The guys in Small Town Sleeper consider themselves to be lucky...very very lucky. They scored an opening slot on the Candlebox reunion tour that's currently taking them on a maiden voyage across the country; the shows are great, they're getting along famously with the other bands (especially Candlebox), and they're picking up new friends and fans wherever they go. Studio-wise, the band recently had the opportunity to record in New York's Electric Lady Studios as well as work with the famed composer David Campbell (who directed the strings on the Goo Goo Dolls song, 'Iris')...all before the official release of their first record!
Conversations, to be released in October 2008 through Upper 11 Records, is a collection of mature, radio-friendly musings on family, friendship, growing up, and, of course, the good times (as if I had to explain what a song titled 'Backseat' is about!) Although the band rocks throughout, there's also a bit of a down-home flavor to the music and attitude; as familiar and comfortable as an early morning cup of coffee at the local diner. Oh, and I should mention that you can buy the music before the official release date; songs are available on iTunes and copies of the CD are available at the shows.
When did Small Town Sleeper form?
Troy Brown: I did this about seven years ago and I just started progressively adding members...We were actually just a three-piece for the longest time and after we went in the studio, we did some guitar overdubs and wanted to get another guitar player. So Derek came in and, right before we signed our deal, we got Dan on board.
When you started the band, was it called Small Town Sleeper?
TB: It was actually called Twice Almost Lucky. And then we went and made the record. It was kind of like from a Twice Almost Lucky record to what we were doing now. It was so much better and such a new kind of thing that we decided to change the name at that point.
What made you guys go with Upper 11 Records for the release of your first record, Conversations?
TB: Our producer was working on an album for them in the U.K.; they're a U.K.-based label. They wanted to start heading overseas and do something in the states. They flew over, saw a show, and decided that we were the first band they wanted to try work here in the states. So far, so good, man.
We did all kinds of showcases...Looking at the industry and where things are going, major labels crumble every day, bands get dropped every day...We felt more comfortable going with a smaller label that would put us as a priority. They were on board from day one. When they first flew over, they set us up in a house. We hung out with everybody at the label, got to know them.
So it's not like you signed to the first person to wave a contract...
TB: Oh no! It took a lot of time to figure out, make sure it's what we wanted to do. Because it was the first venture for this label, it took a little bit longer to get offices set up, staffing set up, get distribution. We're distributed through Fontana which is a major distributer.
October is when the actual record hits stores; you can buy it now at shows or iTunes.
It looks like you guys have a busy touring schedule...
TB: With these guys (Candlebox) through September. We'll hopefully get another tour in the fall. We toured last summer, did some shows with Daughtry [led by former American Idol contestant, Chris Daughtry], so we're trying to get our name out there as much as possible before the record actually hits.
Speaking of Daughtry, was there any apprehension about signing onto a tour that was so closely tied to American Idol?
TB: You know what? I say if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I don't really have a problem with American Idol other than the fact that it has changed the industry. But you can't get bitter; you got to embrace it, you got to work with it. And I think if Chris wasn't such a nice guy, it'd have been a little different. But the entire band and everybody were fantastic, so I support him in everything that he's done...
Derek Snowden: The American Idol fans are amazing...Being with an American Idol band is weird because all those fans really want to latch onto you, want to get to know you, want to know your story...
TB: ...I think that comes from the television show, because if you watch the show, they go to the back stories about those people. They want to dig in, they want to feel like they know you. As a band that wants to do that anyway [letting fans get involved], it was a perfect match.
You guys are playing shows all over the place?
TB: Yeah, we're literally all over the country on this tour...
DS: ...I want to play every night, every single night, because...
TB: ...We've got to reach as many people as possible. Radio does that for us, but there's nothing like actually shaking hands and meeting people. That's the best way to make a connection with the crowd.
So you really feel that sense of urgency to make an impact?
TB: We're always anxious to go...it's never too much. We feel blessed that we're even at this point to do this.
Dann Burd: As a band, you get to this point that's just...Everybody strives to get to the point where they're opening for a major band...A long time ago I was like, 'Will I ever get to this point?' and now it's here and it's pretty surreal to actually get this chance. Every day, you’re like, 'Wow, I can’t believe this is actually happening.'
DS: You totally can't take advantage of it. Every show, you have to be on, you have to give everything you have, and then you get offstage and you have to go out and you have to meet every fan that's out there...make sure that anybody that's out there at least had the opportunity to buy your album and the opportunity to meet the band and get to know us. We want to make a personal relationship with every person that's out there...
When you have a young band of eighteen to twenty year olds, they can get caught up in the partying and glamour; they can get tangled up in bad contracts and bad business deals. Do you feel that, now that you're older, you have a greater appreciation for how good things are going?
TB: Definitely. I started this band when I was eighteen. I just started college, and I left just to pursue this. I was a little naïve; I thought it would happen overnight like that. But looking back at how it all organically grew, I'm happier now because I can really grasp it and understand it a little bit better. I think if this happened while I was eighteen, I could have easily fallen into the traps of not being respectful to the actual business of it, not being respectful to the blessings I've got. But now, having a family, you got to respect it; you got to respect the fans, you got to respect the music, you got to respect where you're at.
