The American Legion 169 in the late 90’s and early 2000’s was the reaction to venues not being in touch with the local music around them. Young punk, thrash metal bands would have one goal, “If they won’t book us, we’ll do it ourselves.” It was some of the best nights of music this town has ever seen. Great bands like Downstares, Mr. Fairchild, Carp, The Good Fight, Phase 27 and many more would collaborate e
very weekend for a hellacious night of music and kids kept coming back every week to hear more. Eventually they grew up and venues booked them because these bands already had a following. In the midst of all of this was a young drummer/bassist/guitarist/singer named Sean Snyder. He changed instruments and bands throughout the years … but has always been one of the stand-outs for me. His live performance, in-your-face vocals and melodies made anyone in the room with him turn and pay attention.
Sean played drums when I first saw him, so I had to ask, “What made you get out in front?” “I started wanting to write full songs and I played guitar a little bit and piano a lot. You can’t write songs on drums really. I wanted to put out my own stuff, so I put together a few bands, trying to start something where I would have that opportunity. Eventually, I wound up back in 10 x 10 and wrote songs with Brandon Graham.” Brandon and Sean eventually collaborated for six years to make 5 albums in their next project… The Advance. “Brandon shaped the writing that I do today. He was so much more well-read than I was at that time. He always set the bar a little higher for lyricism… he would bring different influences to the table. All those years working with him set a higher standard for myself.” With each album, you can hear dabs of The Alkaline Trio, Propagandi, Sparta, Jawbreaker, and Smoking Popes.
Sean played bass for a brief time for The Advance and then decided to create a new band with Nick Thornton, who had been playing bass for Sean’s other project with Kevin Gilmore who he had been, ‘… trying to woo into a music project again for quite some time and he finally caved”. The styles of these three musicians gelled together perfectly to create It Hurts to Be Dead. The song writing for each tune differs. In the beginning, Sean would have the general concept but in other songs the members would help to add parts around an idea. The next few songs had the band come together more organically, with Nick adding to Kevin’s beats for a foundation. Sean added that, “about 50% of what we do winds up being that and the other 50% of it is stuff I’ve written in completion with arrangements and then I bring it to the guys…. It’s the most collaborative as far as no one dictates really anything in a lot of cases.”
It Hurts to Be Dead has two albums, Not Thinking Clearly and Projection Therapy, and are working on a follow up. This promises to be their best effort yet. I have much admiration for their co-producers, John Pettigo of the O’s and Josh Fleming of The Vandoliers which are working together to wrap up their next project. This band has become a staple for the Wichita Falls punk scene, proving the venues don’t create the scene…. the musicians and fans do. Sean and the guys have a lot more ideas for upcoming music, so make sure to keep up with all things IHTBD.
by James Cook
feature photo credit – Simeon Hendrix
