Green Grass Snakes and The Nickel Slots

The Nickel Slots take you on a journey through hard times and  desperation that always carries hope that better things are just around  the corner. With influence from early roots Americana music as well as a  touch of rebellious ’70s punk, The Nickel Slots draw the line that  connects Johnny Cash to The Clash. From the sentimental folk tune to the  foot-stomping, raucous sing-along, their rocking Americana brings you  back to a long-lost memory or shared experience of pain, joy, heartache,  love, hope, and redemption.

They began performing together in November 2008 in Sacramento,  California, and the following spring a song from their debut album spent  a month in rotation on KWOD 106.5 FM’s Sounds of Sacramento series. The  Nickel Slots have won three Sammie Awards for Outstanding  Americana/Alt-Country, one for Best Live Performer, and are now in the  Sammies Hall of Fame. Upon the release of their fourth album Pack up All Regrets, a  SubMerge Magazine profile of them said “The band has carved against the  grain to create something truly vibrant.” The Nickel Slots have  toured four times in Europe including headlining a night of The Green  Escape music festival in France in 2018, and in March 2015 shared the  stage with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at their concert at  Sleep Train Arena. Their debut music video for “The Devil’s Chain Gang”  won Best US Music Video at the 2015 American Online Film Awards and two  awards at the 2013 Sacramento Film and Music Festival, and all four of  The Nickel Slots’ music videos have garnered airplay on multiple TV  networks and websites. Americana radio stations both in the USA and  Europe are also starting to discover The Nickel Slots’ four albums and  Christmas EP.

Lead singer, songwriter, and acoustic guitarist Tony Brusca’s songs  tell unique stories and he has a knack for connecting with live  audiences to make them believe he’s one of them. Bassist and mandolin  player Paul Zinn’s backing vocals add an extra dimension to Tony’s  melodies, and his bass lines just can’t sit still. Christopher Amaral,  The Nickel Slots’ versatile drummer, lays down train beats and adds  distinctive power to the band’s sound. His brother, individual Sammie  Award winner electric guitarist Steve Amaral, throws down tasteful licks  that dance across the line between rock and country. When these boys  sink their teeth into a song, they leave a distinctive mark.