KENTUCKY-BASED GROUP TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM, CELABRASION, ON MOM + POP MUSIC IN AUGUST
May 27, 2011 — Los Angeles, CA —Sleeper Agent will hit the road with fellow Bowling Green, Kentucky natives Cage the Elephant and Atlanta’s Manchester Orchestra beginning today, May 27th,in Houston, TX at the Verizon Wireless Theater. The band will be giving audiences a taste of what’s to come when they release their riotous debut album, Celabrasion, on mom + pop music this August.
Describing their music as akin to “The Ronettes on speed,” Sleeper Agent make hook-laden scuzzy garage-pop rooted in both soul and Southern rock — all fueled by drummer Justin “Keyser” Wilson’s manic rhythms and the dueling harmonizing vocals of vocalist Alex “Kidd” Kandel and guitarist Tony “Tutone” Smith, who is also the band’s songwriting force of nature. Not only do they cite such musical artists as Jay Reatard, The Strokes, Pixies, T-Rex, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin as influences, they are also influenced by horror and sci-fi flicks, as well as stand-up comedians. “We just want people to listen to the music and have fun,” says Smith. “It’s pretty obvious that’s what we want when you listen to the album.”
The album’s first single “Get It Daddy” has been receiving wide acclaim in recent weeks. My Old Kentucky Blog said “this raggedy rouser chugs out of the garage firing on all cylinders, crazy legs and rubberneckin like so much foam over the rim, up in your grill with a level of unmitigated joy rarely heard since Jack and Meg got so serious…Keep your good eye on these kids, and good luck getting this one removed from the old cranium.” Esquire said “these co-ed garage-rock saviors-in-waiting offer two minutes that sound like the most original — and forceful — introduction to a new band we’re likely to hear all year.”
Produced by Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, The Whigs) and recorded last July at Nashville’s Tragedy/Tragedy Studios, Celabrasion reflects the easy camaraderie in this band. “We’ve all been involved in the Bowling Green music scene for years,” Smith says. “As our other bands wound down, Justin and I decided to form another band in which we’d both sing. After a mutiny occurred with that line-up, we asked Alex to join as the new vocalist, allowing Justin to get back to playing drums. After several different musicians sat in for certain shows, we recruited Lee Scott and Josh Martin to fill out the rest of the missing parts.”
Sleeper Agent is Tony “Tutone” Smith (guitar/vocals), Alex “Kidd” Kandel (vocals), Justin “Keyser” Wilson (drums), Lee “Grizzlee” Williams (bass) Scott “Saga” Gardner (keyboard) and Josh “Junior” Martin (guitars).
Maybe it’s your turn to “Get It Daddy”… here’s why:
“The just-signed Sleeper Agent are about to be something massive. The Kentucky-based quintet’s playful, Southern fried, boy-vs.-girl power pop is instantly loveable…”
-SPIN.Com
“These co-ed garage-rock saviors-in-waiting offer two minutes that sound like the most original — and forceful — introduction to a new band we’re likely to hear all year.”
-Esquire
“This raggedy rouser chugs out of the garage firing on all cylinders, crazy legs and rubberneckin’
like so much foam over the rim, up in your grill with a level of unmitigated joy rarely heard since Jack and Meg
got so serious…Keep your good eye on these kids, and good luck getting this one removed from the old cranium.”
-My Old Kentucky Blog on “Get It Daddy”
“Rambunctious drums, fuzzed-out guitar, yelped vocals, and a dollop of “Ooh-oooh”s and we’ve got a firecracker of a jam. I have a strong feeling that catching these guys live may be the best way to full soak in the sweat of their southern fried soul-punk. Mmm, mmm, good.”
-The Burning Ear
“Playing spirited, garage-tinted alt rock, Sleeper Agent unabashedly adore the hook, cramming songs with vocal chants and flamboyant riffs that mercilessly crack their way into your head.”
-CityBeat Cincinnati
It’s rare to hear a track in the indie-spectrum that you just KNOW is a hit and ‘Get It Daddy’ is one of those rarities.”
-Heart Strings Engaged
“Right off the bat you get that can’t help but dance around and shake your head feeling from this track. Seductively done, soooo my panties are wet good… Sorry, TMI?”
-Earplugs Not Required on “Get It Daddy”
“The gang harmonies, and explosive nature of the hookladen music is instantly bright and sunny and seems to be a little White Stripe influenced. Its fun music, that you just won’t want to stop listening to.”
-Music Savage
“Lead single ‘Get It Daddy’ is decidedly precocious, obnoxious, rambunctious, and fairly ridiculous – and it all works.”
-Sonic Masala
“Sleeper Agent are one of the most exciting new acts around, and deserve to be huge.”
-Music Ninja
“A garage band opening the tour and making a pretty fun brand of rock n’ roll racket.”
-Austin 360
The band’s upcoming tour dates with Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra are as follows:
May
5/27/11 – Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater *
5/28/11 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q *
5/29/11 – Dallas, TX – The Palladium Ballroom *
5/31/11 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee Theater *
June
6/1/11 – San Diego, CA – Soma *
6/2/11- Los Angeles, CA – The music Box #
6/3/11 – Santa Barbara, CA – KJEE at Santa Barbara Bowl *
6/4/11 – Bakersfield, CA – Rockin’ Roots Krab Fest
6/5/11- San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
6/7/11 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater *
6/8/11 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
6/9/11 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo *
6/15/11 – Boston, MA – Club 939 ^
6/16/11 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java ^
6/17/11- Whitesburg, KY – Summit City ^
6/18/11- Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar ^
6/20/11- Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsey ^
6/22/11 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird ^
6/23/11 – Cincinnati – 20th Century Theatre ^
6/24/11 – Lexington, KY – Busters ^
6/25/11 – Louisville, KY – Headliners ^
6/27/11 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
July
7/2/11 – Milwaukee Summer Fest
*With Cage The Elephant and Manchester Orchestra
# With Manchester Orchestra
^ With Company of Thieves
www.sleeperagentmusic.com
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www.youtube.com/sleeperagentmusic
Soundcloud: http://snd.sc/ii7Ab4
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For more information, please contact Brian Bumbery or Sam Citron at BB Gun Press:
brian@bbgunpr.com / sam@bbgunpr.com / 323.904.9094