Recorded first demo tape

After Rypins joined, they played shows sporadically during its early years, with vocalist Ott living on the streets of Berkeley for a time. In February 1987, the group recorded their first demo tape at 924 Gilman Street , which received enough circulation that Maximumrocknroll asked the band to record songs for the magazine’s upcoming compilation Turn It Around! , to which the band agreed and recorded “Another Day” and “Rearranged” in August. Shortly after, they went to Dangerous Rhythm Studios in Oakland, California , to record songs for their debut EP with producer/engineer Kevin Army. David Hayes, co-founder of Lookout Records , was impressed with the band and offered to release the tracks recorded at Dangerous Rhythm. The group agreed and their debut EP, Sleep, What’s That? , was released in January 1988. Idon Bryant, a friend of the band’s, joined on second guitar soon after and they went to Dancing Dog Studios in Emeryville, California , to record their debut album in April. Although the recordings were turned down by Lookout, the band added tracks from previous sessions and released Lame Gig Contest in Germany on the label Musical Tragedies.