Charlie Continental (aka Chuck Coffey) (Snappy Little Numbers/SPELLS)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2021? (In order 1-5)
Oh, that’s tough. I forget what came out when and like too many records. Here are 5 that I can readily think of…
- Snooper - Compilation Of The… Hits
- Kalle Hygien - Songs About Chuck
- Taqbir - Victory Belongs To Those Who Fight For A Right Cause EP
- Night Marchers - Live At Bar Pink
- Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
What band did you discover in 2021 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Again, there are always many, but I’ll say it’s a 3-way tie with Snooper, Kalle Hygien, and Taqbir. Taqbir is so fierce that they’ve impacted punk fans across the globe. Kalle Hygien is an interesting mix of rock instruments and electronic elements that sounds super fresh and energetic. Snooper is just a really cool band that specializes in 90-second earworms.
How will you remember 2021? (In terms of music)
For me, each year is usually marked by discovering new labels (or at least labels that are new to me). I feel like labels have been really impactful the last 7-8 years when it comes to cultivating great rosters of bands and building aesthetics that bring you back to check out their newest releases.
2021 is the year I discovered Deluxe Bias Country Club, Tomothy Records (thanks Sara!), Push My Button and the pleasant surprise of the resurrected Mutant Pop. I like to focus on the positives, even though 2021 will also be the year of vinyl delays and the pandemic. Great music perseveres!
I also really like the intersection of art and activism. People have really tried to step up in the face of a lot of adversity throughout the world the last couple of years.
What can we look forward to from you in 2022?
Snappy Little Numbers will keep on issuing recordings from bands and people we love. First up will be the debut LP by Seattle, WA pop-punk all-stars The Drolls. We’ve also got the debut single of a fun new Denver swamp pop/soul band called Rootbeer Richie & The Reveille that will be one of a few 7-inches featuring the brand new version 3.0 gold company sleeve. We’ll also have new stuff from roster stalwarts like Gentlemen Rogues, State Drugs, ZEPHR, despAIR jordan, and SPELLS. SPELLS plans on hitting the road a time or two so long as we feel like it can be done safely in 2022 as well.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2022?
Oh gosh, probably too many! I can for sure say the new Ergs 7”s will be high on the list.
What went through your head the first time you played live in 2021 after the delay? (If you haven’t -- what do you anticipate when you hit that point?)
I think I’m in the same boat as most people that have played live in 2021 with this thought: Am I doing the right thing? That’s what went through my head the first time and still goes through my head. SPELLS as a band have had that collective thought and we decided so long as there are at least some safety protocols in place at any given show, we want to try and move forward with life and play shows. So far, any shows we’ve played felt right and we’ll just continue on, evaluating things show by show. If there’s something that makes a band member uncomfortable about a possible show, we pass. If we all feel good about it, we accept. I think it’s going to be like that for a long time, but that’s okay. We’d rather be cautious and courteous, especially when there are many other important things in life that we need to accommodate for as well.
Charlie Continental (aka Chuck Coffey) – social media links
- Twitter: @snappylittlenumbers
