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 the blues: playing 8-string guitar (a combination of both bass and lead guitars), harmonica, drums and singing. Simultaneously. With a reverent nod to his blues and country roots, Schneider reinvents the traditional bluesman's role, igniting the music with a fire and passion that leaves audiences breathless.

Boastful and bawdy, lonely and lived-in: Schneider's music takes you down hell-fire highways and dust-choked gravel roads. "I call it Interstate 30 music. It takes you from Texas to Tennessee and back again!" jokes Schneider. Imagine the high-on-the-pulpit vocal tones of Kim Wilson, the country pickin' flare of Brad Paisley and the kicked-in-the-guts rhythm section heard on the first few Fabulous Thunderbirds records. Schneider lights it all up in a Texas-sized bonfire to make 'em all proud.

His latest CD, "Snake Oil and Preachin'" lives up to its name. "I travel so much, I sometimes feel likeone of those old-time medicineshows. Those guys really were the first bluesmen, preaching to the crowd and making their way on the road." A bonafide road veteran, Zoo Bar, Fine Line, First Avenue, CBGB's, Hole in the Wall, McKenna's, 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" which hits stores this Christmas.

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.