Who is Ruby Dee and The Snakehandlers?
Well, when they’re idle, a person just can’t tell. But when club lights go down and the Seattle band takes the stage and begins to play, there’s no question. The 4-year-old five-piece combo plays an Americana that encompasses alt country, honky-tonk, Bakersfield ‘hard’ country to Memphis rockabilly, Western swing, Pacific Northwest insurgent country, Tex-Mex to rock ‘n’ roll. Skip the big hats, pyrotechnics and choreography; it’s all honest, original music, influenced by band members’ heroes like Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Los Lobos, Stray Cats, Merle Travis and The Blasters, and their experience with Marc Olsen, Gerald Collier, Deadwood, Mexican Death Holiday, Vortex, DRAGSTRIP 77, The Ugly Americans, The Spitfires, The Ultramatics, and The Scenic Wonders, among other groups. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter Ruby Dee accompanied on big flat-top acoustic guitar and harmonies by Liz Smith. Pete Smith (no relation) serves as ‘anchor man’ on
