Snap-Her
It Smells It Burns It Stings (New Red Archives)
An interview with singer Andi Beltramo
by Scott Hefflon
Loud, snotty, short songs – punk anyone? After years of building a “respectable” following, two of the three members of the all-girl, all-punk band Snap-Her quit. One day before the only original member, Andi (guitar/lead vocals), moved and had her phone shut off in preparation for Snap-Her’s new line-up’s first European tour, I got a quick Q & A with her.
I didn’t expect to reach you. I’m unprepared; there’s no ashtray within reach. Do you smoke and/or drink, or is Snap-Her a straight-edge band?
We’re not straight-edge, but we’ve got no junkies in the band either. I only drink dark beer, dark wines, and brown cigarettes. Sherman’s, to be exact. They’re 100% tobacco, none of that chemical shit. I’m not a smoking fiend, probably about a pack a week, but these cigarette have as much tobacco as three or four Marlboros or Camels. The only other person I’ve met with the same, um, selective tendencies as myself is Scott Drake from The Humpers. He’ll turn down a beer, and people will ask him if he’s straight-edge. He just doesn’t want a beer at that exact moment in time. Same here. I’m into healthy sedation I guess.
Suzy left the band to play drums for Total Chaos, and when I interviewed her last month, she was vague yet fair about her split with Snap-Her. Any comments?
I’m glad Suzy’s happy in another band.
What are your favorite songs, and what’s the song-writing process like?
Fans seem to like “There She Goes,” “Dumpster Dive,” and “Penile Implant” the best. I guess it’s for topical as well for stylistic reasons. Most of the songs are about two minutes long – just because I feel that not every song needs a major production to get its point across. Some of the songs have guitar solos, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to force it. Some of the songs are short and sweet, others are a bit longer and more involved. Whatever’s needed.
I heard that Lisa (bassist) quit at the same time as Suzy.
The same night. I was really sick with the flu, so I called them to tell them I couldn’t make the show. Suzy called me a wimp, saying she’d played shows while sick before. I had too, but not this sick. I was puking, and when I was laying on my back with my hand resting on my chest, it felt like an anvil. I was totally out of it. Suzy convinced me to do the show, but when I was in the shower I puked again. I tried to call them back to cancel, but they had already left for the club. They called me from the club, and the main reason I even answered the phone was to make it stop ringing. They cussed me out and quit the band. Both on the same night.
What other releases do you have out?
We have two 7″s: “Name Brand Society” on Triple X, and “We’re Snap-Her, And You’re Fucked,” a seven-song 7″ we released ourselves.
By losing Suzy and Lisa, does that mean you have to change the name, the logo, or can’t play certain songs they wrote?
I have the mohawked skull-and-crossbones tattooed on my arm, and that was done by a friend of mine, so that’s OK. I also own the trademark to the name, and wrote most of the songs. Lisa wrote and sang “Beer” and “Jimmy Gestapo,” so we won’t be doing those anymore. “Jimmy Gestapo” was a love song she wrote because she had/has a crush on Jimmy from Murphy’s Law. Why would I want to sing someone else’s love song? She also co-wrote “Anal Retention” and “Penile Implant,” but I re-arranged them, so I’m still going to perform them.
Who is the new line-up?
Chalon is the new bassist. She hasn’t been in any other bands, really, so she’s still in shy mode right now. She’s only 19. I’ll turn 31 when we’re in Yugoslavia, or whatever it’s called now. Jim Paris is our new drummer. He was in a band called The Holy Shits, but they never released anything.
Is this the first time you’ve had a guy in Snap-Her?
No. When I started the band in Germany, Ingo was our first drummer. He was on the first demo. I was playing bass and singing back then too. He recently joined Wizo. They’re playing a few shows out here (California) with NOFX. The guitarist of Wizo is my ex-boyfriend from Germany, and the main influence that convinced me to front a band in the first place.
Now you’re heading out on your first European tour?
90 minute sets, roughly 7 nights a week, in 17 countries. In total, 75 shows in 80 days. From small clubs where we’ll be headlining with local openers, to large clubs where we’ll be the openers. In Spain, we’re playing with the Pleasure Fuckers, and in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark we’re playing with Social Unrest. At the end of the tour, we’ll be playing with the Misfits in England. I’ve just got to pack up my kitchen and my bathroom, put the stuff in storage, then I’m out of here.
