Saturday, 24 December 2011
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Tony got home from the most recent Sleeper Agent show in Atlanta with another indie rock band called "Awolnation" around 3 a.m. this morning. He had to get up at 8 a.m. to go to the filming of the video for "Get Burned," the next single off Sleeper Agent's album, "Celabrasion." Get Burned is one of my favorite Sleeper Agent songs. It's peppy and it has an upbeat tempo.youtube.com/watch?v=rFMPUHmmp2c
I asked him if I could drop by for a little bit on my lunch hour to see the video filming and he said "Sure, Dad," like there would be no problem at all. So I did. It was being filmed upstairs at the old "Spot Cash and Carry Clothing Store" in downtown Bowling Green which is now Labold and Sons Salvage Co.youtube.com/watch?v=1_sk_e93Hk8 Apparently, they have a lot cool, old vintage stuff in there. Even Robert Plant from the former classic rock band, Led Zeppelin dropped by there one day a couple months ago and spent a little time looking around.
I walked in the store and said, "Hello, I'm Tony's dad from Sleeper Agent and I was wanting to know where they are filming the video." And the nice lady named, "Danielle, the owner said, "Oh, it's upstairs." And she had her assistant to show me the way. As we were heading up the stairs, the young lady said, "Watch your head, you can bump it easily here," and so I watched my head. I was led down a dark, dusty, attic looking hallway which also looked an old dilapidated apartment which I bet was at least 100 years old or more.
I found Tony, Alex, Justin, Josh, Scott and Lee all sitting in this old room with covered antique chairs, couches and benches waiting for the next scene to be shot. Of course, the room was filled with cigarette smoke. Matt Shutlz from Cage The Elephant who was directing the video and he was running up and down the hallway wearing black jeans and boots and a black cowboy hat and shirt. He saw me and said, "Hey Galen and came into the room gave me a big hug as I stood up." "Good to see you, Matt, " I said. He said, "Good to see you too, Galen." Matt then continues to run down the hallway.
I sat back down next to Tony and another young guy comes in and takes everyone's order for Subway sandwiches. He offered me one but I declined because I had already eaten. Also, Darby, the marketing director for Mom + Pop Records from New York City was there and she came in and shook my had and introduced herself to me. She said, "It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith." And I said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Darby. I've been seeing you on Facebook."
"That's right, we're Facebook friends, aren't we?" she said with a big friendly smile. "Yes, we are," I said.
After a while, I got up and walked around and took a few photos. The place was dark and cramped. I felt like that I could easily get in everyone's way. So I went back downstairs. Some of the band members had also gathered downstairs and went outside for a few moments. Then Tony came down too. He offered for me to stay awhile longer. But I told him that I needed to get back to work. We gave each other a big hug and we agreed that we would see each other at the house tonight.
As I was driving off, I thought to myself, "You know, it must be really fun and exciting to be young and be in a rock band, shooting videos and traveling all over the country as well as playing before thousands of fans." But then again, that lifestyle is not for everyone I thought. It takes a certain kind of person. You've got to be young, energetic, talented and really, really want it bad. Also, it takes tons of hard work. And Sleeper Agent has it and done that.
Now I can't wait to see the video!
I asked him if I could drop by for a little bit on my lunch hour to see the video filming and he said "Sure, Dad," like there would be no problem at all. So I did. It was being filmed upstairs at the old "Spot Cash and Carry Clothing Store" in downtown Bowling Green which is now Labold and Sons Salvage Co.youtube.com/watch?v=1_sk_e93Hk8 Apparently, they have a lot cool, old vintage stuff in there. Even Robert Plant from the former classic rock band, Led Zeppelin dropped by there one day a couple months ago and spent a little time looking around.I walked in the store and said, "Hello, I'm Tony's dad from Sleeper Agent and I was wanting to know where they are filming the video." And the nice lady named, "Danielle, the owner said, "Oh, it's upstairs." And she had her assistant to show me the way. As we were heading up the stairs, the young lady said, "Watch your head, you can bump it easily here," and so I watched my head. I was led down a dark, dusty, attic looking hallway which also looked an old dilapidated apartment which I bet was at least 100 years old or more.
I found Tony, Alex, Justin, Josh, Scott and Lee all sitting in this old room with covered antique chairs, couches and benches waiting for the next scene to be shot. Of course, the room was filled with cigarette smoke. Matt Shutlz from Cage The Elephant who was directing the video and he was running up and down the hallway wearing black jeans and boots and a black cowboy hat and shirt. He saw me and said, "Hey Galen and came into the room gave me a big hug as I stood up." "Good to see you, Matt, " I said. He said, "Good to see you too, Galen." Matt then continues to run down the hallway.I sat back down next to Tony and another young guy comes in and takes everyone's order for Subway sandwiches. He offered me one but I declined because I had already eaten. Also, Darby, the marketing director for Mom + Pop Records from New York City was there and she came in and shook my had and introduced herself to me. She said, "It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith." And I said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Darby. I've been seeing you on Facebook."
"That's right, we're Facebook friends, aren't we?" she said with a big friendly smile. "Yes, we are," I said.
After a while, I got up and walked around and took a few photos. The place was dark and cramped. I felt like that I could easily get in everyone's way. So I went back downstairs. Some of the band members had also gathered downstairs and went outside for a few moments. Then Tony came down too. He offered for me to stay awhile longer. But I told him that I needed to get back to work. We gave each other a big hug and we agreed that we would see each other at the house tonight.
