Thumb caught under Hammer of the Gods

As we keep saying we’ve been working very hard writing new songs, recording and video-ing over the past few months. Yet we still find time to play shows. Amazing. How do we do it?!

We played 2 shows over the past few weeks: Aandklas in Stellenbosch on the 31^st of July and ROAR in Observatory this past Friday the 13^th.

On Saturday the 31^st Adam and I met up to give our beloved pedalboards a bit of a spring clean. While re-velcro-ing a pedal I managed to snip into the index finger of my fretting hand with a pair of scissors. Adam, lovingly supplied me with a plaster. I checked after we’d played to see if it had stopped bleeding. It hadn’t. \m/Metal!

It was nice to be at Stellenbosch again after a very long time. This was our first show at Aandklas (organised by Silent Tendency), which is a pretty cool place (complete with exterior murals of local bands painted on walls and good food). I’d definitely hangout there if I lived closer.

We opened for Versus the Wolf (formerly New Altum) and the Pinkertons who each turned in great performances. The turnout was ok considering Metalfest was taking place next door at Klein Liebertas.

The show was significant in that it was the debut performance of One Antler Stag, one of the new ones. ‘n treffer inderdaad! It seemed to get a pretty good response which was nice.

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Adam and I spent most of Friday the 13^th at producer Dirk Hugo’s house doing final overdubs for a song we’ve been recording. It’s always fun twisting knobs, pulling levers and hearing new sounds. More on that later, though (wink).

Later I arrived at ROAR with severe tooth ache. You see, I’ve been putting off having my wisdom teeth removed mainly so that I don’t miss shows while recovering. Lately, tho, it’s becoming more and more difficult to block out the pain in my jaw. Luckily the doctor behind the bar prescribed tequila. And I owe her a debt of gratitude. I was blissfully painless for most of the evening.

Given that it was Friday the 13^th and that the names of the bands that playing were The Sleepers, We Set Sail and Tonight We Die, it was deemed appropriate to theme the evening around the original Friday the 13^th myth. The date first became associated with bad luck via reports from sailors of the disappearances of ships at sea on this date through the years.

It was nice to see Tonight We Die again. The last time I saw them play was at Observatory Cool Runnings - not Runningz, or Rootz, but Cool Runnings – Yes, that long ago. I was quite fond of that place. It was quite a hub. We played many a good sweaty show there. Anyway, Tonight We Die did a good job of rousing a generous serving of delicious ROAR audience members. It was nice to see a lot of new faces as well as people we hadn’t seen out in ages.

Next on stage was We Set Sail, Adam and Steve’s ‘other’ band. :) Trinity, their trumpeter who was celebrating her recent birthday, donned a ship captain’s hat. I’m glad to say that they are definitely catching on with a lot of people - a lot of dancing and cheering.

By the time we played this were hot and sticky.... in a good way. Marné, We Set Sail guitarist, even joined us on stage for a bit of Restriction.

Now before this turns into a damn gig review I’ll just say that we played our pantses off, that once again we played One Antler Stag and debuted another new one called Tributaries. These 2 songs are particular favourites of mine. So one else seemed to mind them either. Great, I think we made some new fans. Sweet!

If you’d like to see what part of me I damage next, before I reach the stage, come see us at The LMG 40^th Issue Party at Zula Bar this Friday the 20^th along with Sidecar Fire, We Set Sail and Natasha Meister.

The signal is sent.

Nic out.

Friday The 13th at ROAR

A Hi-Hat Full Of Cheesecake

Two weeks have past. Three practices, one Mercury show, a drum recording and a long overdue blog. While being a very busy fortnight we were bombarded by chocolate muffins, doughnuts, cheesecake and beer to up our sugar levels and help us with our challenging ways.

First practice: a pre show practice. Having decided on a set for the upcoming show with Isochronous at Mercury that Friday, we were on our way. As it turns out we made a great choice as we had an incredible show. Along with having great sound and lighting, we filmed and recorded our performance (in 360 degrees) for your pleasure, which should be released in the not too distant future. Thank you to those who came through. (See if you can spot yourself in the photo)

After all was said and done it was back to recording drums at our friends, Stefan Wyeth and Liz Vogt, for two of our newest songs, The Fear and Sophie (Thanks to Antonio Manuel from Gandalfs/ROAR for lending us some microphones). Wooden floors, tall ceilings, tea, hotdogs and a microphone in the hall way, not much more a drummer could want. An update will be on its way soon.

