Paper Anniversary

It's our one year anniversary today! What a year it has been. I couldn't be happier. Tonight we celebrate dinner at The Inn at Shelburne Farms. Can't wait to walk the beautiful grounds and have a great meal.
xoxo, Holly

My Town

The lovely home and design site Design Sponge has done another Burlington, VT guide post. I live here and love it. Check out the post here.
Illustration by Julia Rothman

Back From Tour and Local Show Sunday!

Hey all!
We are back from our tour adventures! There are no words to express what a great time we had and how generous and amazing the people we had the pleasure of working with were. We played several shows in German for the first time and it was amazing! Oh and to bike around Paris-what a treat! We love and miss Allo Darlin'. Touring with them rocked our world. Words can't say enough so here are some pictures of tour-more to come!
This Sunday night we rock our own local venue The Monkey House in Winooski, VT with a Welcome Home Smittens CD Release Party with our friends The Poison Control Center. We can not wait to rock out in our own state this weekend! See you there! xoxo

London Bells Are Ringing

Great show in London last night at The Luminaire with Antarctica Takes It and Allo Darlin'. It was a sold out show and the energy was fantastic with the audience. Afterwards we went to our dear friend Camila's place and hung out before heading to sleep. She is a great host as usual. Today we head to Sheffield for our next show! Cheers luvs!

Smittens on Tour

Hi all!
Just wrapping up our second day of tour. I'm finally feeling like my cold is going away and my jet-lag. Glasgow, Scotland was so fun the first night despite my tiredness. Seeing our friends abroad and our friends who are touring as well from NYC was great. Tonight we played in Birmingham, England and tomorrow we head to London. Check out our tour schedule here. Ok off to bed. Check our Smittens blog for more updates too.

The Smittens Cover Story in Seven Days

I meant to post this Wednesday but here it is now. Our cover story in Seven Days VT came out on Wednesday. If your local pick up a physical copy. If not here is the story online, http://www.7dvt.com/2010smittens . Thanks Dan Bolles for writing such a good article. We were very excited! Also our talented friend Ted Olson did the cover for this issue as well as the art direction for our newest album, Dancing Shoes: The Smittens Remixed. The picture to the left is a copy of the paper's physical cover.
Next time I update The Smittens will be all together on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean touring for three weeks!

News from our band!

Hi All!
The Smittens are very excited to leave on our next international tour! We can't wait to see our friends and make new ones! Plus play music with so many cool musicians! For our tour dates check out the front page of the blog.
We are also excited to announce on July 19th London’s Oddbox records will release Dancing Shoes: The Smittens Remixed, which is an 8-song ep of Smittens songs re-imagined by 8 different awesome re-mixers! Check out the link! Also the lovely blog A Layer of Chips gave us this review. Check out another review on Side Ponytail. Yay!
Lastly there is a Smittens song – our cover of Tullycraft’s “Sweet” on the fourth coming Kept a Scrapbook: A Tribute to Tullycraft on Unchikun Records. Check out this amazing tribute to one of the best bands ever!
Keep posted tomorrow for another post! xo

NYC Popfest-Two Smittens Videos

I know it's been a while since I updated. Life just flies by sometimes but I promise to start updating again more often. The Smittens had a great weekend playing at NYC Popfest. Saw friends from abroad and friends from NYC and friends from everywhere else. It was a fun time to say the least. Even witnessed Johnny Rotten get in a fight at he restaurant across the street from the club. That was hilarious to witness.
Here are some videos I found online from our show Friday at NYC Popfest.

NYC Popfest 2010: The Smittens perform Half My Heart Beats at Don Hill's from BlearyEyedBrooklyn.com on Vimeo.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!
Hope you have a great holiday. Here is a picture of me from around Easter last year at my favorite vintage shop in town. They always bring out the big bunny every year and I couldn't resist a photo op. David and I are off to meet my mother and sister for brunch and later do dinner at my best friend's house. The sun is out and its warm. Yay!
xoxo, Holly

Smittens show this Friday!

This Friday at Higher Ground in South Burlington!