As I was driving off, I thought to myself, "You know, it must be really fun and exciting to be young and be in a rock band, shooting videos and traveling all over the country as well as playing before thousands of fans." But then again, that lifestyle is not for everyone I thought. It takes a certain kind of person. You've got to be young, energetic, talented and really, really want it bad. Also, it takes tons of hard work. And Sleeper Agent has it and done that.
Now I can't wait to see the video!
Thursday, 15 December 2011
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. _ Man, there are some stupid people in this world. Or should I say some dumb criminals. This is one of those guys who is a complete idiot! Why didn't he just call someone to come pick him up to take him home after he was released from the hospital? Or at least call a taxi cab. Then a friend or family member could have paid the tab perhaps.
And I'm sure that he didn't have any health insurance either. So it's the taxpayers like us that will be paying his hospital bill too not to mention the fact that we'll have to provide him with a cot and three square meals while he sits in jail. So just how stupid can stupid get?
Check out this crime story that the crackerjack crime beat reporter, Deborah Highland wrote for the Bowling Green Daily News. Deborah does a fantastic job for the newspaper.
And I'm sure that he didn't have any health insurance either. So it's the taxpayers like us that will be paying his hospital bill too not to mention the fact that we'll have to provide him with a cot and three square meals while he sits in jail. So just how stupid can stupid get?
A Butler County man who needed a ride home from The Medical Center after receiving treatment for injuries suffered in a car wreck is accused of stealing a Lexus from a Bowling Green dealership in order to get back home to Morgantown.
William Peterson Jr. called the Bowling Green Police Department on Monday to report a break-in at Certified Auto, 1001 U.S. 31-W By-Pass. Someone had used a flower pot to break the front window to gain access into the building, according to police records.
Once inside, the thief rummaged through desk drawers before finding vehicle keys in a closet. Numerous keys were scattered around the office. Peterson told police that a 1997 Lexus SC300 was missing from the lot, records show.
As police prepared to process the crime scene, Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward called to say that he had recovered the Lexus and was with the man believed to have taken the car, Timothy Jones Sr., 24, according to records.
Ward found Jones after Jones' mother called Ward to tell him that her son had driven a car home that probably wasn't his, Ward said. Ward drove to 7559 Caneyville Road in Morgantown to talk to Jones, who asked the sheriff for a ride back to Bowling Green so that he could talk to city police here about the incident.
Jones, 24, whose address is listed as 7559 Caneyville Road, told Bowling Green police that he had been taken to The Medical Center on Monday after being involved in a car wreck in Butler County. He was released at 1:30 a.m. and could not get a ride home from anyone. As he was walking, he noticed Certified Auto. Jones told police that the door to the business was unlocked and denied breaking a window to get in, records show.
Jones said he found several keys in a closet and took several sets outside with him, according to police records. He told police that he took the Lexus and drove home.
Police charged Jones with third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking-auto. He is being held in the Warren County Regional Jail on a $6,000 bond, according to online jail records. He is scheduled for a court appearance Friday in Warren District Court.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
My son, Tony, left last night from our house with Alex Kandel, the lead singer of "Sleeper Agent," the indie rock band from Bowling Green, Ky., to fly to Portland to perform in a sold-out show with Awolnation at the Crystal Ballroom Wednesday night, Dec. 7th.http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/96074--Sold-out-December-to-Remember Actually, they flew out of Nashville this morning. Of course, they drove down to Nashville with the other members of the band in their van and stayed with some friends overnight before heading out this morning. Patty, my wife and I, always enjoy having Tony back home even if it's just for 15 hours like it was this last time.
Sleeper Agent is picking up a lot of speed and touring and gaining more notoriety and fans across the nation. They have been touring with some big name acts of the late such as Cage The Elephant, The Joy Formidable, Manchester Orchestra, Foster The People, Bush, Grouplove and Awolnation, just to name a few. Their album "Celabrasion" has been out several months now and selling really well. To say the least and as you can probably tell, I am really proud of my kid, Tony.
Regardless, I saw Matt Shultz again, the lead singer from Cage The Elephant a couple weeks ago at the Lava Lounge in Bowling Green where Tony and I went to see the up and coming new indie rock band from Bowling Green, called "Schools" perform. Matt was friendly as always. Jay Joyce, the famous music producer from Nashville who recorded Cage The Elephant's two album, "Cage The Elephant," and "Thank You, Happy Birthday" and Sleeper Agent's "Celabrasion" also recorded "Schools" new album about a month ago. Also, I got to meet Jeremi Simon, the lead singer and songwriter for "Schools." By the way, the Schools sounded great that night. And Jeremi is a super, nice guy also like Matt from Cage The Elephant. I think the Schools will go far in the business like Cage The Elephant and Sleeper Agent has already.
These are some very exciting times for indie rock music in the City of Bowling Green. I think it is incredible that we already have three bands that have recorded albums and two bands are currently on tour and headlining with other national acts. "Schools" is not quite out of the starting gate yet, but they are getting there, fast and soon. Be on the look out for these guys!
Sleeper Agent is picking up a lot of speed and touring and gaining more notoriety and fans across the nation. They have been touring with some big name acts of the late such as Cage The Elephant, The Joy Formidable, Manchester Orchestra, Foster The People, Bush, Grouplove and Awolnation, just to name a few. Their album "Celabrasion" has been out several months now and selling really well. To say the least and as you can probably tell, I am really proud of my kid, Tony.
These are some very exciting times for indie rock music in the City of Bowling Green. I think it is incredible that we already have three bands that have recorded albums and two bands are currently on tour and headlining with other national acts. "Schools" is not quite out of the starting gate yet, but they are getting there, fast and soon. Be on the look out for these guys!
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