The Snails is an American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band with touches of

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-r ...

ska Ska (; ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a wal ...

and

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use the ...

, based in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...

. It is currently composed of Sandy Snailbelow, Snailliam, Sammy Snail (also known as Snamuel or Snammy), Snailburne, Snailbraham, Snailrell and Snailpril. As snails, they live in a Shoebox, where they like to play basketball.

History

2008: Formation

The Snails formed in the summer of 2008 in

, Maryland, when rapper

Spank Rock Naeem Juwan, better known by his stage name Spank Rock, is an American rapper and songwriter from Baltimore. He rose to fame with his 2006 album '' YoYoYoYoYo'', which was produced by former group member Alex Epton ( XXXChange). A harbinger of ...

asked

Future Islands Future Islands is an American synth-pop band based in Baltimore, Maryland, comprising Gerrit Welmers (keyboards and programming), William Cashion (bass, acoustic and electric guitars), Samuel T. Herring (lyrics and vocals), and Michael Lowry (perc ...

to play his birthday party.

' third member Gerrit Welmers was out of town, so Samuel T. Herring and William Cashion put together a group of friends to play some old songs by Art Lord & the Self-Portraits (the band that preceded

2008–2013: ''Art Lord & the Self-Portraits''

Gradually producing their own material, the Snails are described by their record label - Friend’s Records - as “Baltimore’s answer to the

California Raisins The California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues animated musical group as well as advertising and merchandising characters composed of anthropomorphized raisins. Lead vocals were sung by musician Buddy Miles. The California Raisins w ...

”. Wearing colorful snail headpieces and outfits, the Snails have had a rotating cast of members. From 2008 to 2013, they played some 10 shows in the

area. Apart from being snails, their slow pace can also be explained by the fact that their members come from several

bands –

Lower Dens Lower Dens was an American alternative indie pop band from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The band was formed in 2010 by Jana Hunter, Geoff Graham, Abram Sanders and Will Adams. Lower Dens has released four albums: their debut on Gnomonso ...

Wume Wume is a polyrhythmic rock duo consisting of April Camlin (drums, vocals) and Albert Schatz (synthesizers, electronics). The band formed in Chicago in 2009, and is currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. The name Wume derives from the band's fo ...

, Nuclear Power Pants, Small Sur, Teeth Mountain, Lonnie Walker, Wing Dam amongst others - with different touring calendars.

2013–2015: ''Worth the Wait''

In April 2013 The Snails released the EP ''Worth the Wait'', a 5-song gatefold double 7" which was promoted by an East Coast tour of another 10 shows. A full-length album ''Songs from the Shoebox'' was recorded between December 2013 and November 2015 by producer Chester Endersby Gwazda. After the success of Future Islands' album ''

Singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

'' released in March 2014, Future Islands toured massively until late 2015, leaving the project on hold.

2015–present: ''Songs from the Shoebox''

In November 2015, The Snails released the Christmas song “Snails Christmas (I Want A New Shell)”. A re-recording of an already released track included on the 2013 compilation ''Baltimas!!!!!'' In March 2016 they toured the US East Coast again, to promote the release of their debut album ''Songs From the Shoebox'', also produced by Chester Endersby Gwazda and released in February 2016. It features 10 songs, of which “Flames” is an Art Lord & the Self-Portraits cover.

Band members

Current members * Sandy Snailbelow (Andy Abelow of Small Sur, and Showbiz!) - alto saxophone and keyboards * Snailliam (William Cashion of

and

Peals The Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre (PEALS) was established in 1999 as a partnership between the University of Durham, Newcastle University and the Centre for Life The Centre for Life is a science village in Newcastle upon T ...

) - bass * Sammy Snail (Samuel T. Herring of

) - vocals * Snailburne (Drew Swinburne of Nuclear Power Pants) - guitar * Snailbraham (Abram Sanders of Wing Dam) - drums * Snailrell (Ryan Syrell) - alto saxophone * Snailpril (April Camlin) - musical saw Former members *

Jana Hunter Jana Hunter is an American songwriter and musician based in Baltimore. Early life Hunter was born in Texas. Recording and band membership Hunter was signed to Gnomonsong, a record label run by Devendra Banhart and Vetiver's Andy Cabic ...

(of

) * R.M. O'Brien (of Nuclear Power Pants) * Joel Herring (of Plucky Walker) * Brian Corum * Andrew Burt * Justin Lucas (known as Justnailin)

Discography

Albums

* ''Songs From the Shoebox'' (February 14, 2016)

EPs

* ''Worth The Wait'' (April 20, 2013)

Compilation appearances

* "Snails Christmas (I Want a New Shell)" from ''Baltimas!!!!!!!!!'' (December 24, 2013)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Snails Rock music groups from Maryland Musical groups from Baltimore Musical groups established in 2008