FIRST FRIDAY
The Smittens (8-10pm)DJ Precious & DJ Llu (10pm-close)Showcase Lounge Friday, April 2nd
doors 7:30 show 8:00
ALL AGES $5 advance | $10 day of show

Four Smittens shows this week!!!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Yes all five Smittens and four shows on the east coast! First off The Smittens are excited to return to the Rhythm & Brews Coffeehouse this Thursday- our last show there was on January 22nd, 2004, and prior to that was back in 2002 with My Favorite and the Alps! Come on out for a fun show and bring a mug for some free coffee, too!
Rhythm & Brews is a weekly coffee house that takes place every Thursday from 9:00-11:00 PM in the Fireplace Lounge of the Living/Learning (L/L) Center at the University of Vermont.(2nd Floor, Commons Building, one floor above the Marché)633 Main Street Burlington, VT 05405
Then we head to NYC Friday and our super psyched to play at Bruar Falls with our dear friends Knight School (ex Lil Hospital), Marisa Bestie (playing solo), and World Atlas for night of pop, dancing, and blueberry beer.
Show info: 8 p.m.- 12 a.m.$8 21+
On Saturday it is off to New Haven, CT where Tweefort presents The Smittens and The Wee Bees! Show info: ArtSpace Underground,ArtSpace New Haven, 50 Orange St. $5. 8-11 p.m. Drinks by 116 Crown.
We wrap it up on Sunday with an afternoon all ages show in Somerville Massachusetts. We are very excited to be playing Bloc 11 Cafe again. On the bill is Cotton Candy,Patrick Bryant performing SomervilleSpeakout and maybe some surprise guests! Show info: 4:00pm to 7pm at Bloc 11,11 Bow Street Somerville, MA 02143

We'll have our fresh new tote bags for sale. The big question is whether or not Colin will be sporting his beard for the weekend.... come see for yourself!

xo,
The band

And The Winner Is....

Us! This year we threw our Oscar party at Bluebird Tavern. I think it was the best one yet! Two of my friends came for the night from Massachusetts which made it even more special. It was a private event so we had the large blue room with the Oscars projected and then the bar area as well. I think 60 people came over the course of the evening. Our friends dressed up and everyone looked amazing. Here are just a few of the pictures taken on my camera. Thanks again Bluebird Tavern and thanks friends for making it a smashing success! xo, Holly p.s. I cut my bangs even more as you can see. Even better right?

I did it again

Today in a moment of spontaneity I gave myself bangs. I seem to back and forth with bangs and no bangs. Usually I have some one else cut the initial bangs and then trim myself but I was feeling brave this time I guess. Last time I think I had them was two years ago maybe. I also had a bob then and my bangs were crooked and even shorter. Anyhow what do you think? Also here is a funny link speaking of bangs.

My Owl Barn's Anthropologie Necklace Giveaway!

My Owl Barn's Anthropologie Necklace Giveaway!: "Use your imagination ;)"

Ladies Night

So Mary, Trena and I had a great ladies night. Got all fancied up and went to dinner at Trattoria Delia. Every part of our meal was amazing. The tiramisu was to die for. The wine was divine. Later we went to our friend's birthday dance party. That's were these pictures were taken. I wore my new BB Dakota skirt as you can see in the pics. The vest and pearl necklace were thrifted.

The Smittens Interview at Baby Honey Blog

The Smittens were interviewed for Club Baby Honey blog.Check it out here or read below.

Hello Smittens! I'm interviewing you because your wonderful cover of the Just Joans 'What Do We Do Now' (from your seven inch split EP on Wee Pop!) made my Top 20 Songs of 2009 list. How does it feel to be in receipt of such an overwhelming accolade?

Well that was some great company to be in. And clearly we couldn't have done it without the genius song they wrote.

And how did that collaboration come about? Were you good friends with the Joans beforehand? Can we expect similar projects in the future? Maybe with Transmittens?

We wanted to cover one of their songs after we saw them play the first time in Glasgow. We were on the books to release a single on WeePOP records, and invited them to join us because we enjoy gimmicky symmetry and of course we wanted to hear what their cover of one of our songs would sound like, and, lucky for us, they were game. As far as future collaborations go, there's nothing currently on the books, but you never know.

Similarly, what are The Smittens favourite songs (or popshows or LPs) of 2009? You don't have to do twenty, I know that you're busy people.

The Littlest Smitten says her favorite pop show was seeing Gordon M. from Ballboy playing in the church at Indietracks.

The Charming Smitten says: The Middle Ones at London popfest, Suburban Kids in San Fran (the night after the SF popfest) or the POBPAH Valentines show in Burlington, VT.

The Greek one says: San Fransisco Popfest final Tullycraft show

The Lady Smitten says: I fell in love with Cats on Fire last summer at Cosy Den.

And the Dashing says: The Would-be-Goods at Twee as Fuck last February, Burning Hearts in Stockholm, Speedmarket Avenue at Indietracks, Just Joans at the Nottingham all-dayer in November. I've been addicted to all these bands' records this year.

