Charlie Shafter and the Gnomes represent a generation that has been profoundly influenced by a wide variety of musicians from both a bygone era and today. "We are music freaks first and musicians second" says Shafter. "Everyone in this band is a fan of good music regardless of what style the music claims. Influences from Woody Guthrie to Stone Temple Pilots to The Grateful Dead will show up in our sets. We didn't sign up for this to play the same song over and over. You are free to call us unfocused or naive. We are undoubtedly both. This isn't some Glenn Miller story where we are on some deranged search for our sound. It’s either there or it's not and that is for the listener to decide."
Though he quit his job as an electrician almost three years ago, Matt Sever is faithful to his beginnings. The Austin-based artist even renewed his license last year, "in the interest of honest representation," he says.
