Performances

R.E.M.’s meteoric rise was already well underway when they came to SNAP in April 1991. But the agreeably loose and rambling acoustic session feels like a gathering of old friends.

Tom Waits makes a very special guest appearance on SNAP on the occasion of his 1987 album and stage play, “Frank’s Wild Years.”

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds join Deirdre in-studio on March 3, 1989, for a loose-limbed acoustic set following the release of “Tender Prey.”

Sarah McLachlan dropped into SNAP prior to the U.S. release of her 1989 debut, “Touch.” She and bass player Jeff Cross play a short duo set spotlighting her earthy but ethereal sound.

Screen legend Harry Dean Stanton dropped into “SNAP” with his trio in June 1987 to share a commanding set of cover versions in both Spanish and English.

Meat Puppets returned to SNAP in 1988 as a tighter, brighter unit, beaming into the studio on the long tail of 1987’s “Huevos” album. As usual, the trio’s surreal inter-song banter adds to the psychedelic effect.

The legendary Robyn Hitchcock stopped by SNAP in April 1989 to play a short acoustic set of songs from his forthcoming 1990 album, “Eye.”

Suzanne Vega visited SNAP in April 1985 for her second-ever live radio appearance. Ahead of her now-classic debut album, Vega offers perfectly rendered takes of songs from that record, as well as an early appearance of one of her most iconic numbers.

The Church visits SNAP for a lively acoustic set focused on material from their 1988 US breakthrough, “Starfish.”

Cleveland’s indomitable Pere Ubu come to SNAP under the guise of Petit Ubu, a miniaturized trio, on the heels of their eighth album, "Worlds in Collision." They play an all-acoustic set that cherry-picks from their extensive history.

Camper Van Beethoven made their wisecracking “SNAP!” debut in support of 1987’s “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart,” playing a cheerfully chaotic set balanced between old and new.

The legendary dB’s blaze into the SNAP studio in December 1987 following an opening slot with R.E.M. Unveiling their new guitarist with a wildly eclectic set list, this is a true slice of SNAP-style looseness.

LA’s Concrete Blonde blew the doors off for their first appearance on SNAP in April 1987. They perform a paint-peeling set interspersed with Johnette Napolitano’s grade-A banter.

Among the more uproarious of SNAP sessions, Dwight Yoakam brought his Babylonian Cowboys for a quick-footed set, shot through with the band’s relentless banter.

The Blue Aeroplanes and The Jazz Butcher (a.k.a. Pat Fish) were not only mutual favorites of Deirdre’s, but also long-standing friends and collaborators. Together they dropped into SNAP during the off-hours to record this ramshackle but lovely acoustic set for later broadcast.

Cowboy Junkies waltzed onto SNAP in December 1988 for a slow-burning session to support the release of “The Trinity Session.”

LA’s legendary Dream Syndicate made a triumphant return with their 1986 album, “Out of the Grey.” That same year, they dropped in on Deirdre for their inaugural performance on the show.

One of the leading lights of New Zealand’s “Dunedin sound,” The Chills landed on SNAP in May 1990. The band’s 11th incarnation stopped by to promote their album “Submarine Bells,” now widely considered their masterpiece.

Cult songwriter Peter Case returns for his second SNAP session for a pared-down trio performance laced with tantalizing covers.

Legendary English songwriter Nick Lowe brings his “Party of One” to SNAP for an acoustic showcase of that 1990 album, interspersed with characteristically wry conversation.

Soul legend Aaron Neville graced the SNAP studio for a transcendent solo set in the wake of his surprise return to the pop charts.

England’s mighty Blue Aeroplanes landed on SNAP in July 1990 for an electric full-band session favoring songs from their American major-label debut, “Swagger.”

The Mighty Lemon Drops made their SNAP debut in May 1988, on the cusp of American success with “Inside Out.” The band plays a rough and raucous set that hearkens back to their earlier indie recordings.

One of the most in-demand producers of the ‘80s, Daniel Lanois returned to his roots for this solo acoustic SNAP set promoting his debut, “Acadie.”

London’s Kitchens of Distinction were always a few steps ahead of their time. Their swirling, shoegaze-adjacent pop made for a noisy and rapturous SNAP session on Valentine’s Day 1991.

Lyle Lovett stopped by SNAP in April 1989 with the paradoxical distinction of promoting his “Large Band” with a solo acoustic set.

Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin dropped in on SNAP to play a handful of songs during the rounds for her 1989 solo debut, “Steady On.”

Throwing Muses were already legendary by the time they touched down on SNAP in May 1991. The recently-reconfigured quartet played a short but sweet set of songs from that year’s “The Real Ramona.”

Irish expat Luka Bloom settled into Deirdre’s studio in April 1990 for a full-length acoustic session around the release of his American debut, “Riverside.”

LA’s Dream Syndicate returned in 1988 on Deirdre’s birthday for their second SNAP performance. The Paisley Underground legends played a fiery set in anticipation of their “Ghost Stories” album.

Cowboy Junkies return for a second SNAP session in February 1990 to preview songs from their third album, “The Caution Horses.”

SNAP favorites Downy Mildew make their third appearance on the show, offering up punchy and artful renditions of material from throughout their career.

Austin, TX’s legendary Glass Eye were friends and favorites of SNAP.

North Carolina’s Fetchin Bones brought their adrenaline-soaked rock to the SNAP studio in October 1989, hot on the heels of their fifth album, “Monster.”

Cult English songwriter John Wesley Harding (aka Wesley Stace) rolled into SNAP after stealing Steve Wynn’s backing band for a tour.

Hetch Hetchy is a name that true Athens music heads will know. Rising out of the late, lamented Oh-OK, the duo of Lynda L. Limner and Jay Totty swelled their ranks to a sextet for this gloriously oblique SNAP session from May 1990.

Austin, TX’s legendary Glass Eye were friends and favorites of “SNAP.” Their third session captures the band at its zenith: a tightly-coiled blast of nervous energy, delivering their best performance yet.

Austin’s The Reivers (formerly Zeitgeist) stormed into SNAP for a seething set of crunchy power-pop in support of their 1988 Capitol Records debut, “Saturday.”

The Railway Children made their US radio debut on SNAP in September 1988.

The Dream Syndicate’s Steve Wynn steps out with a few good friends for his first acoustic SNAP set, recorded in December 1987.

Shelleyan Orphan brought their delirious chamber-pop to SNAP while on tour with The Cure in September 1989.

Camper Van Beethoven returned to “SNAP!” while touring in support of their swan song, 1989’s “Key Lime Pie.” The group offers a punchy and impeccably-played set of new and recent material.

A collaboration between Steve Kilbey (The Church) and Donnette Thayer (Game Theory), Hex released two albums during their brief tenure.

Newcastle’s Hurrah! were one of the earliest signees to the UK’s influential Kitchenware Records.

Athens, GA’s Love Tractor made their SNAP debut in June 1989 with an 11-song set drawing evenly on the quintet’s four albums to date.

Athens, GA stalwarts Love Tractor stopped by SNAP for their second session in January 1990. Their career-spanning set ranges from 1983’s “Around the Bend” to 1988’s “Themes from Venus.”

The dB's Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey make a surprise reunion on “SNAP” in July 1990, joined by bassist Ilene Markell.

Songwriter Peter Himmelman’s career was firmly on the upswing during his run of SNAP appearances.

Australian songwriter Paul Kelly dropped in on SNAP with two of his Messengers in tow for a stately piano/guitar acoustic set promoting their 1988 album, “Under the Sun.”

The thoughtfully acerbic songwriter Sam Phillips brought her “Cruel Inventions” to SNAP in June 1991 for one of Deirdre’s final sessions on KCRW.

Austin-via-Hawaii transplants Poi Dog Pondering set up shop at SNAP in November 1989 for their third and most full-throated session.

Having survived a Top 20 hit in 1986, husband-and-wife duo Timbuk3 touched down on SNAP two years later to share songs and stories from their sophomore album, “Eden Alley.”

The Silos’ second (and final) SNAP appearance may be the definitive live document of the band on radio.

The great Syd Straw teamed up with guitar whiz Marc Ribot for an unforgettable SNAP in August 1990.

That Petrol Emotion returned for their second SNAP session in October 1989 to play songs from their forthcoming album, “Chemicrazy” (1990).

The dBs’ Peter Holsapple teams up with indie vocal queen Syd Straw and bassist Ilene Markell for a hugely entertaining set of originals and covers, interspersed with some truly daffy…

English songwriter Martin Stephenson brought his Daintees to KCRW for his third session in September 1990.