Biography
Originally known as Smugface, the Atlanta-bred quintet delivered an aggressive and somewhat progressive brand of alternative rock that echoed the nu metal prevalent in the late '90s and early 2000s. Around 2004 the group altered both its sound and visual presentation, adopting the name City Sleeps in the process. Core members included guitarist Adriel Garcia, drummer John Whitney, and vocalist Elliott Sharp. Early demos produced by Rick Beato of the Universal recording act Billionaire drew significant notice within underground rock circles and on the music platform MP3.com. Members of the alternative metal outfit Cold discovered the band and, impressed by what they heard, brought Smugface to the attention of Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, who nearly placed the group on his Interscope imprint, Flawless Records.
Internal shifts were already underway, however, and by 2003 Smugface had moved toward a markedly more melodic rock approach featuring expansive guitars and near-pop choruses. Producer John Feldmann of the ska-punk band Goldfinger, whose prior credits included successful collaborations with the Used and Story of the Year, took notice of the new direction and reached out in 2004. The musicians traveled to Los Angeles to work with him, and under their updated moniker City Sleeps they secured a deal with Maverick/Warner Bros. Records. By the following year the band had finished its debut album, Walker's Ridge, which was slated for release in early 2006.
The project nevertheless stalled when the label dropped the act before the record could be issued. Late that year bassist Brad Allen, formerly of Family Force 5, replaced Mars Davlan, rounding out the lineup alongside Sharp, Garcia, Whitney, and guitarist Steve Miloszweki. In mid-2007 City Sleeps aligned with the New Jersey-based hardcore label Trustkill Records, which issued the album—now titled Not an Angel—in October. A series of U.K. dates supporting Welsh rockers Funeral for a Friend closed out the year.
Internal shifts were already underway, however, and by 2003 Smugface had moved toward a markedly more melodic rock approach featuring expansive guitars and near-pop choruses. Producer John Feldmann of the ska-punk band Goldfinger, whose prior credits included successful collaborations with the Used and Story of the Year, took notice of the new direction and reached out in 2004. The musicians traveled to Los Angeles to work with him, and under their updated moniker City Sleeps they secured a deal with Maverick/Warner Bros. Records. By the following year the band had finished its debut album, Walker's Ridge, which was slated for release in early 2006.
The project nevertheless stalled when the label dropped the act before the record could be issued. Late that year bassist Brad Allen, formerly of Family Force 5, replaced Mars Davlan, rounding out the lineup alongside Sharp, Garcia, Whitney, and guitarist Steve Miloszweki. In mid-2007 City Sleeps aligned with the New Jersey-based hardcore label Trustkill Records, which issued the album—now titled Not an Angel—in October. A series of U.K. dates supporting Welsh rockers Funeral for a Friend closed out the year.
Albums