They tried to make a pop album. Jared Micah & Hats moved to Nashville with the intention of making a pop record, but the finished result was more Amon Duul than Chet Atkins , less Music Row and more Musique Concrete. But that wasn’t really a surprise to anyone.

Jared Micah & Hats began as a solo-recording project for Jared (guitar, vocals) to explore his fascination with modern classical music, German ‘Motrorik’ and the Elephant 6 Collective in between organizing Murfreesboro, TN’s infamous radio show/house venue “The Acid Living Room”. The Living Room played host to some of the finest touring acts in the experimental and avant-garde music scene, including Adrian Orange and saxophonist Steve (The Stooges) Mackaye.

After the completion of the self-titled debut CD (ATA 01), Jared recruited Keller, Brady and Stephanie to round out the live ensemble and begin touring. Each new member brought something new to the band: Keller (bass) wants to sound like Sleep’s “Dopesmoker” LP, Brady (organ) is a multi-instrumentalist with a thing for fireworks and theme-parties, and Stephanie (drums, spiritualism) started playing because she loves Hanson. (…ya, that Hanson.) T.C.H.T.O.B. is Hats first ensemble recording.

T.C.H.T.O.B. features cover art by noted Chicago visual artist/musician Nick Butcher, author of the the critically acclaimed book/cd “The Complicated Bicycle”. Hats also worked with Jonathan Kingsbury, one of Nashville’s rising crop of astounding rock-photographers (You should see the pics he took for Glossary and De Novo Dahl).

(Did we mention that they have a cardboard castle? You’ve got to see the castle. It’s rad.)