Will Greider: They [the fans] see that we care about them and they'll go to bat for us. They vote for us online, they visit our MySpace, they’re very interactive with us. And we have that opportunity with them through the Internet; it's just amazing...When I was growing up, I would buy an album and wonder who they [the musicians] were...but now, we're able to communicate directly with people, it makes for more loyal fans and caring fans.
It seems like a blue collar approach to building an audience...
TB: Yeah, Ohio's that way, and a lot of us come from blue collar families...People don't realize how blue collar America really is. They get caught up with New York City and Los Angeles. But we've seen it; we've driven through cornfields and fields of nothing and we've been all over the country and people really can relate to us. Yeah, we're from Ohio, but people in Texas aren't that much different. They're still trying to make it, and still working, and they can relate to the stuff we're talking about...
As far as touring with Candlebox, are you guys are doing the van thing?
TB: ...Sweating it out in the van...
DS (half-joking): We want to make money.
TB: We talked about doing the bus, but it didn’t make sense, y’know with gas prices...I think you need to earn your stripes, and this is part of what they call paying dues.
DS: McDonald's and van rides, baby! No big deal to us! You hear stories of Metallica who ate bologna out of their hands [before they were famous].
TB: We could be there, but thanks to the guys in Candlebox, they take care of us and know what kind of path we're on, and they've helped us so much. They give to us, on their rider...They get food, they make sure we get food. They make sure we're taken care of and they treat us with respect when we're up on stage. They get their sound check but make sure we have time to get our gear up there. They'll give us hotel rooms, just any little thing....I was sitting down with Kevin [Martin, Candlebox singer] and just listening to his stories and asking for his advice. He's never too busy to talk to me.
DB: The cool thing about it is he's also just as interested in our stories as we are his...
DS: ...we make him crack up...
TB: He's not just talking about himself. He really likes finding out about us and who we are and how things going for us, so it's...nothing but respect...
That's pretty cool considering that this is Candlebox.
TB: We grew up in bands covering their music, thinking they were the greatest thing in the world...
I also read that the record was recorded in three different locations...
TB: The core ingredients were done in New York at Electric Lady Studios. Then I went to over to London just to be close the owner of the label, and do the vocals there. And then we got lucky enough to have David Campbell do the string arranging, and he was out in L.A., so we did it at Capitol Records.
Were there any particular reasons why you flew out to London just to record the vocals?
TB: It's all about keeping the family vibe; the owner was over there and we wanted to make him feel like he was a part of the project. We don't just want him to send the money...let him feel what the record was and get behind it for more reasons than just 'Oh, it's a business venture...'
DS: He's as much of a fan as anybody...He loves us so much that he's willing to work and take his hard-earned money and throw it into it. The fact that we have a limited number of people on this label and he wants to give direct attention and finance us...it's so incredible.
How did you get David Campbell to do the string arrangements?
TB: [talks about the Goo Goo Dolls song, 'Iris']...Always loved those strings, always dreamed of having the guy who did that work on our record...
When you were songwriting, did you think 'We're going to put real strings on here no matter what'?
TB: We knew we wanted strings, we actually had to go to back to the label and say, 'Can we get David Campbell?' I mean, this guy is top-of-the list, so it's something we had to ask special permission for: 'Can we spend the money on David?'
DS: David Campbell had to actually approve of it too, doing the song. He doesn't just take anybody. So it's cool that he was like, 'Yeah, I like these guys, I'll do it for them.'
Did you actually get to see him at work, putting the arrangements together?
TB: Yeah, he was the director and he hired an ensemble (violins, cellos, and all that) and he's out there directing them. He made changes on the fly and actually printed out the score, it was amazing to watch...
What are some of the themes of the record?
A lot of blue collar stuff, a lot of stuff that goes on. But I do dig into personal demons. "Letting Go" [has me saying] "I hate the intelligence of your mouth" it's actually me speaking to myself saying, 'Let go of worrying about working a 9 to 5.' That was a transition song for me; I had to quit my job and go 100% into this...you're thinking too black and white about everything. Just do it! Stop over-thinking things and just let yourself go.
Would you say that’s the overall theme of the record?
TB: I wouldn't say that's the whole record. I think each song touches different issues. There are songs like 'Backseat' that are just about living life...'Can You Relate Too' is a song about bumping into, say, somebody you knew in high school and you're looking at yourself saying 'look at me now' and just dealing with issues like that...'I Have Been Waiting' is a personal song; it's about my marriage, it's about having kids.
I wouldn't say that there was necessarily a theme other than there's a lot of conversations going on. Be it a conversation with myself, a conversation with fellow classmates, a conversation with just people using a lot of text, so that's why we went with Conversations just to wrap it up.
How has the touring experience been so far?
TB: In Texas, I'll tell you...Every town is different but Texas has been wonderful. Overall, it's been fantastic...I think people relate, and I try to let people know what I'm talking about up there, because, I know for a lot of people, it's the first time they've seen us, so I want them to know what I'm singing about so they can get behind it and feel like 'Oh yeah, I feel you!' That's important to us...
DS: A lot of them are picking up the CD too (at shows)...by them picking up the CD, it shows, from our live show and a lot of the lyrics, they're really understanding what we're out here to do. It's kind of crazy; it's hard to follow a band that hasn't played for ten years...
TB: ...There's so much anticipation for Candlebox...
DS: ...You have to distract them, and that's not an easy job to do, but that's our job: to distract them plus get them totally hyped up for Candlebox...