The Band
The Squirrel Nut Zippers were around for a decade, and in that time released five albums. Over the years a few band members have come and gone, but the last line-up included Kathryn Whalen (vocals), Jim Mathus (vocals, guitar, banjo), Stu Cole (bass), Chris Phillips (drums), Je Widenhouse (trumpet), Andrew 'Ghost Zipper' Bird (violin), Tim Smith (alto saxophone), David Wright (trombone), and Reese Gray (piano).
The founding members of the band included Ken Mosher and Tom Maxwell, as well as the husband-wife team of Jim Mathus, a native Mississippian, and his wife, Kathryn Whalen. The band's roots in Southern jazz are obvious in their music (including Kathryn's solo album, Jazz Squad.)
The band signed with Mammoth Records in 1993. The debut album, The Inevitable, was followed up by Hot, which became an unexpected success. Hot happened to coincide with the retro-swing revival sweeping through the US, although the Zippers don't consider themselves Swing.
In fact, trying to describe the band's style is a little tricky. The official site states: "The Zippers conjure a musical past into a new living sound, mixing in a healthy dose of artistic invention with various strains of American music, ancient to the present. The result: unique, infectious music to unjade the jaded and to make the most leaden of feet move rhythmically across the floor."
The description goes on to add: "They didn't really play Swing Music, per se. They played "Hot Music," a perpetually evolving, hybrid-stew of Southern roots traditions that one critic aptly tagged, '30s punk.' Their muse was always more menacing, more concerned with ghosts, love gone wrong, fever-dreams, and the razor's edge of sexual desire, than dance lessons, martinis and cigars. The Zippers' latest offering, Bedlam Ballroom, links the band to their porch and parlor past."
I think the "30s Punk" and "Porch and Parlor" descriptions work pretty well and is the reason why I find their music so appealing. If you're a fan of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, I hope you'll add your name to the list.
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