The band “HalfSnatch” formed in 1997 when four friends from Westbury, Long Island, began to play music together.  Chris Fortney (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Adam Ingoglia (Drums & Percussion), and Danny ‘Goat’ Forino (Rhythm Guitar) had been childhood friends for 12 + years prior, and Frank Libretto (Bass Guitar/Vocals) joined the crew circa 1993.  As the band grew and started playing small shows at many Long Island venues, they produced two independent EPs in addition to appearing on various Long Island Compilation CDs at a young 15 years of age.  “The Power The Consumes Us All” (2001) was the bands first attempt at recording their music.  Before this they appeared on “Girls Like It Short”, a compilation CD comprised entirely of thirty-second songs, courtesy of Runaway Records.  Within the next few years, the band underwent some turbulence and nearly called it quits. 

 

Frank left the band, and the trio was left in limbo.  Determined to continue play, Danny Forino began playing the Bass Guitar.  This formed what is the current lineup, and in 2003 they went back to the studio with a more solid effort, coming up with a four song EP, “Down For The Count”.  In that same year they were asked to participate in another compilation entitled “Next Exit” courtesy of New Future Records.

 

Though Danny and Chris went away to college in the ensuing years, the group never lost touch.  New songs would be made somewhere in between their busy lives and when they reunited in summer or over breaks, the ideas poured out into what proved to be the sound of HalfSnatch.  With influences ranging from Bob Marley, James Brown, and Michael Jackson to 311, Incubus, Primus, and Dave Matthews Band, HalfSnatch has become a mixing pot of music.  After much experimentation and life experience, the once pop-punk garage band has birthed a style all their own, which Chris describes as “Funk-Rock” with an unprecedented sound, and a message.  Chris, Danny, and Adam have written and arranged all their music, with their track total exceeding 30 songs.  They often use unique beats and rhythms incorporating hand percussion, bass wah, and miscellaneous noises coming from the ingenious mind of Mr. Fortney. 

 

The band has taken their live show across New York, from Long Island to Marist, Poughkeepsie, to Binghamton with stops throughout; they have also shared the stage with popular bands of the same genre including Sublime tribute band BadFish, and Dead/Phish tribute band Reckoning.  Over time, an array of merchandise was brought out with a HalfSnatch trademark mushroom emblem. 

 

In the summer of 2004, HalfSnatch recorded a practice session from Adams basement for personal use, using only Chris’s ancient 4-track and a 1990 Karaoke machine.  In early 2005, they decided to try to clean it up as best they could, and bring it to the people.  “Funky Bassment Party” was released in spring 2005, the bands first self-released full-length album.  In summer 2005, the band headed back into the studio and recorded a 4 track EP appropriately titled "Wine Not?" Check them out at Halfsnatch.Tripod.Com, and expect them to continue creating until music is extinct.