The first notes of "Fences Down" were written on a stage in Japan in January, during a moment of solitude at a soundcheck on what would be the final At The Drive In tour. I had been listening to the old 97's and slowly discovering that some sort of country and rock n roll combination was taking me over.<br />I met some new friends who introduced me to the Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons and I was hooked. I made some half-joking plans to start a country band, but then got distracted by life. At The Drive In ended, Sparta began.<br />In the fall of 2002 I went in to a west Texas studio to record some demos of the songs that were bouncing around in my head. There at Sonic Ranch I met Chris Heinrich, who was recommended to me by someone, I can't remember now.<br />Chris was from El Paso, a little younger than me, but was a pedal steel player and that was what I needed. That session led me to finish writing “Fences Down” and a new song called “Heavy Weights”. Over the next 4 years I would slowly build what is now a record called West Texas.<br />The original session at Sonic Ranch included my father, Jeff Ward on bass, Gabe Gonzalez on piano, Micah Adams on guitar, and Clint Myers on drums. It was never meant to be a band, it was just a jam, just fun. But I was hooked even more. I wrote some more songs here and there but never thought too much of it.<br />Then in July of 2005 my friend David Garza convinced me to get a group together to play these songs and open for him on July 4th weekend in El Paso. I recruited Matthew Schmitz to play drums and called Heinrich up to get the songs together.<br />My dad and my brother-in-law Clay Anderson on guitar filled out the group. After the show, we recorded a more detailed demo to document the progress. With 8 songs now and a decent recording, I continued to chip away at the music while on tour with Sparta, or when I was home for a break.<br />I started the final recording in a second-story loft that houses an ad agency in El Paso—a little at a time. I recorded all my guitars and keyboards and pianos at my own home studio. Again, just chipping away. Heinrich, Gonzalez, and my dad would round out the recordings on guitars, piano and bass respectively.<br />Additional musicians include 6-string guitar and farfisa by Ross Godfrey of Morcheeba fame, and Maura Davis of Denali and Ambulette sings on some songs. We mixed the record at Sonic Ranch with Justin Leeah at the controls.<br />We have got the line up together for the live shows. it will be matthew schmitz on drums, chris heinrich on steel/guitar, gabe gonzalez, me, and greg sosa has signed on to play bass.<br />-Jim Ward, El Paso, Jan 2008 http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar Delta 0 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sleepercar Sleepercar - West Texas Selections http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/playlist/M_OvRk4g/sleepercar_west_texas_selections_music_playlist/ Thu, 08 May 2008 21:09:07 -0000 DefZvsMIn8 <a href="http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/photo/07I3cu1zjp/"><img src="http://srv0204-03.sjc3.imeem.com/g/p/f30180838980ed4097939720a85ca6c1_thumb.jpg" /></a><br /><p></p> http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/photo/07I3cu1zjp/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:32:32 -0000 07I3cu1zjp <b>"WEST TEXAS" IS IN STORES TODAY!</b><br /><br>West Texas hits stores TODAY so stop by your favorite record store (support the independents!) or don't even leave that seat you're in and purchase from <a href="http://links.imeem.com/13QEEvgM" title="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPreorder?id=278193946&s=143441">iTunes</a>!<br /><br><br><br />You can still order from one of the following sites to get some freebies with purchase!<br /><br><br><br />Order from <b>Smartpunk</b> and get a signed copy of the record! (while supplies last) <br /><br><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23HG5FvgM" title="http://smartpunk.com/product.php?item_id=26839"><img src="http://www.doghouserecords.com/images/banners/sleepercar/smartpunkpreorder468.gif"></a><br /><br><br><br />Order from <b>Interpunk</b> and get a free poster + pin (while supplies last)<br /><br><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23fg8GvgM" title="http://interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=156572&"><img src="http://www.doghouserecords.com/images/banners/sleepercar/interpunkpreorder468.gif"></a><br /><br><br><br />*************<br /><br><br><br /><b>SLEEPERCAR ON THE TONIGHT SHOW MAY 2ND!!!</b><br /><br>You read that right! Sleepercar is performing live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday, May 2nd!!! If you are in the Los Angeles area on May 2nd, you can get tickets from the Tonight Show box office, day of show but they are limited and only available first come, first served so get there early! Get more ticket details from their website: <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23xO2HvgM" title="http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/about/tickets.shtml">Jay Leno Ticket Info</a><br /><br><br><br />*************<br /><br><br><br /><b>ABSOLUTEPUNK.NET CHAT TONIGHT!</b><br /><br>Chat with Jim live tonight right <a href="http://links.imeem.com/234B7IvgM" title="http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=313525">here</a> on absolutepunk.net at 7PM EST/4PM PST!