Christian pop-punk outfit Relient K [ tickets ], which is taking a break after wrapping up a fall U.S. tour last month, will climb back on the bus early next for a new round of shows dubbed the "Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour," in honor of the band's guitarist.

"It's about the dumbest tour name we've had yet, but we think it'll be really fun," frontman Matthew Thiessen wrote in a message posted at the band's website. "The tour kicks off on [guitarist] Matt Hoopes' birthday, and so we decided that we want to treat every show like its a birthday party. Feel free to bring party hats, noisemakers, lampshades, etc. ... Just no Jessica Simpsons inside of cakes please (too many artificial ingredients)."

The group has tapped fellow rock acts Maxeen [ tickets ] and The Rocket Summer [ tickets ] to fill the tour's support slots.

Additional details about the tour will be posted at a MySpace.com webpage that Relient K created specifically for the outing.

Relient K continues to back its breakthrough album, last year's "Mmhmm," which earlier this year was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for U.S. shipment of 500,000 copies. Also gold-certified is the group's 2003 set, "Two Lefts Don't Make a Right ... But Three Do," which was nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Rock Gospel Album category.

Formed in 1998, Relient K--Thiessen, Hoopes, drummer Dave Douglas, bassist John Schnek and guitarist John Warne--plays an average of 200 gigs per year, according to its publicist.