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This article is about the American rock band. For the French short film of the same name, see René Laloux.

The Snails is an American rock[1] band with touches of post-punk, ska and reggae,[2] based in Baltimore, Maryland.[3] It is currently composed of Sandy Snailbelow, Snailliam, Sammy Snail (also known as Snamuel or Snammy), Snailburne, Snailbraham, Snailrell and Snailpril.[1][4] As snails, they live in a Shoebox,[5][6] where they like to play basketball.[7]

History

2008: Formation

The Snails formed in the summer of 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland, when rapper Spank Rock asked Future Islands to play his birthday party.[8] Future Islands’ third member Gerrit Welmers was out of town,[9] 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 Future Islands).[1]

2008–2013: Art Lord & the Self-Portraits

Gradually producing their own material,[3] the Snails are described by their record label – Friend’s Records – as “Baltimore’s answer to the California Raisins”.[1][9]

As far as the meta-concept behind being a snail, there really isn’t. We were just born this way, snails. The music that we breathe out is pretty natural, mitochondrion and all that stuff.

— Snailbraham, in Kyle Petersen, Future Islands members goof off with friends in the Snails, Charleston City Paper

Wearing colorful snail headpieces[6] and outfits,[1] the Snails have had a rotating cast of members.[5] From 2008 to 2013, they played some 10 shows in the Baltimore area.[10] Apart from being snails,[1] their slow pace can also be explained by the fact that their members come from several Baltimore bands – Future Islands, Lower Dens, Wume, Nuclear Power Pants, Small Sur, Teeth Mountain, Lonnie Walker, Wing Dam amongst others[5][8] – with different touring calendars.

2013–2015: Worth the Wait

In April 2013 The Snails released the EP Worth the Wait, a five-song gatefold double 7″ which was promoted by an East Coast tour of another 10 shows.[10] A full-length album Songs from the Shoebox was recorded between December 2013 and November 2015 by producer Chester Endersby Gwazda.[2]

After the success of Future Islands’ album Singles released in March 2014, Future Islands toured massively until late 2015, leaving the project on hold.[6][7]

2015–present: Songs from the Shoebox

In November 2015, The Snails released the Christmas song “Snails Christmas (I Want A New Shell)”.[11] A re-recording of an already released track included on the 2013 compilation Baltimas!!!!![12] In March 2016 they toured the US East Coast again, to promote the release of their debut album Songs From the Shoebox,[11] also produced by Chester Endersby Gwazda[1] and released in February 2016.[13] It features 10 songs,[13] of which “Flames” is an Art Lord & the Self-Portraits cover.[1]

Band members

Current members[3][4][14][15]

  • Sandy Snailbelow (Andy Abelow of Small Sur, and Showbiz!) – alto saxophone and keyboards
  • Snailliam (William Cashion of Future Islands and Peals) – bass
  • Sammy Snail (Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands) – 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[16]

  • Jana Hunter (of Lower Dens)
  • R.M. O’Brien (of Nuclear Power Pants)
  • Joel Herring (of Plucky Walker)
  • Brian Corum (of Lonnie Walker)
  • Andrew Burt
  • Justin Lucas (known as Justnailin)

Discography

Albums

  • Songs From the Shoebox (February 14, 2016)[4][13]

EPs

Compilation appearances

  • “Snails Christmas (I Want a New Shell)” from Baltimas!!!!!!!!! (December 24, 2013)[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Petersen, Kyle (March 16, 2016). “Future Islands members goof off with friends in the Snails”. www.charlestoncitypaper.com. Charleston City Paper. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Astudillo, Javier (February 19, 2016). “The Snails ponen en stream su álbum debut, “Songs From The Shoebox”“. www.vibes.cl. Vibes. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Fanelli, William (December 8, 2015). “Future Islands’ supergroup The Snails announce Shoebox Tour with dates in March”. www.axs.com. AXS. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c “Songs from the Shoebox by The Snails”. thesnailsbaltimore.bandcamp.com. The Snails. February 14, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Klingman, Jeff (March 16, 2016). “Future Islands Side Project The Snails Just Wants to Have Fun”. www.indyweek.com. Indyweek. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Hussey, Allison (February 23, 2016). “The Snails – Songs From the Shoebox”. pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Pegan, Matt (March 10, 2016). “TEST SPIN: The Snails — Songs from the Shoebox”. cornellsun.com. The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  8. ^ a b BrooklynVegan, Staff (December 2, 2015). “Future Islands side project The Snails release Christmas song, releasing an album, playing shows (2 NYC gigs on sale)”. /www.brooklynvegan.com. Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Smith, Nicky (June 25, 2013). “Future Islands Reinvent Themselves As The Snails”. splicetoday.net. Splice Today. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Evans, Diana (April 25, 2013). “The Snails set to release EP, will play short East Coast tour”. www.imposemagazine.com. Impose Magazine. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Camp, Zoe (December 4, 2015). “Future Islands Side Project the Snails Share Christmas Song, Announce Tour”. pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  12. ^ a b “Snails Christmas (I Want a New Shell) – The Snails”. baltimas.bandcamp.com. Baltimas!. December 24, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Minsker, Evan (February 16, 2016). “Future Islands Side Project the Snails Drop New Album Songs From the Shoebox”. pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  14. ^ Arnaudin, Edwin (March 9, 2016). “The Snails creep into Asheville’s Mothlight March 13”. www.citizen-times.com. Citizen-Times. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  15. ^ Shteamer, Hank (March 24, 2016). “Future Islands side-project is full of fun rubbery garage-rock”. www.rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  16. ^ a b “Worth The Wait by The Snails”. friendsrecords.bandcamp.com. Friends Records. April 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2016.