By Estelle Johnson
Special correspondent to the Cedar Falls News Hub
A popular classic rock Cedar Falls cover band will turn 20 at Sturgis Falls, the town’s annual festival.
The show will mark not only a milestone for the Snozzberries, but also two decades of performing at Sturgis. The band is scheduled to play at River Place Plaza, June 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., as part of the Welcome Home party at the festival.
The Snozzberries have deep roots in town. Today’s lineup of Paul Moes, Amy Gustafson, Jon Chamberlain, Brian Page and Dave Hartley is the same as when the band came together. Moes, Chamberlain and Page all play the guitar. Hartley is the group’s drummer. Gustafson sings lead vocals.
Integral to the band’s success is their sound engineer, John Waltz.
How the Snozzberries blossomed
It all happened organically. Page, Hartley and Moes have known one another since high school. While they didn’t play in the same bands all at once, they became friends from their shared love of music.
“We booked a lot of time together jamming, or hanging out at one of each other’s gigs, or whatever it was,” said Page.
Gustafson was in a separate band with Hartley that performed rhythm and blues. Hartley then connected her to the other three. Initially, he assumed the Snozzberries would be rhythm and blues, similar to a band he was in then. Gustafson, however, told the group that she would rather perform rock ‘n’ roll music.
Chamberlain met Hartley through work. Hartley introduced Chamberlain to Page, and they started getting together socially.
Over lunch at Toad’s one day, the three friends talked about what bands should and shouldn’t be doing.
“This is where it all started,” Hartley said.
The band’s name, the Snozzberries, comes from the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” One day, when Chamberlain and his daughter were watching the film, a line spoken by the main character, Willy Wonka, about a fictional fruit called “snozzberries” piqued Chamberlain’s interest. In it, Willie Wonka said that snozzberries taste like snozzberries. When another character, Veruca Salt, questioned the existence of the fruit, Wonka responded, “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamer of the dreams.”
This prompted Chamberlain to bring the name to the other band member to consider. It was unique, a little corny, but overall memorable. The others happily agreed.
“The band will make the name, not the name will make the band,” Hartley said.
As time has passed and lives have been lived, the group has found a sweet spot in performing once or twice a month. While they may not get together as much as they had before, Page, Hartley and Chamberlain all say that they are real friends who can pick up where they left off.
Hartley noted that while the band has faced its own trials and tribulations, they respect the talent each brings to the group. Without each member, the band could not be what it is today.
“We’re lucky enough to have the best singer in the Cedar Valley, at least we think so,” said Page.
The Snozzberries’ longevity has surprised even Hartley. In the early years, he thought the band might only have a two- or three-year run. “I just kept booking into the next year,” he said.
Twenty years on and over 300 shows at such venues as Voodoo Lounge, The Hub, Live to 9, Spicoli’s, the Gallagher Bluedorn, among others, the Cedar Falls Snozzberries keep the beat going. In all that time, their fictional name aside, they have remained real and relevant.
On stage, for the group, it’s about having fun and entertaining their loyal fans. Off the stage, it’s about behind-the-scenes hard work as they are their own roadies, hauling heavy amplifiers, speakers and instruments from gig to gig. Add to this the dedication of their sound engineer, John Waltz, and you may get a sense of what it takes to keep the band fresh.
“He’s a musician, the kind of guy you want behind the technology – he is a very critical component of the consistent quality of our shows,” said Page. Hartley added, “Everyone wants him – and we have him for every show.”
Over the years, the Snozzberries’ creative juices have earned them the admiration of area fans. Among them is their photographer, Ben, a former exchange student hosted by the Page family. Now a graduate student at ISU, he drives to Cedar Falls to document the group’s shows.
The Snozzberries often perform at the Eagles Club and the Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Their next performances at the AMVETS are July 26 and Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.
“People still come to our shows, maybe more so than ever,” said Chamberlain.
