Interview with Jeff from Day Sleeper, August 30, 1997. It's not that long, but it's all I could scribble down on my tiny note pad.

Danielle: Ok, so lay it on me, who are you and what do you play?

Jeff: We are Daysleeper and I am Jeff Brown--lead vocals and rhythm guitar. The rest of the guys are:

Steph DiFranco--drums and percussion
Phil Wade--lead guitar, slide guitar, and backing vocals
Hamp--bass (I don't know his last name (!) so just put Hamp, for now).
Ike Sheldon--Fender Rhodes Electric Piano (it lets everyone know it's more 70s and not some kind of synthesizer).

Danielle: How long have you boys been together?

Jeff: About a year but have only been playing since the summer.

Danielle: Do you have a demo, or a CD or something? Where did you record it?

Jeff: We recorded our CD "when the meteor comes" in November in a farm house/barn that some audiophile friends of ours have converted into a studio. No telephone, no heat - just a wood burning stove. We spent the weekend there and recorded the basic tracks. It's miles out in the country, and no friends, wives, girlfriends, etc. were allowed. It was very intense. We were very happy with the results. The rest (vocals, overdubs, etc) were done at my house in midtown. Randy Wolf was the engineer, and he is associated with a great blues/rock/pop band called Trouble in Mind. I'll have his drummer send you an e-mail.

Danielle: How would you describe your music?

Jeff: Our music is, I guess, part radio-pop, part groovy, part moody, part pop rock. Phil plays the slide guitar at times, which is traditionally a very country thing, but the songs aren't really country. Ike plays the Fender Rhodes, which is traditionally a very soul or 70's thing, but the songs aren't really that, either. So the two of them combine in a wierd way with regular guitars and bass. Sometimes, though, its pretty simple poprock stuff. Occasionally it gets a little moody or depressed. Sometimes we like to play quiet. For a long time we didn't even own a distortion pedal.

Danielle: Do you have any more gigs coming up?

Jeff: Gigs coming up are at the Hurricane, Davey's, and the Grand Emp, but I'll have to get back to you with dates.

Danielle: What are all your ages?

Jeff: Hamp is the youngest at 27, I'm 29, Ike is 30, Phil is 31, and Steph is 32. Sort of older, huh? I thought it was funny at the Frogpond show when the bass player opened up a beer on stage. Someone yelled "do you have some ID?" She said "Please, you guys, I'm SOO old you wouldn't believe it." I was in the crowd thinking, right, what are you, a ripe old 25 or something?

Danielle: What are you're influences?

Jeff: Influences? hmmm - always tough. Low, Red House Painters, Liz Phair, Radiohead? Neil Young? Tom Petty? Matthew Sweet? I give up.