Prepare yourself for what may be a truly dizzying experience!

To introduce him as a one-man band may not prepare you fully, nor do justice to the authenticity of the music. Andy Schneider preaches Texas blues: playing 8-string guitar (a combination of both bass and lead guitars), drums and singing. Simultaneously. With a reverent nod to his roots, Schneider reinvents the traditional bluesman's role, igniting the music with a fire and passion that leaves audiences breathless.

Boastful and bawdy, wry and wise: Schneider's music takes you down hell-fire highways and dust-choked ranch roads. "I first heard the Fabulous Thunderbirds on the radio when I was 16, and it was all over," remembers Schneider. "Life changed from that minute on." Imagine the high-on-the-pulpit vocal tones of Kim Wilson, the showmanship of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the kicked-in-the-guts rhythm section heard on the early Fabulous Thunderbirds records. Schneider lights it all up in a Texas-sized bonfire to make 'em all proud.

His upcoming record, "Texas Tornado" lives up to its name. "I live in the Big Bend area of Texas, in a little town up in the mountains called Marfa. The land is big and it's wild. 'Texas Tornado' is about hitting the road, but having a home you can't wait to get back to." A bonafide road veteran, Zoo Bar, Fine Line, First Avenue, CBGB's, Hole in the Wall, Dulcinea's, Knitting Factory and Little Bear are just a few of the legendary rooms where he's been seen.

"We recently shot a live show at the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa," Andy reports. So much history has happened there over the last 60 years, including Buddy Holly's last show. That room has got mojo!" That scorching performance is captured in Andy's DVD "Live at the Historic Surf Ballroom".

Looks of amazement are frequent on the faces of newcomers to Andy's show. While looking for the rest of the band, they slowly realize that Andy is covering both roles, lead and bass guitar, at once. "This guitar opens up worlds of possibilities. Every day I find a new avenue to explore."

Built by Ralph Novak of Novax Guitars, the Charlie Hunter model 8-string guitar is a guitarist's dream. Two courses of strings, 3 bass and 5 guitar, each have their own set of pickups with separate outputs. The separate outputs go to a bass and a guitar amp each. This setup lets Andy walk bass lines and hold down guitar parts simultaneously, both with incredible tones.