Snail People

Artist Information

Biography

Snail People is a multi-instrumental, multi-genre and multi-hairstyle touring music duo for kids and families. Re-imagined classics and creative originals encourage slowing down, being at home wherever you are, problem solving, and compassion. Snail People shows are interactive, with singing and dancing along and on-the-spot song creation!

Mindy Dillard is Mindy Snail. This 5'7" lady didn't realize she was actually 5'7" until she was 27. This goes to show the good in slowing down and looking more carefully! She has always sung and about seven years ago she graduated from theatre school in Salt Lake City, Utah. After that, she trekked not-so-slowly in a Toyota Corolla to Portland, Oregon and discovered she wanted to play instruments. She's now 28 and plays guitar, banjo, ukulele, fiddle and writes songs. She lives in Berkeley, California and does not like escargot. She does like directing children's theatre and playing in the joyful Americana band for grown-ups, Heartroot.

Eric McEuen is Eric Snail. This bald guy comes from a dry place where there are few snails. Maybe this why he moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Portland, Oregon four years ago. In Albuquerque he used to play in a desert rock band. He left the band. Maybe this is because rocks are dangerous to snails. He plays just about everything, including his face. He now lives in Berkley, California and does not like mushrooms. He does like playing the electric guitar and taking long walks. Maybe this is because he's looking for snails? He also attends Divinity school, teaches music lessons and plays in Heartroot.



Partial list of places Snail People have performed:

Golden Gate Valley Library (San Francisco, CA)
Northwest Folklife Festival (Seattle, WA)
McMenamins Kennedy School Family Frolic (Portland, OR)
Bandelier Elementary School (Albuquerque, NM)
A Child’s Way Preschool (Portland, OR)
Nia House (Berkeley, CA)
Woodstock Library (Portland, OR)
Canyon Public Library (Canyon, TX)
Boston Public Library (Boston, MA)
First Congregational Church of Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Wild Lilac Preschool (Portland, OR)
Moab Library (Moab, UT)
Garden Home Library (Portland, OR)
Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine (Portland, ME)
The Warehouse Cafe (Portland, OR)
The King’s English Books (Salt Lake City, UT)
Portland Farmers’ Market (Portland, OR)
Murray Library (Murray, UT)
West Linn Library (West Linn, OR)
Salem Public Library (Salem, OR)
Cafe Au Play (Portland, OR)
Springfield Library (Springfield, OR)
Klamath Falls Library (Klamath Falls, OR)
Tillamook Farmers’ Market (Tillamook, OR)
Scappoose Library (Scappoose, OR)
Sandy Library (Sandy, OR)
Cochiti Elementary School (Albuquerque, NM)
Grand County Library (Monticello, UT)
Page One Books (Albuquerque, NM)
Woodburn Library (Woodburn, OR)
Grand County Library (Blanding, UT)
Eastwood Elementary School (Salt Lake City, UT)
Musicalu Concert Series (Gresham, OR)
The Buzz Cafe (Alexandria, VA)
Amazing Grains Food Co-op (Grand Forks, ND)
Eat! Art! Theater! (Portland, OR)
Ford Food and Drink (Portland, OR)
Hillsboro Public Library (Hillsboro, OR)
La Grande Farmers’ Market (La Grande, OR)
Canby Library (Canby, OR)
Oregon City Library (Oregon City, OR)
Keno Library (Keno, OR)
Sprague River Library (Sprague River, OR)
Merrill Library (Merrill, OR)
Vancouver Public Library (Vancouver, WA)
Bella Via Concert Series (Sherwood, OR)
Milagros Boutique (Portland, OR)
Albany Public Library (Albany, OR)
Holladay United Church of Christ (Holladay, UT)
Cedar Oak Primary School (West Linn, OR)
Branch and Birdie (Portland, OR)
Mocha Momma’s Good Coffee Cafe (Portland, OR)
Holgate Library (Portland, OR)
Sellwood Library (Portland, OR)
I Scream Ice Cream (Albuquerque, NM)

Instrumentation

Mindy Dillard - Banjo, Guitar, Percussion, Fiddle, voice
Eric McEuen - Guitar, Percussion, mandolin

Discography

Eric McEuen - Sunlight at Play (2009)
Mindy Dillard - Awakening Under Fluorescent Lights (2010)
Snail People - Snail People demo (2010) (2011)

Official Website

http://www.snailpeople.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Bandcamp
• Reverbnation

Audio

• Slow Down
  Listen  
• Things that are Green
  Listen  
• The Meatball Tree
  Listen  
• This Little Light
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Slow Down

Video

snaileyecity.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• Snail People Slowly Making an Impact on Children [+ Show ]
  

  By Rob Cullivan Take your time reading this story. That’s what Mindy Dillard and Eric McEuen w...By Rob Cullivan
  
  Take your time reading this story.
  
