Hi! I’m very excited to bring you episode three of The Audioeclectica Interview Series. On this episode we are joined by Andy Knapp the new singer of Snot as well as the singer of the band Stronger Than Machines. This is Andy’s first interview since becoming the singer for Snot and I couldn’t be happier to present this to you all. Listen to the interview below and be sure to check out Snot and Stronger Than Machines!
I will be at the Snot show at the Glass House on December 5th! Hope You Are Too!
The Audioeclectica Interviews Episode 003: Andy Knapp (Snot/Stronger Than Machines):
There are certain bands that come around every so often and leave a lasting impact in a short amount of time. That short amount of time and the legacy that carried on is what makes those bands special. One of the bands that I’ve always thought of in that category is the band Snot. Their debut album Get Some, was an absolute force of nature and came at you with an attitude that got right in your face and pulled you in. The story of Snot is tragic yet the surviving members have carried on but kept the torch lit for their old band and singer. Over the years there have been a couple time when Snot has come back. I was lucky enough to open for them years ago when they had a certain singer in the band who will remain nameless. I could tell then that these guys really loved this band and music. And the crowds too were still into it. Of course as time goes on there comes a new breed of kids that discover the band and that is a great source of reinvigoration to get it going again. And let me tell you, SNOT IS BACK!!!
The wait for the right time came just as the right person came along at the right time. All the stars had to be aligned in order for this to come back in this way. And on this particular Saturday night in none other than Santa Barbara, Snot’s hometown, in a rather intimate venue, the fans made sure to make this night special. As they took the stage to a roaring applause the moment those first notes hit, it was go time! Blazing through their debut album with delight on their faces, Snot ripped through the greats including my favorites “Joy Ride,” “Snooze Button,” “Get Some,” “I Jus’ Lie,” and of course the one that kicks it all off “Snot.” For their encore they brought out the Strait Up version of “Choose What” which tonight was “Starlit Eyes” (originally sang by Serj Tankian of System Of A Down) and closed it out with my absolute favorite “Absent.” Watching the band play for the 80ish minutes they were up there was so awesome. It’s not every day you get to see a band you love reunite and it sound as good as it does. <br><br>The dual guitars of Mikey Doling and Sonny Mayo are signature to them and them alone. That sound they have together and how they play off one another is quite special to watch, plus it was a blast to see them see if they could beat each other who could jump higher while playing. Sonny won! Then you have that thunderous low end of John “Tumor” Fahnstock. That tone alone I bet registers on the richter scale. Behind the drums is the one and only Jaime Miller. Jaime is an absolute beast on the drums (as well as pretty much every instrument). His playing and style in Snot should be studied as he makes it look a lot easier than it is. Now those 4 elements make up one hell of a sounding band. The only thing missing was the right guy and they found him in local Ventura County based singer Andy Knapp. I’ve known Andy for a long time and when it was announced it was him, I couldn’t have been happier. Plus Andy is a long time Snot fan and considers Lynn Strait to be one of his major influences. And when he took the mic and the show started, it was on!!!
What a comeback for Snot. This one was a long time coming and it finally aligned the right way. With the resurgence of music from their time, it’s only fitting that one of the originators of that style come back and show these youngsters how it’s done and should sound. The possibilities of new Snot music is on the horizon and I welcome it. Cheers to Mikey, Jaime, John, Sonny and Andy! And as always R.I.P. Lynn Strait and Dobbs!
Review and Photos (sorry for the quality- I was too into watching the show) by: Brian Lacy
In Decemeber 1998 the singer for the band Snot was killed in a car accident. The band had been riding high after releasing their debut album Get Some in 1997. the band disbanded not too long after Strait’s death. Before his death though, the band had begun work on their follow up album, but Lynn had yet to record vocals for the album. So in 2000, it was decided that the album’s vocal tracks would be completed by friends of Strait as a tribute. The end result being “Strait Up.” Released on November 7, 2000, the album featured appearances by the lead vocalists Serj Tankian of System Of A Down, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Brandon Boyd of Incubus, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber, Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery and Morgan Rose of Sevendust amongst a few others. The album does feature one complete song entitled “Absent” with Lynn Strait’s vocals. When the album was released it was met with high praise from critics and assorted music magazines. A little known tidbit is that song that was sung by Serj on the tribute album actually had lyrics by Lynn, and if you’ve heard the live Snot album alive you’ll be able to hear that version.
The tribute album was very fitting and a really nice send off by all those involved to their fallen friend and brother. If you’ve never heard the album you really should!
AUDIOECLECTICA 