA

Go check it out.

DON’T BOTHER WEARING SEATBELTS.

Tomorrow Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts will release into the world the epic second part of our interview with Michael Turner as we dig into the HHBtM volume one compilation as well as Athens Popfest! And to celebrate the release of part 2, we’re doing it again! Same giveaway as part one. You get Black Swan Network. You get The Tammy Shine. You get The Ladybug Transistor and a double dose of Great Lakes all on vinyl! We want to thank Michael again for his generosity in donating these amazing lp’s to the show!

And we can also announce the winners of the Bazooka! Fest tickets! Festival organizer Jake Whitener has donated two pairs of tickets to the fest, and here they are!

Jorge Diaz, you win two tickets to Bazooka! Fest!

Joe Castrianni, you also win two tickets to Bazooka! Fest!

Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier.

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/

https://kydlabs.com/e/EV0f94f120-b22a-453c-8eca-9e96a4bc71ca

Surprise episode!!! Join us as we sit down with Jake Whitener to talk about everything Bazooka! Fest and more! We talk about everything from the realities of putting together a kick ass indie festival that doesn’t rely on corporate sponsorship to his time with the legendary Matador Records.

Jake has also donated two pairs of Bazooka! Fest tickets to our listeners! Two winners! Four tickets! This one runs a bit different. This giveaway is not Patreon exclusive! Here’s how to win: Hidden inside the episode is a keyword (it isn’t really hidden, we say “this is the keyword” quite a bit). Once you know the keyword you will need to send us a message on either our Facebook or Instagram pages. All entries must be in by end of day August 17th. We will randomly draw from these entries, and then you, yes YOU could be going to Bazooka! Fest! Thanks for listening and good luck!

https://nyc-shows.brooklynvegan.com/events/2026/8/22/bazooka-fest-2026-tickets

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KcecdyVe3DGBlMKRYuCqY?si=wFcqmxLeTjeJow3cL\_7wBw&utm\_source=copy-link

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts has finally released our first season episode with Per Ole and Hilarie Bratset of The High Water Marks discussing their most recent opus, Consult the Oracle. It’s an incredible album that is completely filled stern to stem with high energy fuzz pop goodness, and world class songwriting. The Norwegian contingent of E6 could not possibly be releasing more interesting, and vital music for our time, and we have them here to talk about it!

We will also drew one of our Patreon subscribers to receive a vinyl copy of Consult the Oracle! Congrats to Trent Purdy for winning! Remember, all you need to do take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier. Good luck, everyone!

https://thehighwatermarks.bandcamp.com/

https://elephant6.com/shop/

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867

8/5 Giveaway!!!

Next Wednesday, August 5th Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts will be releasing another classic season 1 DBWS episode from behind the paywall. In this episode we will be sitting down with Hilarie and Per Ole Bratset of The High Water Marks about their extraordinary 2025 album Consult the Oracle. To celebrate this most recent work of brilliance from the Norwegian contingent of the collective we will be giving away one vinyl copy of the album to one of our Patreon subscribers! For everyone else, make sure to get your own copy from either their bandcamp, or the Elephant 6 website!

Remember, all you need to do take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to our Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier. Good luck, everyone!

https://thehighwatermarks.bandcamp.com/

https://elephant6.com/shop/

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

When we sat down with Michael Turner of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records (HHBTM), we planned to spend most of our time talking about one of the greatest independent record labels of the last 30 years. Instead, we began with Mike sharing his late-in-life autism diagnosis and how it helped him understand so much about the way he'd lived, worked, and built HHBTM.

At first, we actually talked about editing that part of the conversation out.

But when we listened back, we realized it wasn't something to cut.. to me it was inspiring and it was something people needed to hear.

10 to 15 years ago, autism wasn't even a word I heard very often in my life. Today, so many people I love and loved.. including my co-host in this conversation Mathew Bell , my best friend's child, ex partners and others close to me.. have helped me understand it in ways I never could have before. Hearing Mike tell his story gave me another perspective, and I'm grateful he trusted us enough to share it.

To me, Mike Turner was always the hardest-working person in indie rock.

He made a rad zine. He rode BMX. He worked in a record store. He promoted shows. He booked tours. He released records. He organized Athens Popfest. He created art. He stayed up until all hours of the night making things happen, then got up and did it all again the next day. When I stayed with him for a week in 2004... watching him work was one of the most inspiring things I've ever witnessed.

