Biography
Chris von Sneidern (CvS) has released twelve critically acclaimed, self-produced albums: Sight & Sound (1993), Big White Lies (1994), Go!(1996), Wood + Wire (1998), The Sportsmen Spirited (1999); London Payne, 2-cute 2-be 4-gotten, Live Start Lifting (2000), The knight of lines and proses (2001), The Wild Horse (2001), Headful of Words (2003), and California Redemption Value (2005).
The quality and grace of CvS' music has been recognized by fans and critics alike. Goldmine has compared him to Big Star and Badfinger, while renown music critic Michael Goldberg has declared in the San Francisco Chronicle: "If the remaining ex-Beatles had any guts, they'd seek out von Sneidern to participate in a Beatles reunion. The guy is that good."
Upon moving from his childhood home of Syracuse, NY, Chris spent countless hours playing guitar and dissecting the pop music of his youth. Making new musical friends with San Francisco band Flying Color, they ultimately asked him to join them and tour to promote their debut LP. Two years later CvS was writing, recording, and perfoming his own songs, and left Flying Color. In 1990, Paul Collins, of The Beat, took CvS under his wing, and into the studio to record “Bad Black Lonesome,” before heading out on a month-long tour of the US. From then on, recording became a daily event for CvS, acquiring equipment and teaching himself to make his own demos. Those recordings circulated on cassette, and eventually were released in 1993 by Heyday Records on Sight & Sound.
Averaging one CD per year, CvS remained at home, ensconced in his basement studio, primarily alone, creating in his “Pop Gem Factory.” That blissful existence continued until the peak of the housing and Internet boom of 1999, when his rented house was sold and the studio was bulldozed. He scrambled for solutions, but ended up in Seattle for an 18-month exile.
In the dark and rainy Pacific Northwest, he spent his time writing and recording California Redemption Value. The songs are introspective, yet also a joyful celebration of his eventual return to San Francisco. CvS has spent the latter half of 2005 touring the USA as a solo singer, with his 12-string guitar.
Why Isn’t Chris von Sneidern Famous?, the Academy Avenue Films documentary, is structured around six sit-down interviews that show the relationship and trust that gradually develops between the flattered but-reluctant subject, and the novice filmmaker. In these intimate interviews and small club performances, the audience watches as Chris’ initial excitement for the film turn to deep reservations as the documentary process reveals more and more about his struggling career path. As he grows increasingly uncomfortable, CvS looks back through the lens at the filmmaker and audience, questioning our assumptions about fame and success. Filmed over four years in San Francisco, Syracuse NY and the western US, this feature length documentary directed by Kathleen McNamara had its world premiere October 2009 in San Francisco. It was featured at the 2010 Nashville Film Festival. The DVD of the film is also in distribution.
Deemed 6 of the all-time Greatest Power Pop Albums in Shake Some Action, by John M. Borack (2007), Big White Lies remains a strong seller worldwide.
On TV, CvS songs are heard in “Line Of Fire” on ABC, “The Hills” on MTV, and “Mercy” on NBC.
CvS currently operates out of Hyde St. Studios in San Francisco, where he serves as producer and engineer to himself, as well as outside clients. Working with Badfinger biographer Dan Matovina, he has lent his expertise to Golders Green, and 7 Park Avenue, adding instrumentation to demo material from the late Pete Ham of the 70s band Badfinger.
In, and out of the studio, CvS has worked with a variety of artists, such as E (Eels), Ryan Adams, Paula Cole and Jewel. CvS joined Neko Case on guitar in her kitchen for a track on the homespun CD, Canadian Amp.
CvS has been working with John Wesley Harding in varying capacity since 1995. They have written songs, produced a number of CDs, and perform together, touring the US and the UK.
He also made a cameo appearance, playing himself in Lynn Hershman Leeson's 1997 independent film Conceiving Ada.
