Todd Snider Says His Days of Touring as a Solo Act are Done
Singer/songwriter Todd Snider is currently on the last leg of his “Occupy Tour” with Elizabeth Cook, and recently confirmed what a lot of the audiences of his live shows have been hearing Todd say on stage over the past few weeks: he’s done touring as a solo performer at the conclusion of his current tour. Though one-off shows here and there are still within the realm of possibility, cross country treks will be a thing of the past according to Snider.
Speaking to al.com earlier this week ahead of a show at the Forum Theater, the 49-year-old verified the news, citing degenerative arthritis that has slowly been taking its toll on his ability to both play guitar and perform. “My hands and bones are just shot,” Snider said, and attendees at recent shows have noticed the songwriter wincing and physically struggling with performances.
The news sets the backdrop for a number of short-run residencies Todd Snider is scheduled to play in Texas over the next week or so before he calls it quits. Though Snider is most associated with East Nashville, he’s remained an honorary member of the Texas music scene throughout his career. On October 24th and 25th, Snider will be at the famed Kessler Theater in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. October 26th thru the 29th, he’ll be at the Main Street Crossing in Tomball, TX just north of Houston. And his final tour will finish up with two shows at the historic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX, Oct. 30th and 31st, with the show Halloween night being his last . . . for now. Elizabeth Cook opens all the dates.
There’s also talk of possibly one final hurrah at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, but nothing has been announced just yet.
This doesn’t mean Todd Snider will not perform live altogether with either his newish supergroup the Hard Working Americans formed with Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, or with someone else. “The solo shows are a different animal … living 24 hours at a time,” Todd says, characterizing the cessation of his solo shows as an act of self-preservation. “No one has ever relied on me before. I’ve not really had a family or been a part of a team.”
However, long-time Todd Snider fans know that the songwriter is not only inclined to speak his mind, but to change it. Hopefully the arthritis is something he can control moving forward, but in the meantime hardcore Todd Snider devotees may want to make plans to see him if they can on this final leg.
October 23, 2015 @ 9:09 pm
Todd and Elizabeth Cook were just meet my area last week, unfortunately I didn’t know about it until after the fact. This makes missing that show even worse but I do hope he can get treatment for his condition.
October 23, 2015 @ 9:52 pm
Bummer, love his solo shows alot more than the full band and half band stuff. But when your body says it’s time to take a break, you better listen. I can’t imagine it’ll be permanent… few years of rest, he’ll be back. At least I hope so.
October 24, 2015 @ 6:37 am
He’s an artist that has put playing gigs and writing songs above anything else. Im sure he’ll take a break but he’ll be back. Maybe he’ll do something similar to what Jerry Jeff does. Plays a hand full of shows a year and still go out and sing with HWA.
Either way, wish the best for him. Been lucky to see him at some iconic Texas venues. He’s definitely one of the outspoken ones but his music has always been great.
October 24, 2015 @ 7:48 am
This sucks. Todd is as good as it gets as far as somgwriter/storyteller/entertainer goes. Number 1 in my book for a long time. I really hope its not forever, i dont know what im going to do without my dose of todd and the HWA 2-3 times a year. Fitting though that it might end at Gruene where he first saw Jerry Jeff. We’ll definitely be there all day n night Friday n Saturday.
October 24, 2015 @ 5:06 pm
Terrible to hear. I didn’t realize he had arthritis. A rest is unlikely to help. but I hope he will keep writing.
October 26, 2015 @ 7:34 am
I have tickets to the last two shows in Gruene. I love todd and I have seen him many many times. like the article said I don’t doubt he is absolutely telling the truth right now when he says he is done, I also don’t doubt he will tour again, its what he does.
October 26, 2015 @ 6:13 pm
I saw him here in KC last winter. After years of trying to see his show, I was pretty disappointed. His first set was decent. He played well and told some of the stories for which he’s so well-known.
He took a break, went to his bus, did God-known-what, came back and was a different person. I know he’s always said he’ll say “yes” to just about any kind of drug at any time, but he came back to the stage and it was like he didn’t know where he was. He repeated songs he’d already played, got lost in the middle of songs and generally put on an awful show.
I still love the guy and his music, but perhaps it’s best to ditch the solo act, especially if it helps his overall health. He’s a talent we need to hang on to for as long as possible.
October 30, 2015 @ 10:22 am
I saw him in Minneapolis in September after seeing him a year ago. I think you could tell that it’s starting to bug him. He wasn’t quite as witty, his playing wasn’t quite to the level it generally is. As much as I enjoy going to see him I sure don’t want a guy on stage in pain because I bought a ticket.