Long before I understood why he worked the way he did, I just knew I wanted to emulate that passion.

Mike taught me that if you love something enough, you wear every hat. You become the promoter, the designer, the booking agent, the publicist, the label owner, the artist.. whatever the music needs you to be.. you be it, even if you don't know how.

Without Mike, my old band The Poison Control Center never plays Athens Popfest. We never get to stand on the stage at the legendary 40 WATT with our heroes. We never make so many lifelong friendships that still mean the world to us today.

Without Mike, the PCC probably isn't on Happy Happy Birthday to Me Vol. 3 (our first big compilation cd), one of the proudest moments of our early career. We don't release our split 7-inch with Ideal Free Distribution on HHBTM. My label I started with my pals.. BI-Fi Records doesn't get the unbelievable opportunity to partner with Happy Happy Birthday to Me on a split compilation.

This episode is only the beginning of Mike's incredible story. In future episodes, we'll dive deeper into the legendary compilations, the famous 7-Inch Singles Club, Athens Popfest, and the countless bands whose lives he helped change.

Mike, thank you.

Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your relentless work ethic. Thank you for believing in our band. Thank you for creating opportunities and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

You can now stream this brand new episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts PART1 of the conversation.. wherever you stream podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6jxZLXqWebW5WEpFjdeJf4?si=3UMxop09SWuirl8CJ6tb-Q

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

7/22 Giveaway

This one is huge! To celebrate our upcoming two part episode with Michael Turner talking about the legacy of Happy Happy Birthday to Me, and the impact they had on the world of Elephant 6, Michael was kind enough to donate five of their recent releases to one of our Patreon subscribers! We’ve got Black Swan Network. We have a dash of The Tammy Shine. And here’s a side of Ladybug Transistor with a double helping of Great Lakes! The winner of our next drawing will win one copy of each of these albums on vinyl! It’s a gosh darn cornucopia of incredible music!

Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to our Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier. Good luck!

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/merch

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

Now streaming on all major Podcast apps and YouTube!

Join Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts as we sit down with Elf Power’s Andrew Rieger to talk about their 1995 debut, Vainly Clutching at Phantom Limbs. This first season episode that is finally coming out from behind the paywall was a big one for us! Not only are we discussing a foundational album of the E6 Collective that embodies everything that was so special about those early home recording days, but this episode was officially Patrick’s debut as a cohost on the show! We also discover that Andrew has an absurdly good memory, and get to hear Mat start to panic a little bit as he realizes that he may be responsible for a 27 year old mystery. Don’t miss this one!

We will also be drawing a name from one of our Patreon Subscribers to win a copy of the recent reissue of Vainly Clutching at Phantom Limbs on vinyl! Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to our Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier!

And one more thing! We’re launching a new tier to our Patreon today!!! Noooo, it isn’t the super secret one that everyone who already subscribes will be grandfathered into. That one is still coming, but this is something very different. To celebrate the release of our episode on Vainly Clutching we are adding a, frankly, completely ridiculous tier to the Patreon. I would like to present to you all…… the Self Righteous MF’er tier (if you know you know).

In the brand new Self Righteous MF’er tier, subscribers will get the opportunity to join us in the recording of one of our upcoming episodes! SRMF’s will be able to choose from any of our upcoming interviews to sit in on, and take part in. On top of that, anyone subscribing at this level will also receive a monthly E6 prize package containing two items, at least one of which will be a physical album. This one is a bit pricey, coming in at $100 a month, and subscribers will need to have maintained that level for three months before being eligible for the interview part of the reward. To be completely honest, we really just thought it would be funny to have a Self Righteous MF’er tier, and we don’t expect anyone to necessarily jump on this, but hey! We will absolutely hold up our side and make it incredible for anyone who decides to take us up on it!

https://live365.com/station/Bored-Music-Geek-Radio-a13080

https://orangetwinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vainly-clutching-at-phantom-limbs

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

You can now listen to our conversation with Andy Gonzales about the classic of Montreal album Coquelicoat Asleep in the Poppies • a variety of whimsical verse on all major podcast apps, and YouTube! This album was the true culmination of the band’s whimsy period, telling a long form story of absurdities in the most beautiful way possible, and Andy was there for it all.

It’s a far reaching conversation in which we are told the origins of The Gay Parade, and hear what is possibly the most touching story in all of rock and roll about a band member quitting, and the inspiring, and heart melting response that he received. Truly, this is an episode not to be missed.

And check out what Patrick has to say about this episode!

