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WXPN's Free At Noon: Todd Snider

Presented by WXPN at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia

March 5, 2010

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Though Todd Snider's roots trace back to Portland, Oregon, his music branches across headstrong southern styles from Austin, Houston and Atlanta. After moving to Memphis in the 1980's, he became a local favorite at The Daily Planet club, where he was discovered by Keith Sykes (Buffet's Coral Reefer Band) and later signed to Margaritaville Records. Upon releasing his debut album Songs for the Daily Planet in 1994, Snider's sharp wit and satirical lyricism gained him sizeable recognition for the minor hit "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," a punchy alt-rock tune that earned comparisons to Lyle Lovett and Jerry Jeff Walker. By the time he released his third album, Viva Satellite, his blend of bluegrass, blues, folk-rock and country was instantly recognizeable. As he moved towards a more electronic based sound, he was endlessly compared to Tom Petty, demonstrating that somewhere along the lines of his defining style there was something particularly familiar and comforting about his new sound.

Now with the over 10 albums under his name, Snider continues to impress his fans with an incredible sense of honesty, enchanting and witty narration, and relentless optimism. Pairing cheerful storytelling with political commentary and a bluesy rock style, his latest album The Excitement Plan intends to bring hope in time of struggle. As Snider retrospectively states "I know right now that times are hard for all of us... These 12 songs can be part of your solution. Just give them a chance. Take them in. Use 'em to help you appreciate your girl if you still got one, and/or your job if you still got one."