Sleeveens, The

Sleeveens, The

National Anthem

Goner

A Dublin-born, stylistically-restless but fundamentally punk troubadour, Stefan Murphy emerged in the early 00s under the moniker The Mighty Stef, which became a full-band concern around 2007, wrapped up in 2016, and was followed by a short stint as Count Vaseline. Then, in 2019, Murphy met a gentleman by the name of James Mechan, who happened to be Stiff Little Fingers’ guitar tech. That last part is relevant, as any current convert to the band we’re discussing here can testify. And so is the first part, as Mechan wanted to record Murphy at his Nashville studio. Those plans were derailed by the pandemic but not forgotten when Murphy moved to Nashville in 2022. Work commenced, the pair were joined by Ryan Sweeney (of Cheap Time) on drums and Eli Steele (Sweet Knives) on lead guitar. The result was The Sleeveens, named after an Irish slang for “trixter”…not the earthly type responsible for a plastic Aztec death whistle on your exhaust pipe but rather the otherworldly one that temporarily vanishes the keys to the vehicle.  The Sleeveens’ debuted on 7-inch with 2023’s “Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls” on Sweeney’s Sweet Time label and “UFO’s” b/w The Four Tops’ “Bernadette” on Interstate 94 Recordings in 2024, followed by their fantastic self-titled LP on Dirtnap Records the same year, which gained traction on independent radio thanks to bangers like “Metallica Font” and “Aretha Franklin”. An official Gonerfest 22 inclusion, the band has also shared stages with G.G. King, Schizophonics, Total Hell,...

Sleeveens, The

Downtown / Drowning

Goner

***A limited tour / Gonerfest single from Nashville's might Sleeveens. You get the stomping original "Downtown" backed by a fierce cover of Reigning Sound's "Drowning." Don't sleep on this one!

Sleeveens, The

s/t

Dirtnap

When Irish-born Count Vaseline / The Mighty Stef songwriter Stef Murphy met Stiff Little Fingers guitar tech Jamie Mechan in Nashville, Tennessee, it began a musical partnership of the highest order. After cranking out a few tunes at Mechan’s fledgling studio, 302 Sound, the duo started recruiting other musicians. The band was rounded out by drummer Ryan Sweeney (Cheap Time) and Eli Steele (Sweet Knives.) Dubbing themselves The Sleeveens, an Irish term for a trixter, the band got to work. After recording and releasing their highly-touted “Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls” 45rpm single on Sweeney’s Sweet Time Records, they finished off their eleven track debut album. The quartet were soon approached by longrunning punk label Dirtnap Records for the album’s 2024 release. The resulting album is an homage to the kind of classic punk Chiswick, New Rose and Stiff Records were releasing forty-five years before The Sleeveens existed. With earworm melodies and screaming guitars, the foursome have crafted one of the best albums of the year. Murphy’s penchant for charmingly brilliant, matter-of-fact lyricism has a similar poetic quality as Mark E. Smith or Jonathan Richman. With expert mastering by Jim Diamond (The White Stripes, The Dirtbombs) to put the finishing touches on the sound, The Sleeveens is a record that is simultaneously uncompromisingly raw and thoughtfully crafted. “As far as I’m concerned, all and sundry can pencil in Stef as the Impending Punk Rock Van Morrison.” — Rev. Norb, Razorcake “Fav new band Stef & The Sleeveens...love...