I didn’t like At the Drive-In. The Mars Volta makes me ill most of the time, and Sparta puts me to sleep. So, when I went to go see Jim Ward at this year’s SXSW with his new band Sleepercar, I wasn’t too brimming with anticipation. I ended up being very pleasantly surprised, and as it turns out, Jim’s a pretty cool guy. Sleepercar’s debut West Texas is due out on this coming Tuesday, April 22nd. If you like his aforementioned three bands, you might not be too stoked. But if you’re not just into style-core and have a soft spot for dusty rock ‘n’ roll/Americana, it might be the thing for you. Jim and co. will play the Tonight Show on May 2nd before heading out on a tour of North America (mostly Canada) starting May 12th. Check out a full list of dates after the jump, and watch this video interview conducted by the disembodied voice of Synthesis editor Ryan Prado that took place before the Sleepercar show at SXSW.

(more…)

Jim Ward of Sparta and At The Drive-In fame showcased his new side project Sleepercar at the Belmont last night. My associate James Barone and I sauntered down just in time to grab a quick video interview with Jim (check out Synthesis‘ YouTube channel for the goods very soon) and to check out the show. Unfortunately for Sleepercar, the venue they were playing was cast in the shadows of both the Chase Tower and the Comerica Bank building, which we should have known would be a sure sign that no one who frequents this bar, SXSW patron or not, was going to pay attention to anything but Red Bull vodkas and looking slick. And I feel bad for them.

Sleepercar is a much more subdued side of Jim Ward’s potent songwriting. Speckled with bits of Americana, roots, folk and country, Ward augmented his usually edgy rock experiments with bits of harmonica, and beautiful melodies. Maybe it was just that nobody knew who they were, or that the guy with the nautical tattoos on his hands singing and playing guitar was a part of one of the most influential bands of all time, and is currently in another highly esteemed band. Or maybe free drinks in the financial district just brings out the lame in everyone.

The album drops on April 22nd. Learn about it.

Kudos to you, Sleepercar!