Draft:The Sloppy Boys

The Sloppy Boys
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresRock, comedy rock
Years active2013-present
Members
Websitethesloppyboys.com

The Sloppy Boys, known until 2018 as The Sloppy Boys Jangly Band, is an American comedy rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2013. The band is composed of Jefferson Dutton (drums, lead and background vocals, guitar, tenor saxophone), Mike Hanford (lead and background vocals, guitar), and Tim Kalpakis (drums, lead and background vocals, guitar), who were previously members of sketch group, The Birthday Boys.[1] The group originated as a cover band, but began writing and independently recording original songs in 2017. Their name was shortened to "The Sloppy Boys" prior to the release of their debut EP, Lifelong Vacation, in 2018. In 2020, the band began releasing a self-titled weekly cocktail review podcast, The Sloppy Boys, with a companion Patreon podcast, The Sloppy Boys Blowout.[2][3][4]

History

edit

Jefferson Dutton, Tim Kalpakis, and Mike Hanford met while attending Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. The three were invested in comedy, each independently moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue fame. Though Dutton and Hanford had met at Ithaca, the two didn't become friends until after their move to Los Angeles. Dutton, Hanford, and Kalpakis were studying improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB). In 2007 they co-founded sketch comedy group, The Birthday Boys with fellow Ithaca grads Dave Ferguson, Mike Mitchell, and Chris VanArtsdalen, as well as Matt Kowalick, whom they met at UCB.[5][6] During this time, most of The Birthday Boys lived together in "The Stinkhouse".[7] The Birthday Boys performed live comedy at UCB and made popular web videos, and were discovered by comedy legend Bob Odenkirk of Mr Show with Bob and David. Odenkirk executive produced, wrote, directed and acted in The Birthday Boys's 2013 self-titled TV show, which lasted for two seasons on IFC.[8]

The Birthday Boys were set to move out of The Stinkhouse, their shared home of seven years, in 2013, and decided to host "Fredonia Fest", a backyard music festival that served as a send-off celebration with their UCB community. Dutton and Kalpakis were in a Weezer cover band, but the hosts struggled to decide who should play first at the party. Dutton, Hanford, and Kalpakis volunteered, and played covers at what would become their first of many shows under the name "The Sloppy Boys Jangly Band."[9]

In 2018, the band were offered a spot on Highland Park TV, a neighbourhood cable-access show run by their friends Rob Getzschman and Stoney Sharp in Highland Park, Los Angeles, which motivated them to begin writing original songs. Here for the Beer and Let’s Party made their debuts on Highland Park TV.[7]

The same year, the band recorded their first album, Lifelong Vacation, at Bedrock Studios in Echo Park, Los Angeles.[10] The album was released June 19, 2018.

Discography

edit

Lifelong Vacation

  • Released: June 19, 2018
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Dancing on the Wind

  • Released: June 7, 2019
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Paradiso (The Sloppy Boys album)

  • Released: July 31, 2020
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Sonic Ranch (album)

  • Released: August 4, 2023
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent
  • Producer: Money Mark

Podcast

edit

In 2020, the band started a self-titled weekly podcast, released on Fridays, along with a paywalled Patreon companion podcast called The Blowout on Wednesdays.[2][3][4] Each week, Dutton, Hanford, and Kalpakis make, try, and review a different alcoholic drink from the International Bartenders Association's list of cocktails. The podcast found quick success, and was ranked third in Vulture's "The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts of 2021" list.[11]

Documentary

edit

In 2022, American documentarian and journalist Robert Holguin contacted The Sloppy Boys. Holguin offered the band the opportunity to record their fourth album with producer Money Mark at the famous Sonic Ranch residential studios in Tornillo, Texas in exchange for their permission to make a documentary of the experience.[12] The band agreed, and flew to Texas for five days of recording Sonic Ranch, an album named for the studio.[13][14] Blood, Sweat and Beers: The Making of a Comedy-Rock Classic premiered at the El Paso Film Festival on September 29 2023 and was awarded the El Paso Filmmaker Award and Audience Award.[15][16][17][18] The documentary was also one of 20 films included in The 2024 Popcorn List, an annual survey of the most popular independent films without full domestic distribution.[19]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Musical Mastermind Money Mark Elevates Comedy Band The Sloppy Boys in Hilarious Blood Sweat and Beers". www.moviemaker.com. 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  2. ^ a b "1. Tom Collins". The Sloppy Boys Podcast. 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Get more from The Sloppy Boys on Patreon". Patreon. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  4. ^ a b "The Sloppy Boys Play Doubleheader at Faces Brewing Co. in Malden". Allston Pudding. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  5. ^ Evans, Bradford (2013-10-15). "Talking to The Birthday Boys About Their New IFC Sketch Show". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  6. ^ Gauteron, Eden (2024-03-28). "Improv in Your Ear: How the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater Has Influenced Podcasting". Medium. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  7. ^ a b "In Conversation: The Sloppy Boys Blow Minds in Their New "Tha Mastah Bong Rippah" Video". FLOOD. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  8. ^ Wright, Megh (2015-01-23). "'The Birthday Boys' Is Done on IFC After Two Seasons". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  9. ^ Depue, Kristian (2020-05-01). "The Sloppy Boys". Cocktails | Conversations. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  10. ^ "INTERVIEW: The Sloppy Boys discuss new album "Paradiso", Taylor Swift, and quarantine activities". We Write About Music. 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  11. ^ "The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts of 2021". 2023-12-16. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  12. ^ "The Best Little Music City in Texas: Andi Teran | Vanity Fair". web.archive.org. 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  13. ^ "Musical Mastermind Money Mark Elevates Comedy Band The Sloppy Boys in Hilarious Blood Sweat and Beers". www.moviemaker.com. 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  14. ^ Paulus, Daniel (2023-11-26). "Riding the Sonic Wave: Albums That Pay Homage to Texas' Studio Gem". 95.5 KLAQ. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  15. ^ Paulus, Daniel (2023-10-02). "Blood, Sweat & Beers: Robert Holguin's Rock Documentary Was a Hit at El Paso Film Festival". 95.5 KLAQ. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  16. ^ Staff (2023-09-11). "KFOX14 anchor Robert Holguin's documentary set to premiere at 2023 El Paso Film Festival". KFOX. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  17. ^ "Blood, Sweat and Beers | El Paso Film Festival". elpasofilmfestival.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  18. ^ "Money Mark Elevates Comedy Band The Sloppy Boys | El Paso Film Festival". elpasofilmfestival.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  19. ^ Staff (2024-04-01). "Documentary by KFOX14 anchor joins prestigious list of undistributed gems". KFOX. Retrieved 2024-06-23.