JACKSON, Wyo. — Morgan Snow has been in the trenches and risen above the fold, living an artist lifestyle that doesn’t need added fiction to grab your senses. He fronts Salt Lake City country-rock outfit Triggers & Slips and performs as a solo artist, teetering that “alt” country line of folk and soulful songwriting versus pickup trucks and glitz. He’ll go it alone this Friday and Saturday at the Silver Dollar Showroom.
Taking a spin of the 2019 Triggers and Slips release, The Stranger, it’s evident that the musical forces within this band, particularly Snow, have the experience to match the songwriting and instrumental chops. There’s a rugged patience to the eight songs, taking legitimate steps into grungy twang rock as well as balladry and outlaw edge. And better yet, the analog flavor isn’t lost in the digital format.
The Stranger was seven years in the making,” Snow explained. “It took awhile to get them recorded the way I wanted. We recorded most of it live to one-inch tape with some overdubs, but they are songs that had a lot of stage time, and were honed and fleshed out over the seven-year time frame. I prefer playing them for a while first. That and it’s not cheap to record and release a good record. I guess if I had a label or some other music industry teammates I’d be able to have more albums released, but I don’t think it’s ever good to rush an album.”
Snow was a college baseball player before picking up an instrument, and didn’t write his first song until he was in his late twenties. From working with prison inmates to pursuing the Nashville music scene, his writing draws from the weathered experiences that bare eternal truths. The last ten months has awarded more time to dig into his craft even more while rolling with the punches.
“My setlist has definitely evolved this year,” Snow said. “I’ve used the extra downtime to write more songs and to also learn more songs. I think my singing and playing has improved a little, which I think it does every year due to playing a lot of shows, but I feel like I was able to hone-in on a few more details of how I sing and play this past year.”
Snow is also sitting on a batch of songs that have already been recorded.
“The next album is getting closer to being released too, hopefully this summer at the latest it can be released. The next album will have a lot of the songs I wrote while living in Nashville a few years ago. I try not to rush a new song into the studio.”
Morgan Snow 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Silver Dollar Showroom. Free with limited seating.
