Tobey Torres sang on their debut album Sonic Jihad. After the first tour, Torres and Slater had a falling out, resulting in Torres leaving the band. Martina Axen (formerly of Drain STH) was brought on to perform live when SRC played a tour opening for Queensrÿche. While she was set to be the new official vocalist (going so far as to record on demos for the new album), an announcement was made on May 4th, 2006 that Tobey and Jason had reconciled and were back recording together with the intentions of releasing a new album in the Summer of 2007. This sudden and unexpected turn of events was well received by fans.
On September 4th, 2006, four months after returning to Snake River Conspiracy, Tobey Torres posted on her myspace blog that "I have once again chosen to disassociate myself from Snake River Conspiracy" and thanked fans for their support. Two days later, band guitarist Mitch Doran posted a message on the SRC forums that he had decided to leave the band as well. No official reason has been given for the second falling out. Jason Slater, who typically keeps fans apprised of the ongoings of the band via myspace and the SRC forums, has remained quiet on the situation as well as the status of the material that had been recorded during the brief reconciliation.
Jason Slater started working on SRC2 again in 2012 and continued to work on the album throughout the rest of the 2010s. In 2012 Tobey Torres and Mitchell Doran formed a new band called Mojave Phone Booth, and in 2016 Slater reconnected with Torres again through Doran. Slater planned to release a new Snake River Conspiracy album sometime in 2014, as well as release a vinyl version of Sonic Jihad with alternate/original mixes and a B-sides compilation titled B-Sides and Bullshit, but due to Slater's health struggles work on these projects slowed. On December 9, 2020, Slater died of liver failure, effectively ending the band
In July 2022, Torres and Mitchell Doran launched a new Instagram account for Snake River Conspiracy, announcing that new music from the band will be released in 2023.
In November 2022, Mitchell Doran alleged that Jason Slater had stolen several compositions that were written by other Snake River Conspiracy members during the SRC2 recording sessions, and reused them with other bands he produced. This account was corroborated in interviews given by original SRC guitarist Geoff Tyson and also in Facebook posts made by Jason Slater himself.
Coke & Vaseline
Snake River Conspiracy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Messing up your head
Nodded on the burn
Wishing I was dead
Shit is only shit
Running through your brain
I'm not the one who lies
feel so empty
I'm all right
Situation's fine
(all right all right all right)
shoot up I'm around
Mariachi plays
Graffiti demon eyes
Craves the great machine
The only things we need
Cocaine and vaseline
I'm not the one who lies
I'm not the one who dies
Feel so empty I'm all right
Situation's fine
(all right all right all right)
Feel so empty I'm all right
Situation's fine
(all right x 7)
Christ you thought was dead
Nazi figure head
The heart that we don't need
Pump piss and gasoline
I'm not the one who lies
I'm not the one who dies
Feel so empty I'm all right
Situation's Fine
(all right all right all right)
Feel so empty I'm all right
Situation's Fine
all right x 33
The lyrics to Snake River Conspiracy's song "Coke & Vaseline" contain dark and complex themes revolving around addiction, self-destructive behavior, and a general sense of emptiness. The opening lines of "Kansas City blues / Messing up your head / Nodded on the burn / Wishing I was dead" allude to the overwhelming power of drug use and how it can quickly turn from a source of escape to a source of pain and regret. The repeated phrase "feel so empty I'm all right / Situation's fine" seems to be a futile attempt to convince oneself that everything is okay while living in a state of perpetual numbness.
The next stanza brings up images of a chaotic and dangerous world, with a Mariachi band playing as "Graffiti demon eyes / Crave the great machine". This could be interpreted as a metaphor for society's relentless pursuit of material possessions and instant gratification, even if it means sacrificing one's mental and physical health. The final lines "The only things we need / Cocaine and vaseline" suggest that even though the characters in the song are fully aware of the detrimental effects of their choices, they feel powerless to resist the temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
Kansas City blues
Feeling blue and depressed, possibly from the effects of drug use.
Messing up your head
Causing mental confusion and impairment.
Nodded on the burn
Nodding (falling asleep) after injecting heroin or another drug into a vein.
Wishing I was dead
Feeling so overwhelmed by pain or suffering that death seems like the only escape.
Shit is only shit
Referring to the negative consequences of drug use and the accompanying feelings of regret and despair.
Running through your brain
Obsessing over negative thoughts or experiences, possibly due to drug use or addiction.
I'm not the one who lies
Asserting honesty and integrity in one's personal dealings.
I'm not the one who dies
Rejecting a fatalistic attitude and embracing a desire for life and vitality.
Feel so empty I'm all right
Describing a feeling of emotional numbness or detachment, possibly as a coping mechanism in response to trauma or addiction.
Situation's fine
Denial of problems or issues that need to be addressed.
(all right all right all right)
Repetitive emphasis of an unconvincing reassurance.
shoot up I'm around
Implied willingness to be an enabler of drug use, or possibly a declaration of personal drug use.
Mariachi plays
Reference to Mexican culture, possibly indicating a nostalgic or escapist desire.
Graffiti demon eyes
Allusion to darkness, chaos, or evil.
Craves the great machine
Desiring the rush or high of drug use, or possibly seeking escapism through technology or media.
The only things we need
Emphasizing the addictive nature of drugs and how they can become a singular focus in one's life.
Cocaine and vaseline
Reference to two common drugs used for different purposes, possibly indicating a search for pleasure, release, or escape.
Christ you thought was dead
Reframing the idea of Jesus in a dark or nihilistic light.
Nazi figure head
Allusion to oppressive or fascist authority figures that inspire fear and hatred.
The heart that we don't need
Rejecting the idea of emotional vulnerability or compassion as a weakness.
Pump piss and gasoline
Reference to machines and their mechanical needs, possibly indicating a dehumanizing view of oneself or others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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