<br /><br><br><br />*************<br /><br><br><br /><u><b>SLEEPERCAR TOURDATES</b></u><br /><br><br><br /><b>MAY</b><br /><br>12 Phoenix, AZ - The Clubhouse - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23i92JvgM" title="http://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale;jsessionid=F040BCAB65EAA0F214EB511EC579F6C8?action=selectPerformance&cobrand=luckymanonline&performance_id=775356">Tickets</a><br /><br>13 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland (w/ Grand Ronde) - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23_D0KvgM" title="http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=266746">Tickets</a><br /><br>14 Upland, CA - The Wire Music & Art Venue - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23gg8LvgM" title="http://www.thewire247.com/">On Sale Soon</a><br /><br><br><br /><b><i>w/ City and Colour:</i></b><br /><br>19 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23_D0MvgM" title="http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=252369"> Tickets</a><br /><br>20 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23D73NvgM" title="http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS%3aTWS%3aPDX08:PHAW0520%3a&linkID=twspok"> Tickets</a><br /><br>21 Vancouver, BC - Orpheum - SOLD OUT<br /><br>22 Victoria, BC - Royal Theatre - <a href="https://tickets.rmts.bc.ca/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=2842" target="_blank"> Tickets</a><br /><br>25 Calgary, AB - Jack Singer Hall - SOLD OUT<br /><br>26 Lethbridge, AB - Univ. of Lethbridge Theatre - SOLD OUT<br /><br>27 Medicine Hat, AB - Medicine Hat College - SOLD OUT<br /><br>28 Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - SOLD OUT<br /><br>29 Saskatoon, SK - Lakeview Auditorium - SOLD OUT<br /><br>31 Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23Zy_OvgM" title="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110040576A2A1350?artistid=1009255&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60"> Tickets</a><br /><br><br><br /><b>JUNE</b><br /><br><b><i>w/ City and Colour:</i></b><br /><br>03 Montreal, QC - St. Denis Theatre - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23hg8PvgM" title="http://theatrestdenis.com/defn_10706011.html"> Tickets</a><br /><br>04 Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre - SOLD OUT<br /><br>05 Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre - SOLD OUT<br /><br>06 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall - SOLD OUT<br /><br>07 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall - SOLD OUT<br /><br><br><br /><b><i>Headline Show</i></b><br /><br>11 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge - <a href="http://links.imeem.com/23Zy_QvgM" title="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0000408FEFADA370?artistid=1215602&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=2">Tickets</a><br /><br><br><br /><a href="http://links.imeem.com/23iW_RvgM" title="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleepercar/9205476657"><img src="http://blzjames.powweb.com//find_us_on_facebook_badge.gif"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/city" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/atdi" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/absolutepunk" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/facebook" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/and" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/colour" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/green" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/dallas" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/sleepercar" rel="tag"></a><a href="http://www.imeem.com/tag/leno" rel="tag"></a> Sleepercar New Album http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/blogs/2008/04/22/gDIgv8fJ/our_new_album_is_out_today_were_on_leno_may_2nd Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:41:30 -0000 NoLs-xeLty <a href="http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/photo/R0ImR8MMA_/"><img src="http://srv0204-06.sjc3.imeem.com/g/p/c42764b43c2f5d21d8b1261e15d73d1f_thumb.jpg" /></a><br /><p></p> http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/photo/R0ImR8MMA_/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:09:23 -0000 R0ImR8MMA_ Sleepercar http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/GgX7UIpi/sleepercar_fences_down/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:04:18 -0000 <div><a href="http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/GgX7UIpi/sleepercar_fences_down/"><img border="0" src="http://icons-p2.imeem.com/GgX7UIpi.jpg" title="Click to play this song"/></a></div> ukZqW0Ug4Q Sleepercar http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/SUSeNcHL/sleepercar_wasting_my_time/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:04:17 -0000 <div><a href="http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/SUSeNcHL/sleepercar_wasting_my_time/"><img border="0" src="http://icons-p1.imeem.com/SUSeNcHL.jpg" title="Click to play this song"/></a></div> Fm6qaO4-Ah Sleepercar http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/uLBhmUYj/sleepercar_stumble_in/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:04:17 -0000 <div><a href="http://www.imeem.com/sleepercar/music/uLBhmUYj/sleepercar_stumble_in/"><img border="0" src="http://icons-p1.imeem.com/uLBhmUYj.jpg" title="Click to play this song"/></a></div> Y0G7hdl0ZF