The Awesome Snakes
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Annie "Sparrows" Holoien, Danny Henry |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, EPs |
| Website | www |
The Awesome Snakes consisted of a two-member punk rock ensemble originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The lineup featured Annie "Sparrows" Holoien (also known for The Soviettes and The God Damn Doo Wop Band) handling bass duties, alongside Danny Henry (associated with The Soviettes, France Has The Bomb, and International Robot) on drums.
History
Formed in 2004, the Awesome Snakes began as a side venture amid The Soviettes' nationwide tours and growing critical recognition. Under the pseudonyms "Annie Awesome" and "Danny Snakes," Holoien and Henry developed the project to offer a lighthearted, spontaneous punk experience, integrating snippets from Henry’s collection of self-help and instructional tapes.
The duo’s sound was deliberately stripped down, with Holoien playing bass amplified through a heavily distorted Fender Blues Deville, complemented by Henry’s drumming. Their lyrical content was narrowly focused on subjects like snakes and awesome things, as highlighted by Christopher Bahn of A.V. Club.
In 2004, their eponymous debut was issued exclusively on cassette by the independent label Home Taping Is Killing the Record Industry.
Their sophomore release, Venom, arrived on July 17, 2006 via Crustacean Records, a label based in Wisconsin. This album contained fifteen tracks recorded with improved audio quality by Ross and mastered by Dave Gardener, featuring a guest verse from Twin Cities rapper P.O.S.
The band contributed to Crustacean Records' 2008 double-disc DVD compilation titled Drown Out the Daylights.
In 2009, they put out a digital EP named Snake Cake, consisting of four songs, released through Minneapolis’ Ass Records.
Their final live appearance as Awesome Snakes took place on March 19, 2010 at St. Paul's Turf Club, coinciding with the launch event for The Soviettes' compilation Rarities.
On October 15, 2021, Stand Up! Records reissued Venom on vinyl format, including the four tracks from Snake Cake as bonus material.
Successors
Following the Awesome Snakes era, Holoien pursued projects such as The Horrible and the Miserable. In 2019, she reunited with Henry to establish Green/Blue, a rock quartet featuring former members of Minneapolis punk outfits The Blind Shake and Birthday Suits. Their self-titled debut was released in 2020.
Critical reception
Venom garnered significant acclaim within Minnesota’s music scene, earning spots on the Star Tribune's top albums list for 2006 as well as best-of compilations from The A.V. Club's Twin Cities edition and Pulse. Additionally, the band's witty moniker was recognized in The A.V. Club's 2006 roundup of notable band names.
Andrea Swensson of City Pages observed that despite their humorous musical approach, their performances carried a serious edge. Stephanie Soucheray from Sliver Magazine characterized Venom as self-aware, irreverent, playful, and transparent about its artistic aims. Tim Thompson of Wisconsin’s "Local Sounds Magazine" praised the album for its expansive and frenzied underground vibe that fused psychedelic elements with garage punk energy.
National publications also offered positive evaluations: Alternative Press described it as "lo-fi, intense, primal garage-rock voodoo"; Maximumrocknroll called it "witty, brash, artistic and humorous"; while Punk Planet referred to it as "a fuzz-laden and confrontationally comedic collection of garage bangers." Although Razorcake acknowledged the early demos’ lo-fi garage punk appeal, they found the full-length Venom somewhat less engaging overall.
The 2021 vinyl reissue received favorable commentary from Jake Austen of Roctober Magazine, who praised its enduring lo-fi absurdist charm.
Discography
- Awesome Snakes (2004, Home Taping Is Killing the Record Industry, released exclusively on cassette)
- Venom (2006, Crustacean Records); reissued on vinyl by Stand Up! Records in 2021
- Snake Cake (2009, Ass Records), digital EP; reissued on vinyl by Stand Up! Records in 2021 as part of the Venom release
In other media
The track "I Want a Snake" is featured in Electronic Arts' skateboarding titles Skate 2 and the Wii edition of Skate It.