“How often do we really get to grow up with a band..
Not just loving a band for a season or a record or a summer, but actually getting to watch them evolve in real time. Getting older alongside them. Seeing them transform album by album, phase by phase. Sometimes I think about people who were alive to see The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and then stayed with them all the way through Abbey Road. To witness that kind of chameleon-like evolution must have felt magical. And give you the permission to continuously evolve as an artist and as a human. Watching artists invent themselves over and over while you were inventing yourself too it’s pretty fucking liberating.

of Montreal has been one of those bands for me.
Their discography is one of the most epic, strangest, most fearless, and most rewarding journeys I’ve ever experienced as a listener and trust me I have listened to it all. Most bands find one sound and spend a lifetime trying to perfect it, and then there are bands like, of Montreal that seem almost allergic to standing still and staying the same.

I still deeply love those early recordings. The lo-fi era. The three-piece era. Those records felt homemade and timeless. Those songs are like little dreams with tape hiss, cartoon-like, characters of love and honest heartbreak. My kinda vibe.
But for me, the era that truly changed the way I heard and tried to write music was The Gay Parade and Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse era.

That was the moment I was becoming a young adult myself. I was starting my own band. I was trying to understand songwriting and storytelling and how music could create entire weird whimsical worlds. And Kevin Barnes was creating unlike anybody else. Theatrical and literary and whimsical and deeply emotional all at once. Like The Kinks meet the Musical Hair, performed by Os Mutantes. Surreal imagery and melodies that twisted around like carnival rides.

I was lucky enough to eventually play with, of Montreal multiple times with the The Poison Control Center, which was such an honor because their music was pretty much a blueprint to all of our very early more story based recordings. These were heroes. Sharing the stage with our fucking idols.

On May 1st, 2005, something kind of historic happened in Des Moines music history. The first-ever sellout at the Vaudeville Mews. The lineup was The Poison Control Center, Tilly and the Wall, and of Montreal. It felt like one of those nights where our scene became something bigger. A room packed with people who all believed music mattered and damn it was a fun show.. Also the first time my son’s mom ever saw the PCC.. Kinda hard to live up to that one..

And Des Moines absolutely fell in love with, of Montreal.
I believe either the next year or the year after, they came back through town again. This time Troubled Hubble and The Poison Control Center opened another legendary show for our little scene, and if memory serves me right, that one sold out too. Then not long after that, of Montreal would headline Des Moines’ 80/35 Festival. It was amazing watching a band that once felt like this beautiful secret become something much larger while still remaining the entirely weird evolving selves.

Somewhere in there, before one of those tours, Kevin Barnes, his then wife Nina, and Kevin’s brother David Barnes stayed at my house in Ames after they performed their A Pollinaire Rave show. A Pollinaire Rave was a one off side project, that introduced us to many of the songs that would make the band find a larger, more dancy audience.. I booked this side project of a husband, wife, and brother at the Boheme in Ames and I think their guarantee was 100 bucks. I still cannot believe I can casually type that sentence. One hundred bucks.. 7 Years later they would be making 50,000 bucks to playing 8035 just 30 miles down the road.

Back at my house after the show at some point during the night, we asked Kevin if we could film him playing a couple songs on our couch. So sweet and fed by us.. He said yes. Kevin sat on my couch with an acoustic guitar and played a couple of Montreal early classics. I filmed it.. somewhere on an old high 8 tape and damn it I desperately hope I find it someday. Because it was beautiful. No stage needed. No crazy costumes. Just Kevin Barnes sitting on a couch singing songs in a living room in Iowa at around 1 a.m.,.. Perfect.

Over the years we became friendly with so many people who played with Kevin. Bryan Poole. Jason NeSmith. Derek Griffin Almstead. All musical idols as well. So many wonderful talented people orbiting around these records that meant so much to me.
Another of those musical idols playing in, of Montreal was Andy Gonzales.

Andy is the guest on this week’s episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts.

And honestly, talking to Andy was kind of emotional for me.
Because Andy’s musical history is incredible in its own right. Marshmallow Coast (M Coast) his band, is also one of the coolest, warmest, weirdest indie pop projects ever. He was also in The Music Tapes before eventually joining, of Montreal because, as he hilariously explains in the episode, The Music Tapes didn’t exactly have the most reliable touring infrastructure while, of Montreal did. THANKS KEVIN BARNES’ MOM and DAD.

