by Abigail Luftig

Created on: March 25, 2009

The amps are plugged in. The drums are set up. The microphones are turned on. The guitars, mandolin, and trumpet have all been tuned. All that remains for The Snoods to do before taking the stage is to take off their shoes. A trademark symbol of their quirky and irreverent style, the local jam trio always plays their sets barefoot. But even they themselves are slightly unclear on the logic behind their choice of footwear. "We're making a statement," says guitarist and singer Chris Bemis. "We're not sure what that statement is, but we're making it."

Moments after meeting the threesome, it becomes clear that an interview with The Snoods is less of an interview with a band and more of a conversation between friends to which you've been invited. Chris along with fellow vocalist Zack Fox (the so-called "quiet one" of the band") and drummer Spencer Schutte often chime in and add on to each others' thoughts in a way that only true friends can. They also help to set the playful tone for the evening by making quips and jokingly interviewing each other. "When was the band made?" Spencer asks his fellow musicians. "I'll ask the questions now," he asserts. This quirky sense of humor is evidenced when the band talks about their plans for the future. They plan to quite literally beat their competition by taking on another well-known trio of performers, the musical trinity explains: "The Snoods are gonna fight, like fist-to-fist combat with the Jonas Brothers," declares Spencer. "Yeah," adds Chris, "for the record, The Snoods are going to beat the crap out of The Jonas Brothers!"

Once they take the stage, the audience is greeted with a friendly atmosphere that starts with the introductions, and not just those of the band. Spencer announces that he will point to everyone in the room and when the finger points to you, you tell everyone your name. As intrusive as it may seem in an increasingly anonymous culture, this simple act serves to connect the audience not only with the band, but with the other members of the audience, allowing them to feel that they are not strangers who happen to be sitting in the same coffee house listening to the same band, but that they are friends who are here to watch other friends perform. This feeling of camaraderie is almost essential to the Snoods and their unique philosophy of "the cup of love", a concept that helps to explain the sound of the band as well as the clear love the band members have for each other and the friends who have done so

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