Your performance at Indietracks last summer was one of the highlights of the year for us here at Baby Honey Towers. Any other favourite moments of 2009?

3 Smittens got married a week apart in 2009 (two of them to each other). It was really the year of doing everything we dared ourselves to do. Also finally touring Sweden--better known as the Magic Kingdom of Indiepop.

And what does 2010 hold for the band? New records? Are you coming back to the UK? Can we book you? We'll start stockpiling the Newcastle Brown.

Yes, yes, and yes please. Though Colin still hasn't gotten over the fact that they don't have Newcastle on tap in Newcastle. 2010 holds some time in the studio recording a new album, the release of our addition to the Tullycraft Covers compilation (put out by LA Tool & Die), the release of our latest album, The Coolest Thing About Love on vinyl, a cover of a Cars Can Be Blue song for the HHBTM 10 year anniversary compilation, and for sure, a UK and European Tour. We are also confirmed to play NYC popfest and Indietracks, and have been invited back to play Cosy Den as well.

How is Vermont? Is there much of an indiepop 'scene' going on in Burlington? Are you aware of the British band called Vermont? They were pretty good actually.

We love Vermont. As far as indie pop goes, we are currently sitting in a room with 80% of the indiepop people in this state (it would be 90% if Max was here). There is a big indie community here in Burlington, VT but it spans a variety of genres and media--artists, farmers, dancers, folk musicians, bakers, and more. It's an amazingly creative, conscious, and beautiful little place and we totally feed off that and hopefully give something back as well.

We're big fans of Wee Pop! and think that Camila is, like, totally rad, but can you tell her to stop making the packaging for the 3" CD-Rs so pretty? Sometimes it's heartbreaking to have to open them and spoil such beautiful design.

First off, Camila is the bees knees! You've seen her cd artwork; what you don't know is that she makes a mean veggie lasagna and is the best host in all of the UK! If you buy two of every release, you wouldn't have to worry about whether your only copy got ripped.

When I cack-handedly attempted to interview you and The Pocketbooks last time we met, you mentioned that you very much enjoyed discovering some particularly British delicacies such as Marmite and Newcastle Brown Ale. In the spirit of cultural exchange, are there any US or Vermont-based
foodstuffs us Brits should know about?

We have really good locally brewed beer here in VT. And great local cheese. and obviously there are those guys Ben and Jerry. You might want to check out spelt pretzels, fluffernutter sandwiches, half and half in your coffee, and when in New York, Dominican breakfasts of yellow rice, black beans, and eggs (with a side of fried sweet plantains). PS don't be fooled by the Canadians: Vermont maple syrup is the best. In fact, it's nearly sugaring season.

Tell us a secret.

We can be real bitches. If we're on stage and all wearing stripes, it's not actually a coincidence...

Do you have any tattoos?

Both Dana and David are inked in places we can't divulge.

Our show with Mates of State

Last night we opened for Mates of State at Higher Ground. It was one of the best nights of 2010 so far. They were so good. Also they couldn't have been more pleasant to talk to and friendly. Thanks for having us on the bill!
xoxo, Holly

Mates of State Poster for Wednesday

Handsilk screen on old sheet music by talented Ted Olson. Each flyer is one of one. For Sale at the Mates of State show this Wednesday! We are so excited to open for them at 8pm sharp. Hope to see you there! xo, Littlest

The Smittens Are For Lovers

We've got a Valentine's Day show Sunday night! As quoted from the Burlington Free Press today, "You know it’s Valentine’s Day when two bands on the bill are named The Smittens and Jenny Montana and the Love Club. Those acts will be joined by Burlington indie-pop queen Missy Bly at The Monkey House in Winooski."
Come on by and feel the love! Also don't forgot to come out Wednesday night for Mates of State at Higher Ground. We start the show at 8:00pm.
xoxo, Holly

We are Artist of the Month!

The Smittens are opening for Mates of State on February 17th at Higher Ground in South Burlington, VT. Higher Ground has just listed The Smittens as artist of the month. Check it out here or read below. I can't wait for this show. It's going to be so fun! Come out and support us and see a few great bands!
February 2010
The Smittens are a five-piece indiepop band from Burlington, Vermont and like to think of themselves as a DIY twee pop explosion. Dana Kaplan, Colin Clary, David Zacharis, Holly Chagnon, and Max Andrucki switch up instruments, song-writing, and singing to create brilliantly lyrical and hyper-catchy pop songs of all colors, shapes and sizes.
Catch The Smittens with Mates of State in the HG Showcase Lounge on February 17.
http://www.myspace.com/thesmittens