The stories he tells about the making of Coquelicot absolutely blew my mind. The fact that that album was recorded entirely to tape feels almost impossible considering the record sounds like a carnival ride designed by a genius who drank 16 cups of coffee, read ten children’s books at once, and kept screaming “wait, I have one more idea” every thirty seconds as the songs zig zag through a hundred beautiful twists and turns like every 4 musical bars.

But maybe my favorite thing about the conversation wasn’t even the stories about recording.

It was hearing the love Andy still clearly has for Kevin Barnes.
Even though they haven’t spoken in years. Even though Andy admits he hasn’t even heard many of the albums Kevin has released since leaving the band. There’s still this enormous warmth and respect there. Not just for Kevin as a songwriter, but as a human being. That tugs at the heartstrings.

Because sometimes the mythology around indie rock scenes can make people forget that these were just young human beings trying to make beautiful things together. And that’s fucking magic. And it reminds me of all the amazing people I have had the privilege to create with over the years.. And even if I fell out of touch with some of them, that love is still there for them and the things we made together.

Andy himself is now a nurse practitioner helping save lives every day. He spent years helping save mine emotionally through music, and now he literally helps save people medically. He’s that good…

One of my favorite, of Montreal memories happened at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

If you’ve toured before, you know the routine. Bookstores. Record stores. Coffee shops. Wandering downtown all day before the show. So as a fan if you drive 3 ½ hours for said concert, if you go to those places you might see the band you're seeing that night wasting time and hopefully not money before the show. Knowing this throughout the afternoon we kept randomly running into Kevin and Nina around Minneapolis. Since they had stayed at our house before and we’d played together, there was already this friendliness there. They were genuinely excited. We had driven three and a half hours just to see the show.

After the concert ended, I wanted to say goodbye to Kevin before heading home. Someone from the band said, “Oh, just go backstage.”

Now the backstage at 7th Street Entry is tiny. It’s basically like walking into someone’s bedroom.

So I walk in there and Kevin Barnes is standing completely naked changing clothes.

Completely naked.
And I immediately went into absolute panic mode.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I just wanted to say goodbye.”

And Kevin, completely unfazed, just laughed and said, “Oh, it’s okay, it’s okay.”
He pulled up some underwear and invited me in.
Then he thanked me sincerely for coming to the show, gave me a huge hug.. Just in his undies, and he said “we will see you soon.” and gave a great goodbye.

That tiny awkward sweet human interaction has stayed with me all these years. And makes me continue to root for this band. Because that’s the thing about growing up with bands.
The records matter so much to us. The concerts are unforgettable. But sometimes it’s also the interactions with the people behind the music that stay with you forever. Sharing the stage with your idols. A genius songwriter sitting on your couch playing songs. A hug backstage. Watching these artists grow older while you grow older too. I love how small the indie rock world truly is. It’s easy to actually feel like you are a part of it.

of Montreal’s Coquelicot album is still one of the most whimsical, adventurous, imaginative records indie rock has ever produced.
Talking to Andy about it brought all of those memories flooding back. Thanks Andy.

So please check out this week’s episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts.

It’s a really beautiful one.”

https://ofmontreal.bandcamp.com/music

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm\_campaign=creatorshare\_creator

Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts is going to do things a little bit differently this time around. To celebrate the release of our episode with Andy Gonzales (of Montreal, Marshmallow Coast, etc,) discussing the classic of Montreal album, Coquelicoat Asleep in the Poppies, and the release of the new of Montreal album, Aethermead, out on 6/5, this next giveaway is going to come with options. We thought about giving away two prizes this time, a vinyl copy of Coquelicoat, and a vinyl copy of Aethermead, but we realized that the two winners would then have to fight to the death in a cage match to decide who gets which album, and, honestly? The cleaning crew needed for such an endeavor is just too pricey.

So, here’s the deal. The winner gets a choice. You can have the tried, the true, the masterpiece that is Coquelicoat Asleep in the Poppies, or you can step into the unknown, and embrace the mystery of Aethermead. The choice is yours! The winner will be drawn on 5/27, and the cut off for entry will be 8:00 pm eastern. Remember, all you need to do to gain entry to our monthly giveaways is to subscribe to our Patreon at the Reckless Driver tier ($1 monthly.) Good luck, everyone!

Oh, and a quick update on when we will have an actual update for the super secret special thing that’s coming for subscribers. We still won’t tell you what it is….. until August. So look for big news coming in August for the Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

https://ofmontreal.bandcamp.com/music

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867