Suirrel Nut Zippers poster Squirrel Nut Zippers is a U.S. band formed in 1993 as a tongue-in-cheek salute to 1920s and 1930s big band swing music.
The band formed during the swing music revival of the 1990s. Unlike such bands as Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, though, who were influenced more by the crisp big band style of the 1940s, Squirrel Nut Zippers follow the more energetic, rougher sounds of the 1920s hot jazz.
While the band's first album, Inevitable (1995), passed by relatively unnoticed, the band became quite well-known in the South though their continuous touring. Their second album, Hot (1997), caught the attention of the modern music scene, however, mainly on the weight of the album's best-known song, Hell. After becoming a staple on such influential radio stations as Los Angeles's KROQ, the album quickly went gold.
With the band's success came mixed reviews. Many critics disliked the band's sometimes camp lyrics and claimed that they were mocking hot jazz, not paying tribute. Some called the bands style "sloppy" and "amateurish." Others, however, labeled the band's music as "genuine homage" to the best of the era and lauded the energetic rhythms and upbeat music.
Members
Discography
Albums
- Inevitable (1995)
- Hot (1997)
- Sold Out (1997)
- Perennial Favorites (1998)
- Christmas Caravan (1998)
- Bedlam Ballroom (2000)
- The Best of Suirrel Nut Zippers (2002)
Singles
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