"The grand sounds of Sneak" ~ Mark Fraser
The Drum
Media - 7th
January '03
Sneak frontman and songwriter Andy Grant was only eight years old when the sweeping throes of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" crept into his conciousness. And as far as musical grandiose songs go 'You can't hand a man a grander spanner' when it comes to the likes of that very same epic number.
It seems that particular song had a strong bearing on what was to be, as Sneak's debut album "Still Life Moving" is laden with big grand soundwaves that surround you, captivate and caress all in the same isntant. The edgy charm of "Feel Like I Do", the Live-reminiscent, passion drenched epic that is "Anytime", the grander than grand feel of "You'll Go", or the swirling emotion of "It's Ok". All beautifully grandiose, and instantly warming.
When I mention that grand feelin and edgy, passionate under current to Andy,
he seems quite chuffed, and rightly so.
"Thank you very much....that's the five heads getting together. The vision
has been realised. The record is made."
And you're obviously happy with the outcome?
"Oh yeah. We love the songs to death. It's great to have it there, my
very first full length CD. The songs really document where we're at right
now."
Despite some of the album material having been written some 18 months to
two year ago, Andy admits that the band is far from sick of playing the songs
live.
"We've only played about 33 shows or so, and playing different rooms
every night, a different stage.....different crowds......something new to
bitch about, ha ha, so we're definitely not sick of the songs.....each night
is different."
The live front is where it's all been happening of late, with Sneak having
recently completed the "M1" shows and a Midnight Oil support tour,
and according to Andy, it all went off nicely.
"Absolutely. We've been playing really well as a unit. 26 shows, 17 of
them in only 20 days. It's been a real rapid fire finish to the run. We've
been playing as tight as the proverbial. Mainly half hour sets."
With Oils fans remaining pretty hard core, was it difficult endeavouring to
win them over?
"It hasn't been so bad," says Andy. "We've had encouraging
responses. I mean the real hardcore fans turn up 20 minutes before the Oils
come on, so they don't even get to see us. But it's been great playing big
rooms.....and a lot of them sold out."
"There was no room on the pin boards for us, ha ha ha, but we're happy
to do the gigs. It's really seen our fanbase expand. We're the bottom of the
food chain on the bill.....lugging, helping to set up......but it's all been
worth it."
With a number of line up changes over recent years, it seems the current
five piece is now pretty solid as an entity.
"We've been trying to work out what suits best, what suits the song,
and try to make it as good as we can. When we're driving there's a lot of
chat. We try and think during any down time. Now we just want to play some
more shows, write some more songs, and jump back in and do it all again. Really
work this album until it's done."
After the recent hectic touring schedule, Andy admits to looking forward to
some time out.
"With the album now out, we're awaiting the new schedule, but I'm looking
forward to my own bed. We'll gig through to Christmas, take a week off in
January, then maybe a January February tour. Nothing really confirmed as yet".
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