The HIRS Collective Off-shoot Band Jenna & The Pups Share Bandcamp-only HAPPY BIRTHDAY EP for Jenna Pup's Birthday (self-released)
Jenna Pup is the frontperson and found of The HIRS Collective (somtimes, known simply as HIRS or +HIRS+) who describe themselves on Facebook as "a collective of freaks, faggots, friends, lovers, and favorites that will never stop existing. [infinite]." HIRS' Discogs page further ellaborates, "The HIRS Collective exist to fight for, defend, and celebrate the survival of trans, queer, P.O.C., black, women, and any and all other folks who have to constantly face violence, marginalization, and oppression. We are a collective of freaks, faggots, friends, lovers, and favorites that will never stop existing. infinite and never ending. No one is going to kill us; we are going to live forever." HIRS' last proper album, Friends. Lovers. Favorites, was released on Get Better Records in 2018 and featured guest appearances from the likes of Shirley Manson (Garbage,) Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers,) Martin Crudo (Limp Wrist, Canal Irreal, NRRRV,) Moor Mother, and more.
Although, they've stayed far from inactive over the course of the last four years, sharing numerous EP's, splits, singles, singles, and three collections of 100 songs each. Jenna Pup, also, seemingly fronts a number of side-projects including Jenna & The Pups, Pup (no, not that PUP,) and solo as Jenna Pup. Yesterday, in honor of her birthday, Jenna Pup surprise released a new album, befitting called HAPPY BIRTHDAY, with Jenna & The Pups. It's 10 songs in 12 minutes or less, but it's definitely a strong slice of highly enjoyable Philly Punk. Aside from or in addition to Jenna & The Pups, HAPPY BIRTHDAY showcases contributions from Jim Shomo (DARK THOUGHTS,) who co-wrote "waywayd for wayward" with Jenna Pup, and Steve Roche (Armalite, Body Spray, SAETIA,) who mixed and mastered everything at Permanent Hearing Damage.
Jenna Pup told us, via email, that "[HAPPY BIRTHDAY] as written the same time as the OUT OF DEBT release. Recorded by [Jenna & The Pups] in August '22. Mixed and mastered August 31, 2021 by Steve Roche at Permanent Hearing Damage. Could've waited to release it, but wanted to do something fun for my birthday." Regarding working with Jim Shomo, she added, "we were originally collaborating [on] some songs and the original version I wrote of "wayward for wayward" was way shorter. He came up with the idea of adding another chorus and adding the backing vocals and I wanted to make sure I gave [him] the proper cred." So, as a Happy Belated Birthday present to Jenna Pup, go pick up a copy of Jenna & The Pups' Bandcamp exclusive EP, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, this Bandcamp Friday.