CHICAGO-What a pleasant surprise I received last month as I entered my favorite musical haunt. I usually go to the Mutiny for the giant half-pitcher draft beers and the free cover. If a hat gets passed for funding the bands, I scale my donation toward the entertainment relevance provided. Had the hat been passed at this particular show, I would have certainly ponied up proudly.

Not only did the band, properly named Snacktime, rock my ass, they gave me treats.

     Snacktime, a three-piece punk rock band, plays classic children's songs in an accelerated, caffeine-driven style. David Reed plays guitar, sings, growels, barks out the vocals while Tina Martin Finch booms and thumps on the bass, adding backing harmonies and howels. Holding down the beat in a sloppy yet somehow cohesive manner is Perry Finch, who offers up some yelps of his own.

     Highlights from the set included the rocket like set opener "Shoe Fly Don't Bother Me," and "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain." The soft (almost) underbelly of Snacktime was revealed through the lilting voice of Martin Finch at the start of "Inch Worm." However, the tune ended in a good old adrenelin induced romp. The most remarkable event of the evening occurred during a beautifully mess of a medley involving "This Land is My Land," and "You Are My Sunshine." At this time the snacks were distributed: goldfish crackers and juice boxes. I witnessed people pausing their alcoholic consumption, momentarily, to

injest the multi-colored cheddar crackers and Juicey Juice--a strange sight. The set closed with a touching rendition of "Good Night" in which Reed bid first Martin Finch then Finch good night in their own separate verse. The pair of Finches then sang Reed a good night wish in return. Finally Reed sang a verse of "Good night Snacktime." This became an audience participation moment as the crowd in unison echoed Reed's luliby. Creepy!

     I'd like to see Snacktime again sometime, somewhere. I got a quick picture and met the gang after the show. They had no further shows, no recorded music. That's a shame. §

                                                     Tom Shanavin