When Wes Martin went to Gulf Shores in the summer of 2013, he never expected to return home as the new drummer for Tuscaloosa band Admiral Snackbar.
Martin’s focus for the trip was to listen to music and have fun. Instead, out of an act of pure luck and timing, he met singer and guitarist Steven Lane, and bassist Liam Butterworth for Admiral Snackbar.
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The band name comes from a play on words of the Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar, but is also derived from a joke made by one of their friends.
“When this idea came to us for a band name, my initial thought is that this is a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Butterworth said. “The lucky thing about pursuing a passion is that it’s supposed to be fun, and a name like [that] sounds pretty fun to me.”
The group started out as a cover band, playing songs like “Good Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin, “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. Now, they have expanded to writing songs like “Your Own Fever” and “Control.” The band will head to the studio this summer to record an EP.
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“I’m most excited to really find our initial identity,” Lane said. “These are our songs, something we created together for the first time.”
The band said they are excited about being able to truly collaborate and write with each other. It creates a certain chemistry, Butterworth said.
“The kind words people reciprocate when they like what they hear gives me a sense that I’m providing people with something they really enjoy,” Lane said. “It justifies pursuing a pretty unconventional career choice.”
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Martin said he enjoys entertaining people because it gives him a sense of joy that he cannot find anywhere else.
“Our sound can definitely relate to a distorted Southern swagger,” Lane said. “It’s rock and roll, and ‘We built this city on rock and roll.’”
Admiral Snackbar will play at Moe’s Original BBQ on Friday, at 10:30 p.m.