Having played the show and gotten the drum tracks recorded it was time to start working on three new songs that we had been practicing over the past couple of weeks. Some new challenges and a slight shift in direction. With my own crib notes, cell phone recordings and a one mic recording I knew I had no excuse to mess it up, but alas I was incorrect. Luckily with the help of the guys and the above mentioned sweets and chocolates we were able to work through all three and they should be done really soon. Although the songs all sound really great, Tributaries is starting to become a new favourite of mine, but that is for you to find out..

Hope to see you all at our next show in Stellenbosch, this Saturday 31 July at Aandklas with Versus The Wolf and The Pinkerton

Much love

SGJ

Wodin's Day Practise and The Bar One Stone

Well first of all. Steve picked Nic and I up and we arrived a little early outside Kill City Blues. We were kindly verbally accosted by the drunk bergie and then were kindly let in to the practice rooms. Phew!

Discussions for a setlist this Friday at Mercury with Isochronous was a serious matter of contention. But a meaty set was furiously whipped up.

We also discussed recording drums on Thursday and Friday with our friend Stefan Wyeth in a wooden-floored room in our friend’s Observatory house. Which is sounding very cool apparently.

Then Nic Rixx came in to say hi. And then Steve’s packet of chips fell over. And I was sad. Because I love chips.



The Bar One Stone



I believe certain objects adopt you. I believe they find you and assist you with work or annoy you or just give you some sympathy. When we were recording A Signal Path in 2008, the Bar One Stone found me and helped me.

It was an ungainly looking geological nugget. It resembled a Bar One chocolate bar. Or rather the last bite left of one. There was a stoney toffee centre enveloped in an obsidian dark chocolate.

When we started recording I built a little coccoon in the RockitDog Studios with some black sheets and black bags. All the while I was behind that microphone I was clutching the Bar One Stone. It supported me... grounded me.

Alas the Bar One Stone has since left me to give someone else the support it so expertly gives out. I enjoyed our time together and thank it for it's support.

Soon My Pretties, Soon...

Some of you know that we've been working on new music at Kill City Blues rehearsal studios. And some of you have asked us over a beer or two at our shows about any upcoming releases.

And we have good news: Yes, there will be releases in the near future. We are in the preparatory stages of working with acclaimed Cape Town producer Dirk Hugo, who has worked with some of South Africa's freshest artists, like Blk Jks, Righard Kapp and Benguela. Sonically our work with Hugo is leaning towards the experimental and cinematic.

At the same time our friend, the talented sound engineer Stefan Wyeth will assist us in recording some of the songs we’ve written since our first album, A Signal Path. These will be produced by our own talented Nicolai Roos.

In other news, as you may know, our bassist Jordi Reddy sadly departed from The Sleepers camp last year to finish his Phd in Bio-Mechanical Engineering - but you can still catch him with his awesome band Anaphys. His replacement, our high-school friend Chris Truter, has filled Jordi's very large 30Hz shoes and he really shines on the newer tracks.

All in all the new songs are firming and strengthening some areas The Sleepers have explored as well as excavating newer pastures. We are mining those hills!

Simon

The Sleepers

Rehearsal Diary #0

Wednesday 30th June -

Final set of secret instrumental rehearsals surrounding new material.

Ploughed through a belcher of an anthem from the quill of Adam. The kind of song you'd play while watching a mammoth gore and puncture a giant metal swan filled with toxic waste. Sign your pain waivers now.

We also began working on another great exotic and dusty composition from Nicolai, freshly arranged and extended by Adam and myself. Steve ended up turning the tables on us, being the only one capable of handling it's intricate opening rhythm so far.. which is not supposed to happen!

The Sleepers Posters

Hello Friends,

Many people have asked where they could get prints of The Sleepers posters from some of our shows. Well, the good news is that you can look at them all here.

Email us to order prints at A4 / A3 or A2. (Some posters won't be available at A2)

More exciting and limited merchandise to follow in the future.

I leave you with the poster for our next show with Isochronous.

See you there.