The Bigger Lovers release 10th anniversary reissue of debut album, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying” TOMORROW, celebrate with Philly reunion show, THIS SATURDAY

Phase One (a free download of the new track “Little Giant”) and Phase Two (the release of the digital only EP “Little Giant Maxi Single”)  of their semi-reunion complete, Philadelphia guitar-pop faves The Bigger Lovers are swinging for the fences with Phases Three and Four. Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 8) they will release a 10th anniversary reissue of their instantly out-of-print 2001 debut, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying” in remastered vinyl and digital form (buy here).

Then on Saturday (March 12), the band reunites for a hometown show at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa.), marking their first performance since 2005, with special guest Dennis Diken (Smithereens drummer) and Bell Sound. Get tickets here.

To say they’re “re-” releasing “How I Learned to Stop Worrying” is a bit of a stretch, considering the album was hardly “released” in the first place. After a prolonged legal battle with a now defunct record label which shall remain nameless (ah, screw it - Mood Food), “Worrying” was released by the similarly now defunct Black Dog label on March 13, 2001. By the time the Lovers returned from a few brief tours later that spring, Black Dog had lost their distribution, effectively rendering the album D.O.A.

Still the band won rabid fans everywhere they went (thirty-something dudes, mostly, who liked to get loaded and discuss The Move at great length) and received raves in the press. The strong critical response never did translate into record sales, but it stoked enough interest that the album became somewhat of a cult classic - handled like a crown jewel when stumbled upon in the used bins or online.

And now, it’s back. Or it’s finally arrived. However you wish to spin it, the 10th anniversary edition of “Worrying” has everything you want in a reissue: a remastering job to please the audiophiles, 180 gram vinyl, bonus tracks (“Needy,” “Private Party”), expanded liner notes and essays, and great music you’ll want to pony up for even if you bought it the first time around.