Snake Oil




Featured Artists


Well, they are called 'Featured Artists', but I prefer to think of them as Snake Oil Royalty. What started out as our 5 core artists when the show started, the Snake Oil Royal Family now has grown with the show to our current 12 featured artists
There are no better examples of what Snake Oil really is all about than these guys.

While we play a lot more than just these artists, you can always count on hearing some of them every show, and whenever a new album is released, we will typically have a special show for them where we play nothing but that artist. Check out the new albums, and then scroll down for an in depth look at all our featured artists


The Artists

(in order of 'induction')

Steve Earle

Want to know what Alt-Country is? Listen to Steve Earle. It's really as easy as that. Steve was once labeled as the second coming of Hank Williams early in his career, but grew tired of the limitations and culture of Nashville and set off on his own. For my money, he still might be.

My Favorite Album: The Mountain

On The Web:
Official: 'SteveEarle.com'
Fan Site: The great 'SteveEarle.net' has miles of info

John Prine

No one can write a song like John Prine. He can truly convey hurt just as well as he can get you to smile, and often in the same song (and sometimes in the same line). The man is a music God, and the reason 'Americana' exists as a genre.

My Favorite Album: That's really hard, but it's still probably Diamonds in the Rough

On The Web:
Official: 'JohnPrine.net'
Fan Site: The one and only John Prine Shrine

Norah Jones

Equal parts jazz and old school country, Norah truly has a sound all to her self. Not only is she the only female 'Featured artist', she's also the youngest. As far as I'm concerned, Norah is the greatest female vocalist of all time. Yeah, you heard me.

My Favorite Album: Feels Like Home

On The Web:
Official: 'NorahJones.com'
Fan Site: 'UnOfficially Norah Jones' is a great site.

The Del McCoury Band

The greatest bluegrass band currently walking the face of the Earth. You owe it to yourself to see them live...if you don't think you like bluegrass, you will after you see them.

My Favorite Album: The Company We Keep though their presence on Earle's The Mountain should also be noted.

On The Web:
Official: 'DelMcCouryBand.com'

Reckless Kelly

The boys in RK have been brewing Texas style country and rock for a decade now, and are only just beginning. One of the finest examples of what the 'Texas Scene' is all about.

My Favorite Album: Wicked Twisted Road

On The Web:
Official: 'RecklessKelly.com'
Fan Site: The great folks at 'Desolation Angel' have all your RK info.

Hank Williams Sr.

I really hope you don't need me to tell you who this is. Hank Williams is the most important person in modern music history. His influence is felt in everything.

My Favorite Album: Almost everything on CDs now of Hank's are understandably compilations...that said, The Ultimate Collection is great.

On The Web:
Official: 'HankWilliams.com'

Johnny Cash

The one and only.

My Favorite Album: American 2: Unchained

On The Web:
Official: 'JohnnyCash.com'

Willie Nelson

Willie is one of a kind, and the perfect artist to round out our trio of old school inductees. Probably my favorite "Country Music" singer of all time.

My Favorite Album: Red Headed Stranger

On The Web:
Official: 'WillieNelson.com'

The Drive-By Truckers

Words can't describe DBT. You just gotta hear 'em, or even better see 'em live. Amazing. Patterson & Cooley are some of the finest writers of their generation...same easily goes for Jason Isbell, who has since departed. All this combined with full tilt rock and roll. Put bluntly, if Lynyrd Skynyrd started today, they'd be the Drive-By Truckers.

My Favorite Album: The Dirty South

On The Web:
Official: 'DriveByTruckers.com'
Fan Site: Nine Bullets is where it is at for DBT info. They even make their own tribute albums!

Mark Walton

Mark's our local representation for Featured Artists and he easily holds his own against the heavy hitters of Snake Oil. With four albums under his belt and another in the oven, his songwriting is full steam ahead and is the perfect choice to represent all of our local boys and girls.

My Favorite Album: Where This Road Takes Me

On The Web:
Official: 'MarkWaltonLCP.com'

Todd Snider

Todd Snider is the best songwriter that most people have never heard of. Todd is on quite the roll, his last two albums, East Nashville Skyline and The Devil You Know are both must owns.

My Favorite Album: East Nashville Skyline

On The Web:
Official: 'ToddSnider.net'
Fan Site: 18 minutes is not only an amazing Todd resource, but it wins the prize for most obscure reference as well. If you want to understand the title of it, go to a Snider show one of these days and pay close attention...

Lynyrd Skynyrd

When I made the decision to branch out and include the Southern Rock many of my listeners had been saying was a natural fit (it is) to the show, there could only be one band to represent it. They weren't the first or the last, but you better belive they were undeniably the best. I've never seen a band so completely own a musical genre on the scale Skynyrd does. One of rock's most misunderstood bands. 5 Studio albums and a great live album, and they had to pack it up. Yet in that small time they left their mark forever on both country and rock.

My Favorite Album: (Pronounced...) though all 5 are right up there for me.

On The Web:

Here's the deal. The offical site links the newly reformed Ly Sky, and I just can't get with that (namely their decision to make new music under the Lynyrd name). Check out this great fan site though, it is made possible and supported by Judy Van Zant Jenness.
Lynyrd Skynyrd History