  That’s what Mindy Dillard and Eric McEuen would tell you to do.
  
  The Snail People, as the couple call themselves, use music and storytelling “to encourage slowing down, being at home wherever you are, problem solving and compassion.”
  
  The cheerful musicians sing and play guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, drums, percussion, shakers, ukulele and tambourine and will share their philosophy from 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 11, in the Center for the Arts Plaza, 401 N.E. Second St.
  
  Admission is free to the show, part of the city’s family friendly Musicalu summer series, and the act should especially appeal to children ages 3 to 7, although everyone is welcome.
  
  The duo enjoys getting audiences to sing and dance, and have been known to call on the crowd to help them write a song on the spot. Dillard says the duo might take a familiar folk song and have the children suggest words they can use to rhyme as lyrics to sing over the melody.
  
  Snail People have performed in Oregon schools, libraries, farmers’ markets and more since April 2010. Snail People have also played shows, school residencies and house concerts in California, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Virginia and North Dakota.
  
  Area fans of Snail People should note this is their last performance for awhile in Oregon — the Snails are moving to Berkeley, Calif., soon, although they do plan to come back eventually and play here. The couple also performs as the Americana act Heartroot (heartrootmusic.com).
  
  Dillard says the Snail People have amassed an ample following in the Northwest, so she hopes to see some of their most loyal fans at the Gresham show.
  
  “It’s really funny when kids come wearing T-shirts to our concert,” she says, noting the couple is more than willing to sign autographs on their merchandise. “We have some really kind of nice fans who follow us around and come to our shows. One mom even crocheted a knitted snail.”
  
  Snail’s pace
  
  Dillard says Snail People’s signature tune, “Slow Down,” was ironically written rather quickly.
  
  “We actually wrote it while we were driving really fast to get to this gig in Utah,” she says with a laugh.
  
  The duo also plays such classics as “Oh! Susanna,” and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.” However, they’ll add their own twist, incorporating “green themes” into the songs, she says noting they promote sustainability by singing about locally grown fruits like apples as well as eating healthy foods like spinach, asparagus and avocado.
  
  The duo also teaches children not to litter by disposing of chewing gum properly, for example, or not throwing garbage into a stream.
  
  The couple started Snail People because they like performing for young audiences, she says, noting her own background in children’s theater.
  
  “Some kids are really into the way we look,” she adds, highlighting McKuen’s polka dot bowties and her colorful dresses.
  
  And, of course, no musical group today can get through a show without some kind of hand sign for the audience, and for Snail People, it’s the “snail eyes.” The duo place their fingers on both sides of their heads and move them, just a like a snail would move its eyes.
  
  “Throughout the performance we’ll say ‘snail eyes’ if we want to get people’s attention,” she says. “That usually gets a smile and a laugh.”
  
  For more information, visit snailpeople.com.

• Birthday Party Quote [+ Show ]
  

  “Snailpeople played at my son’s fifth birthday party and it was a smashing success! The kids reall... “Snailpeople played at my son’s fifth birthday party and it was a smashing success! The kids really responded to their music, warmth, and silliness. We all had a fantastic time. And my son remains a huge Snailpeople fan, listening to their CD and wearing their t-shirt at every opportunity.”

• Preschool Performance Quote [+ Show ]
  

  “I loved Mindy snail. Her voice was beautiful!” “She also has repeatedly said, Snail eyes! (putt...“I loved Mindy snail. Her voice was beautiful!”
  
  “She also has repeatedly said, Snail eyes! (putting her pointy fingers up on her head) Slooooooow dooooowwwwnnnnnnn (bending over)
  and we play the ‘What is green?’ game all the time especially in the car! :-)
  thank you for a fun event!“

Setlist

Slow Down
Oh! Susannah
She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain
Apples and Bananas
Mail Myself to You

The Wheels on the Bus
Big Round Ball
Things That Are Green
Pole Pole
This Little Light of Mine

Basic Requirements

Calendar