By Eileen Tilson
Rolling Stone calls them the next “Band to Watch,” a bit of a surprise for a band that is barely legal to drink. Kentucky rockers, Sleeper Agent, are used to hanging with the big kids, though. After being referred to Mom & Pop Records, via their pals Cage the Elephant, Sleeper Agent have been touring the country promoting their latest album, Celabrasion. The band kicked off their Fall Tour in Atlanta last Saturday as part of the Budlight Downtown Touchdown Concert, and after lead singer Alex Kandel entranced the audience with her Grace Slick meets Karen O voice, she sat down with me for a little 5 GB action.
What is the the first gig you ever went to?
Fiona Apple, in Myrtle Beach, I think I was like 12. She came out on stage and she was thrashing around and crying…I actually recently found a diary entry about that night, and I just kept talking about how my mind was blown.
Best gig you have ever played/performed at?
Just recently we played a show in Portland with our friends, Cage the Elephant, that was pretty amazing. We had never even been to Portland before and I looked out into the crowd, and the audience knew all the lyrics to our songs!
Best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw the Black Keys in 2004 at the Mercy Lounge. I was 18, and I remember getting burnt by cigarettes and having drinks spilled on me, and thinking , “now this is a true rock show.”
What is the gig you would most like to play?
We would love to play at the Ryman Auditorium, that venue is simply amazing.
If you could put your dream lineup on a gig, who would it be?
Hmm, this is hard! I think it would be us, Jay Reatard, Andrew W. K., Jeff the Brotherhood, and Foxy Shazam…I have been listening to all of those bands a lot lately.
Sleeper Agent’s latest album Celebrasion is now in stores: http://sleeperagentmusic.com/
