The Kind, a Blacksburg based folk-rock band, is familiar to anyone who has passed through the New River Valley in the last thirty plus years. Formed in 1986, The Kind plays in a variety of styles that ranges from classic rock, R&B, and jazz to bluegrass and country; however, the arena which they most frequently blend their diverse influences is their huge melting pot of Grateful Dead covers. Over the years, The Kind has been privileged to perform with the likes of Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna), Rick Danko (The Band), Merle Saunders (The Jerry Garcia Band), The New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Jefferson Airplane. The Kind combines strong lead vocals and harmonies together with intertwining melodies and soulful rhythmic grooves to produce a fun, flowing and danceable experience. They are equally at home in a laid-back acoustic setting or a high-energy electric experience.
Tom Snediker – Lead guitar, vocals. Tom has been playing in the Kind since it's inception. He also plays in the bluegrass bands Crossties, and Johnny Cake and the Lunch Truck. He also played for several years with the gypsy jazz band, Scott Fore and His Hillbilly Hot Club. Tom has also played in the orchestra pit for many musical productions including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Once Upon a Mattress, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Godspell, Shrek the Musical. When Tom isn't playing guitar or being a family man, he enjoys his time as an instructional designer at Radford University's Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
Wendy Godley – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar. Not your typical female guitarist, Wendy is a chief instigator in sending the band off in psychedelic grooves. Wendy also performs acoustic shows solo, or with another musical cohort or two. You can also find Wendy teaching music 6 days a week at Mainstream Music in Blacksburg, VA.
Stuart Draper - bass guitar, vocals. Stuart has been playing bass guitar since 2001. He sang and jammed in a few small bands with friends and also in college. Stuart graduated from Hampden Sydney College with a four year degree in music. Soon after graduating, Stuart joined The Kind in 2011. He continues to be a driven, melodic bassist as well as a dynamic vocal force. His playing skills, combined with his love of the Grateful Dead and other bands makes him a great fit in The Kind!
David Garland - keyboards. David began sitting in with The Kind in early 2014 and is our most recent addition. He studied classical piano as a kid and first played with a band while in college. He has since played with other local bands in Richmond and Washington D.C. David arrived at the gangplank of The Kind with a working knowledge of the music of the Dead and other masterminds of classic rock.
Rick Godley - Drums, Rick brings his 35 years of drumming experience to the stage in an energetic way. His back beats meld with the Kind's psychedelic grooves in such a way that people can not resist the urge to get up & dance. When Rick isn't performing with the Kind, you can catch him playing with other bands and in the orchestra pit of various musical productions around the area. Like Wendy, Rick also enjoys teaching music 6 days a week in the Roanoke and New River Valleys.
