Todd Snider has released First Agnostic Church of Hope And Wonder today, a new record which led the East Nashvillian to comment that "it’s hard to think of a more appropriate statement of purpose"...and that's despite the fact Snider appears in character as a conman reverend throughout. Or perhaps because of it. A concept record ("like when Kiss did Songs from the Elder or when W.A.S.P. did The Crimson Idol," says Snider) coupled with a musical style "different than anything he has done before" per the Associated Press, Snider appears on guitar, piano, banjo, bass, lead vocals, backing vocals (all of them), cowbell and harmonica - alongside drummer Robbie Crowell (Midland, Deer Tick) and GRAMMY winner Tchad Blake - to build a sonic world "filled with funky rhythms while Snider makes like Sly Stoner" (AP).
In the midst of this sonic experimentation and one-of-a-kind character creation, the emotional core of First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder lies in Snider's tributes to friends and mentors gone too soon; including John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Neal Casal and Jeff Austin. It's these poignant remembrances to his musical community that add a spiritual depth to the record which is fitting of the highest order of agnostic worship. As described by Rolling Stone in a recent feature, who else but Snider could make a record at once so "funny, funky...hilarious and heartbreaking"?
Listen to First Agnostic Church Of Hope And Wonder here via Aimless Records (which Snider has once again regained control of): https://orcd.co/hopeandwonder
Snider has also announced a series of tour dates for Fall and Summer 2021, which will be produced with all safety precautions and regulations as the foremost priority. Announced dates are below, with many more additions to come soon:
June 2 - George's Majestic - Fayetteville, AR
June 4 - Paramount Theatre - Austin, TX*
June 5 - The Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX*
June 6 - The Heights Theater - Houston, TX*
June 8 - Iron City - Birmingham, AL
July 24 - The Caverns - Pelham, TN (sold out)
August 23 - Music Box Supper Club - Cleveland, OH
August 25 - 20th Century Theater - Cincinnati, OH
September 1 - The Ramkat - Winston-Salem, NC
September 8 - Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount, VA
September 9 - Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA
September 10 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
September 11 - Infinity Hall - Hartford, CT
September 16 - The Center for Arts - Natick, MA
September 17 - Fairfield Theatre - Fairfield, CT
September 18 - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
September 19 - Culture Center Theater - North Charleston, WV
September 24 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
September 29 - The Oriental Theater - Denver, CO
October 23 - Montbleu Resort & Casino - Stateline, NV^
October 25 - State Room - Salt Lake City, UT
October 30 - Scottish Rite Masonic Center - Omaha, NE
October 31 - Wooly's - Des Moines, IA
November 1 - Wooly's - Des Moines, IA
November 4 - Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI
November 17 - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
November 18 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
November 19 - Sheldon Concert Hall - St. Louis, MO
* - with special guest Jamie Lin Wilson
^ - with special guest David Lindley
