Big D NYE Winners Sleeperstar Play Their Biggest Show Yet

posted in: OurStage Updates

Texas natives Sleeperstar are no strangers to the big time.  Like a lot of bands, they’ve paid their dues by traveling to venues throughout major cities in their home state. Recently, however, their song I Was Wrong was featured on the hit TV show The Vampire Diaries, rocketing them to audiences across the country and around the world. The band entered their song We Go Tonight in the Big D NYE “Fast Track To Fame” Competition on OurStage back in October, where the fans voted them to the top spot in the channel and into the ears of the WFAA employees in Dallas. The band won an opening slot at Big D NYE 2010 and got to perform in front of a live audience of over 30,000 attendees and televised audience of over 500,000 viewers. We had the opportunity to interview lead singer Chris Pearson to hear all about their story. Check it out below!

OS: The pictures on your blog look awesome, have you guys performed to a crowd of that size before?

CP: No, this was the first time any of us had played for a crowd this size.  We heard the total was 32,800 plus 570,000 watching at home. That’s crazy talk.

OS: How did the audience respond to your performance?

CP: We couldn’t believe how loud people were cheering, and singing along. Facebook, Twitter and our iTunes are still getting blown up from the show! Dallas is a great place, great people!

OS: What was the feedback like after the show? Did you guys pick up some new fans on Facebook and elsewhere on the web?

CP: We heard the event coordinators (American Airlines Center and WFAA) were pretty stoked about the Sleeperstar performance.  The guys and I were all pretty stoked.  Was a bit surreal, and we always feel like we can play better, but considering it was our first major TV performance, and we were on wedges (not ears) we were pleased.

OS: How did you use this opportunity to further promote your music?

CP: Lots of tweets I tell you…

OS: How did you get your fans to come out and judge in the competition?

CP: We pleaded. Washed their cars. Babysat their dogs. Took care of grandma.  We know no limits.

OS: Have you guys ever performed live on TV before? Did that change the dynamic of your performance?

CP: Never anything like this, no.  We’re pretty well rehearsed and I’d like to think the dynamic enhanced our performance, but we’ll see! (we were pretty jacked with adrenaline, so I’m sure when we watch the tape back we’ll see we were a tad bit loose in places)

OS: Congrats on having your song I Was Wrong featured on The Vampire Diaries. Your profile mentioned that it gained exposure overseas. Any plans to take your tour across the pond and play for some European audiences?

CP: Thank you! and ABSOLUTELY!  It’s been pretty crazy watching it grow online in those thirty-one countries that air The Vampire Diaries.  We can’t wait to get to international touring.

OS: Did you guys run into any of your local fans at Big D NYE?

CP: A few yes!  However, there were so many people at the event, that for the most part it was all new people.  We’re doing an upcoming free concert (a fund raiser for a dear friend of ours) at the House Of Blues so we’re extremely interested to see if the crowd that shows up are people that found us through Big D NYE.

Check out more pictures taken by drummer Shaun Menary on Sleeperstars blog HERE.