Austin Sound

Will Patterson’s Sleep Good has blossomed over the past couple of years from a bedroom pop project into a full scale outfit that mirrors the rise of his other work with Bill Baird’s Sunset. The two bands are often on the same bill together, and with good reason; both swim in the psych-pop wake of early Harry Nilsson, effusive and catchy, but not without a good amount of tongue-in-cheek wit that can bite and barb with ease and unexpected turns and experimentation that seem ever evolving in arrangements. Sleep Good dropped two noteworthy albums last year, Skyclimber and the December cassette Strange Vacations, and you can catch the quintet this Friday, January 28, at the Mohawk along with ((Sounder)) and the Denton five-piece Seryn, who will be releasing their debut EP at the show, This is Where We Are.

Year Formed:
As a solo project- 2003; as a band 2009

Members/Instruments played:

Will Patterson- Vocals, Piano, Guitar, etc.
Willis McClung- Vocals, Bass, etc
Michael Bain- Vocals, Guitar
John Kolar- Drums, percussion
Michael Baird- Moog synthesizer

Former Bands/Side Projects:

Will- Sound Team, Sunset
Willis- Sunset
John- Sunset
Michael Baird- Sound Team

Albums:

Self-titled- 2003
Far From the Sea- 2005
Jungle Box- 2008
Skyclimber - August 2010
Strange Vacations- December 2010

Influences:

we like the Beatles Boys, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Brian Wilson, Gershwin, early Animal Collective.

Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:
“teeth rottingly gross”

Favorite local bands:
Bowser

Favorite local venue:
The Mohawk, Baby Blue, house shows

Upcoming shows scheduled:
We be playin’ January 28th at the Mohawk

Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:
Deerhoof

Some of your favorite albums from the past year:
Beach House- Teen Dream
Austin Leonard Jones- Superstions
Emeralds- Does It Look Like I’m Here?

Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:
Smash Mouth. Not sure if they are still going, but we really hope so.

Austin Sound questions:

Y’all released the last album, Strange Vacations, as a cassette. What was the appeal of that format for you?

The cassette was inspired by Austin Leonard Jones’ album Superstitions. His album has a very lo-fi intimate quality that was really inspiring. Cassette just has a certain goodness.

Also, since we just put out a full length on vinyl, we became dumb-broke and wanted a format that didn’t require us to sell our timeshare in Vegas.

What are your best tips for good sleep?

I usually fluff my pillow for 10-15 minutes and turn up the heater on my waterbed. That usually does the trick. Occasionally, I will put on my favorite The Used album and think about things.

Song Introduction:

“Strange Vacations” is a song that paid for my new car, a 3d tv, timeshare, and all of my decorative pillows. The song itself is about life, misery, hope, love, mystery, boredom, magic, anger, boredom, and is an allegory for corporations and global warming and poverty. It is a little too metaphorical for most people to understand.

Sound Off:

“Whateverwhateverwhateverwhateverwhatverwhtvrwhateverwhtaverwhtaverwhtvrwhateverwhatverwhateverwhatverwhathaveherwhateverwhateverwhathaterwhateverwhateverwhateverwhatverwhateverwhatwverwhatevverwhateverhwhateverwhateverwhateverwhatver.”

That is what I texted them when they asked me if I need help with free debt consolidation.

Mp3:
Sgt. Salt
Strange Vacations

Websites:
www.sleepgoodmusic.com
Facebook