Little Sis Can Play In The Blues Band Now

K.C. Star, FYI Section, Wednesday, 11/24/04

by Hearne Christopher, Jr.

How about a warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving story? You know, like about families that play together. Take Cow town "dirty blues" expatriates Danielle Schnebelen and brothers Nick and Kris. Their new band, Trampled Under Foot, is based out of Philly (in closer proximity to potential music biz deals in NYC).

But they're here, there and everywhere of late. Including a live CD release party Christmas Eve at night the Trouser Mouse in Blue Springs, a Christmas gig at Jilly's downtown and a New Year's Eve show at the new, improved Blayney's in Westport. However, those family ties between sister and brothers weren't always quite as close.

"When we grew up they would never let me hang out with them," Danielle reminisces. "Now that I can play music, they can't get enough of me — they want me to be in a band now. That was the reason I learned to play bass in the first place."

So do those time-tested, sibling rivalries ever result in a good, old-fashioned knock-down and drag-out? "Not like we used to," Danielle says. "There's no pinning somebody down. We never had battles though. They just set up traps for me."

Any examples? "Actually I gotta give 'em props on this one. It was very creative. They were like, 'Danielle, come to the back yard.' And they had set up fishing wire about shin level. And I started walking and they said, 'No, run!' Then I hit the fishing wire and fell on my face. I still have a scar on my right leg."