Sleeper Agent

Biography
by Gregory Heaney
With their combination of driving guitars, manic energy, and big singalong choruses, Sleeper Agent merge pop-punk's sugary effervescence with garage rock swagger. Originally formed as a duo by singer/guitarist Tony Smith and drummer Justin Wilson, the Bowling Green, Kentucky band decided to expand its lineup after Smith and Wilson spotted singer Alex Kandel belting out Adele covers at a local open-mike night. Not stopping there, the band decided to fill out its sound even more, upgrading to a sextet with the addition of keyboardist Scott Gardner, guitarist Josh Martin, and bassist Lee Williams. Sleeper Agent caught their first break when they came to the attention of producer Jay Joyce through friends and fellow Bowling Green musicians Cage the Elephant. Impressed with their sound, Joyce invited them to come down to his Nashville studio to record their debut, Celabrasion, which was released in 2011 on Mom & Pop Records.