Quiet! The Sleepover is about to begin

Local band, The Sleepover Disaster, readies for the release of their third full-length album

By Mitchell Peters

Melodic, distorted, indie-alternative rock music - this is the sound of Fresno’s own rock band, the Sleepover Disaster.

In the seven long years they have been together, the Sleepover Disaster has managed to record three amazing albums, become legends in the local Fresno music scene, and remain best friends all at the same time. As the release of their third full-length record, “Loud is the New Quiet” approaches, the future looks promising for this mature local band.

“ It’s a real milestone for us,” Vince Corsaro, drummer for the Sleepover Disaster said. “We actually feel better about this record than we have about any of the other previous recordings.

With the follow-up to their Sept. 12, 2001 release “Staring at Nothing,” the new record takes a livelier approach than previous recordings that, according to Sleepover Disaster bassist Eric Peters, “captures that live essence.” Recorded in one year at Fresno recording studio, Fast Traxx, “Loud is the New Quiet” takes a different approach than their two previous releases.

“ The difference on this record is that each song has its own completely different sound,” Peters said.

In the Sleepover Disaster’s six-song debut e.p. “Only if...,” guitarist/singer Luke Giffen said, the recording was “really low-fi and really cool.” The second recording he said was “too sterile and perfect.” Describing their latest 11-song album, Giffen describes it as “more living sounding.”

With the release of the new record, the Sleepover Disaster hope to show their audience and fans a different side of the band that is more lighthearted and less serious. With songs that focus mainly on politics, love and personal feelings, however, this may prove to be a challenge.

“ The perception is that we’re always so serious, but the artwork and title kind of lighten it up a bit,” Corsaro said. “We take ourselves seriously, but we still have fun.”

The band first formed in mid-1997 when Corsaro and Giffen got together and began writing songs. With musical influences ranging from Catherine Wheel Ride, Kitchens of Distinction and Swervedriver to modern influences like Radiohead, Doves and Muse, the Sleepover Disaster soon began performing throughout the western United States. They have played shows in Los Angeles at the Whiskey a-go-go, Berbati’s Pan in Portland, Ore., and the New Rock 104 Birthday Bash in Fresno.

For their new record, the Sleepover Disaster plan to tour up and down California, hopefully getting as far as Texas. To kick off the release of “Loud is the New Quiet,” the Sleepover Disaster will be playing a CD release show with Sonoma, Calif. Band, R.H. Lasky, and Fresno band the Soma Holidays at the Starline in Fresno’s Tower District.

“ We always have the coolest fans that show up,” Corsaro said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

In the seven years they have remained together as a band, the Sleepover Disaster has surprisingly never signed to an independent record label. Their three releases have been put out directly by the band and sold online and in stores around Fresno including Tower Records, Borders bookstore, and Ditrec Records in the Tower District. Although they aspire to be signed to a record label, they remain picky as to which label they will go with.

“ We’ve held out, but it’s getting to the time where we’re going to focus on about half a dozen labels,” Corsaro said.

In order to focus completely on promoting the new record, the Sleepover Disaster has tentatively decided to move to Portland, Ore., in August, where guitar player Taron Barefield is living. With this move, the band hopes to spread their roots beyond Fresno and into the Portland music scene.

With their latest release, the Sleepover Disaster is optimistic and hopeful that it will pleasantly surprise and delight their fans. Their new record “Loud is the New Quiet” will be available at Tower Records and Borders bookstore in Fresno and online at CDBaby.com. Their music can also be heard on Fresno State’s radio station 90.7 KFSR-FM.