WMNF Presents: Todd Snider

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, at 15 Todd Snider ran away from home. Following a brief stint as a harmonica player in Santa Rosa, California, the budding musician moved to Austin, Texas, and began honing his live performance skills. Influenced by the solo efforts of Jerry Jeff Walker, Snider’s first break came when he was offered residency as the Memphis club Daily Planet, where he became acquainted with Coral Reefer Band’s Keith Sykes. Both Jimmy Buffett and John Prine subsequent heard his demos and made efforts to aid the progression of his career.

In 1994 Snider released his debut studio album “Songs for the Daily Planet” (named after the club in Memphis)  on MCA Records. Led by the  singles “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues” and “Alright Guy”, the record proved a popular regional and WMNF  hit and led to two more albums with MCA “Step Right Up” in 1996 and “Viva Satellite” in 1998. Following the release of “Viva Satellite”, Snider moved to John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, and released his debut record on the label, “Happy to Be Here” in 2000.   “Happy to Be Here” earned a host of positive reviews and paved the way for the subsequent releases “New Connection”, “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms”, and “East Nashville Skyline”, a period which included some of his WMNF mega-hits including “Beer Run” and “Conservative Christian Right Wing Wing Republican Straight White American Males.”  Showcasing the rugged singer’s croaky vocals and witty, sarcastic and often heartfelt lyrics, in 2005 the Snider issued the best-of compilation “That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998”.

Peaking at No. 4 on the U.S. Heatseekers chart, 2006’s “The Devil Know You” proved a favourite among fans and was followed by the live release “Live with the Devil You Know” in 2007. Snider’s 10th studio album “The Excitement Plan” maintained his signature country-influence, which included prominent slide guitar, however also included jazz and blues influences. The singer-songwriter’s 11th full-length album “Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables” arrived in March 2012 and it was listed at number 47 on Rolling Stone’s list of the top 50 albums of 2012:  “One of the sharpest, funniest storytellers in rock, Snider keeps the indictments coming.”

On December 20, 2013, Snider debuted a new band, Hard Working Americans, at a benefit concert at the Boulder Theater, for Colorado Flood Relief.   The group includes bassist Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, guitarist Neal Casal,  keyboard player Chad Staehly and drummer Duane Trucks. The band’s first album,  released January, 2014,  was lesser known covers. Their second record, Rest in Chaos, was released in 2016 and features mostly original songs written by the band, including lyrics by Snider.

“East Side Bulldog”, Todd’s most recent album,  is the loopiest and hardest-rocking album Snider has delivered to date.  It is a fun listen and got lots of WMNF airplay.

The last time Todd was in Tampa he was at Gasparilla Music Fest doing lead vocals for Hard Working Americans.