With a sound shaped for fans of AC/DC, The Ramones and Deep Purple, American trash rockers Snew released latest album 'You've Got Some Nerve' in September 2018. Shortly to be taking to the stage at annual get together Hard Rock Hell in Wales, we caught up with front man Curtis Don Vito to find out what they're all about.
Hi Chris, How did Snew get together?
Andy [Lux, guitar]and I met through a mutual friend. On day one we started writing songs and knew we
had to put this band together. We spent the next few months auditioning bass players and drummers until we found the right guys. Regrets? To paraphrase Frank Sinatra; “Regrets, we've had a few but then again blah, blah, blah… we did it our way”.
Snew have a clearly identifiable sound, but consider the importance of image, do you feel
that is something bands need to take seriously?
Image is everything. Looking silly is our job. All forms of art are silly if you don’t get it. Human beings are basically silly so it’s our job as artists to be the most silly so everyone else has an excuse to let that out and not be embarrassed by their own absurdity. The bands who are too shy to look ridiculous should stay home because under the bright lights of a stage we all look silly.
Bands are finding it harder to break through in the current climate, and this is also coupled with the changing ways in which people consume music; Is the album format really redundant?
We’ve released a few singles based on that idea and I can tell you that every time the response was always “When’s the album coming out?” Rock fans see singles as a teaser, they don’t like it unless it’s a sample of what’s to come. I know I don’t like singles. The album is a complete statement, a true effort, a meal instead of a snack. Singles are for people who just want something playing in the background or some kind of pop culture reference. They are also cheap and easy for record companies who don’t believe in investing in music anymore. Music is one of the most important things in our lives (both fans and bands). When it comes to investments our very lives are fully invested in our favourite music. Full albums are essential to people like us. Singles are like pieces of candy, they are fun to eat every once in a while but you can’t live off that shit.
You're a live, gigging and working band; what are worst shows you’ve played so far?
Let me tell you about the Thunderdog tour we did in 2014. The first date of that tour was in Las Vegas at this really great venue on the downtown strip. We set up, did a sound check on this amazing stage (just what you’d expect from a Vegas showroom), got ready backstage in a very nice dressing room. Then we hit the stage and the place was entirely empty! I mean, nobody but a bartender and a couple of waitresses. We went through our set because that’s what we do, but we’re like WTF!? So we finished, went off stage and a waitress comes up to us and says; “You guys were great but I don’t know why they had you play tonight. We’re normally closed on Tuesday”. The manager of the place apologised for the screw up and then he paid us. Awesome, a paid rehearsal!
Did that tour improve?
The last night of that tour we are booked to play some concert hall in Northern Texas, some place we never heard of but that’s not unusual. So we’re driving and driving and we don’t know where the hell we are. We’re looking for the address but it’s not showing up on GPS and we can’t get anybody on the phone. It’s all trees and forest. We didn’t even know Texas had forests! We get to an area where it seems like it just has to be it but again, nothing there but trees. We’re thinking we may just have to forget it and go home. Then we see someone walking along the roadside so we ask if they have any idea where this place is, and they say; “yeah, follow me”.
That was a stroke of luck; did they lead you to the venue?
We were driving real slow and following this person on foot, and it leads to a house. We see tons of people all over the place. It turns out it’s a house party that this guy puts on every year where he turns his garage into a makeshift club. Half the band wanted to leave feeling like someone was playing some kinda sick joke. But Lenny and I were all; “No were staying. This is the perfect way to end the tour”. We ended up having a blast. 350 crazy Texans drunk off their asses, cheering, screaming, dancing. They loved us and I gotta say we loved them. So what started off as one of the worst gigs ever turned into one of the best nights of our lives.
When can we expect to see Snew in the U.K.?
We are playing the hard Rock Hell Festival in Wales 9th of November, with a few U.K. dates after that. And yes you can come.
Like this story? Like us on FaceBook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates & more of the same.
Snew's 'You've Got Some Nerve' is available now through the band's Webstore. For all things Snew, visit their Facebook.
Andy [Lux, guitar]and I met through a mutual friend. On day one we started writing songs and knew we
had to put this band together. We spent the next few months auditioning bass players and drummers until we found the right guys. Regrets? To paraphrase Frank Sinatra; “Regrets, we've had a few but then again blah, blah, blah… we did it our way”.
Snew have a clearly identifiable sound, but consider the importance of image, do you feel
that is something bands need to take seriously?
Image is everything. Looking silly is our job. All forms of art are silly if you don’t get it. Human beings are basically silly so it’s our job as artists to be the most silly so everyone else has an excuse to let that out and not be embarrassed by their own absurdity. The bands who are too shy to look ridiculous should stay home because under the bright lights of a stage we all look silly.
Bands are finding it harder to break through in the current climate, and this is also coupled with the changing ways in which people consume music; Is the album format really redundant?
We’ve released a few singles based on that idea and I can tell you that every time the response was always “When’s the album coming out?” Rock fans see singles as a teaser, they don’t like it unless it’s a sample of what’s to come. I know I don’t like singles. The album is a complete statement, a true effort, a meal instead of a snack. Singles are for people who just want something playing in the background or some kind of pop culture reference. They are also cheap and easy for record companies who don’t believe in investing in music anymore. Music is one of the most important things in our lives (both fans and bands). When it comes to investments our very lives are fully invested in our favourite music. Full albums are essential to people like us. Singles are like pieces of candy, they are fun to eat every once in a while but you can’t live off that shit.
You're a live, gigging and working band; what are worst shows you’ve played so far?
Let me tell you about the Thunderdog tour we did in 2014. The first date of that tour was in Las Vegas at this really great venue on the downtown strip. We set up, did a sound check on this amazing stage (just what you’d expect from a Vegas showroom), got ready backstage in a very nice dressing room. Then we hit the stage and the place was entirely empty! I mean, nobody but a bartender and a couple of waitresses. We went through our set because that’s what we do, but we’re like WTF!? So we finished, went off stage and a waitress comes up to us and says; “You guys were great but I don’t know why they had you play tonight. We’re normally closed on Tuesday”. The manager of the place apologised for the screw up and then he paid us. Awesome, a paid rehearsal!
Did that tour improve?
The last night of that tour we are booked to play some concert hall in Northern Texas, some place we never heard of but that’s not unusual. So we’re driving and driving and we don’t know where the hell we are. We’re looking for the address but it’s not showing up on GPS and we can’t get anybody on the phone. It’s all trees and forest. We didn’t even know Texas had forests! We get to an area where it seems like it just has to be it but again, nothing there but trees. We’re thinking we may just have to forget it and go home. Then we see someone walking along the roadside so we ask if they have any idea where this place is, and they say; “yeah, follow me”.
That was a stroke of luck; did they lead you to the venue?
We were driving real slow and following this person on foot, and it leads to a house. We see tons of people all over the place. It turns out it’s a house party that this guy puts on every year where he turns his garage into a makeshift club. Half the band wanted to leave feeling like someone was playing some kinda sick joke. But Lenny and I were all; “No were staying. This is the perfect way to end the tour”. We ended up having a blast. 350 crazy Texans drunk off their asses, cheering, screaming, dancing. They loved us and I gotta say we loved them. So what started off as one of the worst gigs ever turned into one of the best nights of our lives.
When can we expect to see Snew in the U.K.?
We are playing the hard Rock Hell Festival in Wales 9th of November, with a few U.K. dates after that. And yes you can come.
Like this story? Like us on FaceBook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates & more of the same.
Snew's 'You've Got Some Nerve' is available now through the band's Webstore. For all things Snew, visit their Facebook.
