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Sleeper Agent - Waves | Live @ JBTV — DeepCutsArchive
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Sleeper Agent - Waves | Live @ JBTV

The Band
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Sleeper Agent performing their song "Waves" from their album About Last Night live on the JBTV stage. Sleeper Agent is a now-defunct alternative rock band hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Prior to the band first release, Celabrasion, Rolling Stone noted the band as the "band to watch." The band notes Pixies, The Black Lips, and Cage the Elephant as some of their most influential inspirations. Lyrics: Your California washed away Left us all their bills to pay Without a friend, without a doubt We walked it off until we drowned Well at least we caught some waves We spit them back at you And now it feels so saturated Oh I'd rather be serrated With my oily legs and long blonde hair Elevator meets you there Would you hold me? Do it, I think I would Love me? Won't but I know I think I could Your New York's city's up all night Coming down from '99 (But Oh I Love the aroma) They're city boys, my silly friends Endless bells and whistling (Ahhhh) In the sticks we're barefoot friends We chew on leaves And quote Huck Finn (But Oh I never have told ya) But Oh all the lights, I know it's a riot But I can't help the fuss, I'd trade it for quiet Would you hold me? To it, I think I would Love me? Won't but I know I think I could..Go on Hold me down, it's over now, I suppose Your right hand your left brain Is dialed and fed on control Hold me down, it's over now, I suppose Hold me down, it's over now, I suppose Would you hold me? Do it, I think I would Love me? Won't but I know I think I could Do it, I think I would Won't but I know I should Do it, I think I would Won't but I know I think I'd Do it, I think I would Won't but I know I think I'd Do it, I think I would Won't but I know I think I'd Do it I think I would Won't but I know I think I should Your California washed away Left us all their bills to pay New York's city's up all night Coming down from 99 At least we made some waves We spit them back at you! To find more content treats like this join JBTV social channels at: Website: http://JBTVMusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JBTVMusic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbtv Instagram: http://instagram.com/jbtvstudio Tumblr: http://jbtvonline.tumblr.com/



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About The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario. It consisted of Canadians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson and American Levon Helm. The Band's music combined elements of Americana, folk, rock, R&B, jazz and country, which influenced artists including George Harrison, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton and Wilco.

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Added 15 Apr 2026

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Sleeper Agent's "Waves" Live on the JBTV Stage: A Glimpse into a Forgotten Era of Alternative Rock

In 2008, Sleeper Agent was hailed as one of the most promising new bands in alternative rock. The Bowling Green, Kentucky natives had just released their debut album Celabrasion to critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone anointing them as "the band to watch." But despite their early promise, Sleeper Agent's career would ultimately be marked by a series of lineup changes and creative missteps that saw the band fade into obscurity. Yet, this live performance of "Waves" from 2008 captures a fleeting moment in time when Sleeper Agent was on the cusp of stardom.

The JBTV stage is a dimly lit, intimate setting that allows Sleeper Agent to strip down their sound and focus on the raw emotion of their lyrics. Lead singer Brian Kelley's voice soars as he belts out the anthemic chorus of "Waves," his words painting a picture of disillusionment and disconnection in a world where California's laid-back vibe has given way to the harsh realities of adulthood. The song's themes of alienation and longing are timeless, but the band's delivery is quintessentially 2000s – think Pixies-inspired surf rock with a dash of indie angst.

What makes this clip so remarkable is its rarity. Sleeper Agent may have been touted as one of the next big things in alternative rock, but their career was ultimately marked by a series of false starts and creative missteps. This live performance is a fascinating glimpse into a forgotten era of music history, when bands like Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend were just beginning to make waves (pun intended). Watching Sleeper Agent's "Waves" live on the JBTV stage is like stumbling upon a lost artifact from a bygone age – it's a reminder that even the most promising careers can be derailed by circumstance and creative differences.

As Kelley sings about the California dream being washed away, leaving behind a trail of bills to pay, one can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for a time when music was still raw and unpolished. Sleeper Agent's sound may have been influenced by the likes of The Black Lips and Cage the Elephant, but their own unique blend of surf rock and indie angst is unmistakable. This live performance is a testament to the band's early promise and the enduring power of their music.

The lyrics of "Waves" are a poignant commentary on the disconnection between generations. Kelley sings about his friends in New York City, who are forever chasing the next high, while he and his bandmates are content to hang out in the sticks, barefoot and carefree. It's a nostalgic ode to a bygone era, when music was still raw and unpolished, and bands like Sleeper Agent were just beginning to make their mark on the world.

As the song builds towards its anthemic finale, Kelley's voice becomes increasingly raw and emotional, conveying the sense of desperation and longing that lies at the heart of "Waves." It's a performance that's both deeply personal and universally relatable – a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there's always hope for redemption and rebirth.

In watching Sleeper Agent's live performance of "Waves," one can't help but feel a sense of melancholy for what could have been. The band may have ultimately failed to achieve their full potential, but this clip is a testament to their early promise and the enduring power of their music. It's a reminder that even in the most fleeting moments, there's always beauty to be found – and that sometimes, it's the forgotten artifacts of history that hold the greatest value.

Curated from public records and music databases.

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