Singer/songwriter Peter Hicks didn't plan on SLEEPY DRIVER; it practically happened by accident. Over the years he'd penned a number of songs that didn't fit his current projects, so the tunes were largely parked. But one day, flipping through his songbook, he recognized some recurring themes in the lyrics: hard lessons, life and death, love and leaving, murder and betrayal. The songs read like a road journal: escaping mistakes and missteps, accepting consequences, and making the humble drive home. And so the concept of Sleepy Driver was born.
Over time, Hicks recruited Barry Hughes, John Heinstein, Mike Hatheway, and Ethan Young-Lai. They were players of all different styles and influences, but their collective sound served as the perfect vehicle for the music, transporting it to brand new places, creating an alternative roots rock that is a formidable blend of college rock, blues, and old school country. It's dark yet optimistic, gritty and honest with a healthy respect for tradition, full of dynamics, subtlety and noise. It is Sleepy Driver.
Since forming, the band has gained notable praise for their modest but substantial music. With the release of their debut full-length, "Steady Now" (2009), Sleepy Driver is poised for even more. The album delivers thirteen Hicks compositions: lyrical morality plays and cautionary tales, stories of love, dismay, murder, revenge, and redemption. The songs cover diverse territory, from simple folk music to feedback-laden rockers. Each tune is unique and stands capably alone, yet together make "Steady Now" an album that deserves to be listened to from end-to-end.
