Todd Snider Conjures Hard-Partying, Bocephus-Obsessed Alter Ego On New LP 'Eastside Bulldog,' Out Oct. 7

On October 7, Nashville gonzo outlaw Todd Snider returns with ‘Eastside Bulldog,’ his first solo album since 2012’s lauded ‘Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables.’ The new album brings life to Snider’s Elmo Buzz pseudonym, a name he has used to play in Nashville while dodging radius clauses.   

On ‘Eastside Bulldog,’ Snider develops Elmo Buzz into a full-blown three-dimensional character, with interests (Hank Williams Jr., chicks, cars), hobbies (partying hard, fighting) and even sworn enemies (folk music, Todd Snider). Buzz blames his minimal success as a musician directly on Snider, who he accuses of stealing his look (Snider’s reasoning for why the two are identical) and keeping folk music popular in East Nashville (the reason their sounds are so different). The album’s 10 tracks create a world around this wannabe rock star’s blind East Nashville pride. 

Snider wrote and recorded much of ‘Eastside Bulldog’ spur of the moment, after he was offered free studio time but had no new material to record. In the studio, Snider would make up songs on the spot and his friends would chime in for call-and-response choruses. This new material worked its way into Todd’s Elmo Buzz shows, and tracks like “Hey Pretty Boy,” “The Funky Tomato,” “37206” and “Bocephus” became cornerstones of the new persona. ‘Eastside Bulldog’ was co-produced by Snider and his decade-long partner in crime, Grammy-winner Eric McConnell (Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson). 

Described as "one of the sharpest, funniest storytellers in rock" by Rolling Stone and "an exceptional songwriter" by NPR's Fresh Air, Snider uses his narrative chops to keep the world of ‘Eastside Bulldog’ poignant, acerbic and hilarious. The album finds Snider exploring new sonic territory, too: proto-rock and roll, taking as many cues from Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis as Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver. Snider also plays every guitar part on ‘Eastside Bulldog,’ the first time he’s done so in his career. 

Lead single “Hey Pretty Boy” is airing exclusively on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country station through Labor Day, and is available on iTunes and all other digital music services.

Stream “Hey Pretty Boy” here: https://soundcloud.com/thirtytigers/01-hey-pretty-boy/s-U1jZn 

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/HeyPrettyBoy

Snider is touring with Hard Working Americans through August, including appearances at LOCKN’ and the ARISE Music Festival. He has also announced a run of solo shows, starting with Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on October 7. The show will celebrate the release of ‘Eastside Bulldog’ and his 50th birthday. A full list of tour dates is below, with additional shows to be added in the near future. 

Pre-Order ‘Eastside Bulldog’ on iTunes starting August 19.

Track List:

1. Hey Pretty Boy

2. 37206

3. The Funky Tomato

4. Eastside Bulldog

5. Check It Out

6. Bocephus

7. Are You With Me

8. Enough Is Enough

9. Ways and Means

10. Come On Up

Tour Dates:

Oct 7 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium 

Oct 10 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle

Oct 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

Oct 13 - Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theater 

Oct 15 - Phoenixville, PA - The Colonial

Oct 16 - Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head Tavern

Oct 17 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

Oct 18 - Fall River, MA - Narrow Center for the Arts

Oct 19 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre

Oct 21 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater

Oct 25 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theater

Oct 28 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre

Oct 30 - Tampa, FL - Skipper's Smokehouse

Nov 9 - Bomhard Theater - Louisville, KY

Nov 10 - Acorn Theatre - Three Oaks, MI

Nov 11 - Humboldt House - Green Bay, WI

Nov 12  - Fitzgerald Theatre - St. Paul, MN

Nov 13  - Barrymore Theater - Madison, WI

Nov 15  - Wooly's - Des Moines, IA

Nov 16  - Delmar Hall - St. Louis, MO

Nov 17  - South On Main - Little Rock, AR

Nov 18  - The Lyric - Oxford, MS

Nov 19  - Princess Theater - Decatur, AL