Squirrel Nut Zippers

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Squirrel Nut Zippers

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Img_capt = In performance in San Francisco, 2008
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin =
Genre = Swing revival
Years_active = 1993-2001 2006-present
Label = Mammoth
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.snzippers.com Official Site]
Current_members = James "Jimbo" Mathus
Katharine Whalen
Chris Phillips
Stu Cole
Je Widenhouse
Will Dawson
Past_members = Tom Maxwell
Ken Mosher
Don Raleigh
Stacy Guess
Robert Griffin
Dave Wright
Tim Smith
Reese Gray
Andrew Bird

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus (vocals and guitar), Katharine Whalen (vocals, banjo, and ukulele), Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher.

While the band's eclectic fusion of Delta blues, gypsy jazz, 1930s-era swing, klezmer, and other styles made them hard to categorize, their quirky music found a niche in the late 1990s.After several years off, the original band members took to the stage again in 2007, playing select dates around the United States. Additional performances are scheduled in 2008.

History

1990s

The band was founded by Jim "Jimbo" Mathus, formerly of Metalflake Mother and Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves, and his then-wife Katharine Whalen in Carrboro, North Carolina along with Chris Phillips, Don Raleigh and Ken Mosher. The group made its debut in Chapel Hill a few months later. Stacy Guess (formerly of Pressure Boys) joined shortly after. The band's name comes from the Squirrel Brand's Nut Zippers, a peanut and caramel candy for sale since the mid-20s.cite book |last=Yanow |first=Scott |title=Swing |year=2000 |publisher=Miller Freeman Books |location=San Francisco, California |isbn=0-87930-600-9 |pages=478-479]

The band was initially lumped into the "lounge" movement, along with Combustible Edison, and credited as part of the brief swing music revival of the 1990s. The Zippers incorporated a broad range of music, ranging from Harlem Hot Music, Cab Calloway, Johnny Ace, Delta Blues, Raymond Scott, Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, Tom Waits, and klezmer. The song "Hell", a single, that peaked at number 13, was a calypso knock off that helped push the band into the heart of the neo swing movement.

Songs from the band's first album, "The Inevitable" (1995) were played on US National Public Radio. Their second album, "Hot" (1996) was certified platinum (1,000,000 unit shipped) in the Fall of 1997. The "Hot" album was one of the first ECDs - an "enhanced" audio CD containing an interactive presentation created by filmmaker Clay Walker. "Perennial Favorites" (1998) also received critical acclaimFact|date=July 2008. Also released in 1998 was "Christmas Caravan", a Christmas-themed album. The band recorded "Bedlam Ballroom" in 1999 after touring the previous records extensively.

The band performed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, on "Prairie Home Companion", President Clinton's second inaugural ball, Comedy Central's "Viva Variety", and major television shows: "The Tonight Show", "Late Night with David Letterman", "Conan O'Brien" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" in 1998. The band toured with Neil Young in 1997.The band performed in a segment on "Sesame Street" in 2001.The band had recorded a version of "Under The Sea" which was going to be included on the DVD release of "The Little Mermaid", but Disney decided against it. Disney had purchased Mammoth just months prior to this recording. The song was eventually released on the band's greatest hits CD.

2000s

"Contact" was a musical dance play made up of three separate dance pieces set to pre-recorded music. The show used Zippers' music along with the music of other artists. Although many Who|date=July 2008criticized the show "Contact" for its lack of original music, it was also widely acclaimed and won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. Movies that have licensed Zippers' songs include "Monkeybone", "Dead Man on Campus", "Flirting with Disaster", "Fido", "Blast from the Past" and the animated feature film "Happily N'Ever After" licensed the "Bedlam Ballroom" song "Baby Wants a Diamond Ring".

Katharine Whalen has released two solo albums. [http://www.katharinewhalen.com/] Jim Mathus toured with Buddy Guy before forming his band Knockdown Society. [http://www.jamesmathus.com/] Je Widenhouse and Reese Gray are recording and touring with Firecracker Jazz Band. [http://www.firecrackerjazz.com] Chris Phillips 2 years playing with the Dickies, as well as playing with William Reid from the Jesus and Mary Chain. His current side band The Lamps includes members of the Bangles and The Connells. He also is the composer for the Comedy Central television show "Lil' Bush", and other contemporary films. Jimbo Mathis owns and operates a recording studio outside of Memphis, TN, where he has worked on albums with artists ranging from Elvis Costello to the HivesFact|date=July 2008 .

Reunion

In early 2007, the band's [http://www.snzippers.com official website] and MySpace blog announced new tour dates, with a lineup consisting of founder Jimbo Mathus (guitar, vocals), Katharine Whalen (vocals, banjo, percussion, ukulele), Chris Phillips (drums), Je Widenhouse (trumpet), Stuart Cole (bass), and Will Dawson (piano/guitar/saxophone). With the proclamation "Ladies and Gentlemen... They're Back", the band performed concert dates throughout the United States and Canada in spring and summer of 2007.

Members

* James "Jimbo" Mathus — vocals, Guitar, Slide Guitar, Tenor Banjo, Trombone, Piano
* Katharine Whalen — Vocals, Banjo, Ukulele
* Stuart Cole — Bass
* Chris Phillips — Percussion, Contraption Kit, drums
* Je Widenhouse — Trumpet, Cornet
* Will Dawson — Alto Saxophone
* Henry Westmoreland — Baritone Saxophone

Former members

* Ken Mosher — guitar, saxophone, vocals
* Tom Maxwell — vocals, guitar, saxophone, gong
* Don Raleigh — bass, gong
* Stacy Guess — trumpet
* David Wright — trombone
* Reese Grey — piano
* Tim Smith — alto saxophone
* Andrew Bird — violin (Honorary member)

Stacy Guess was forced out two weeks prior to the recording of "Hot", in September 1995. He died of a heroin overdose on March 11, 1998. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/stacy-guess?cat=entertainment Stacy Guess bio.] Answers.com. Retrieved October 16, 2007.] Je Widenhouse (formerly of the Sex Police) joined the band in 1995.

Don Raleigh departed in the middle of the "Perennial Favorites" sessions in November 1996. He was replaced by Stuart Cole. In July 1999, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Tom Maxwell left the band.In October 1999, songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ken Mosher also quit.In 1999, Reese Gray (piano), Tim Smith (alto saxophone) and David Wright (trombone) joined the band.

Discography

Albums

*"The Inevitable" (1995)
*"Hot" (1996)
*"Sold Out" (1997)
*"Roasted Right" (EP, 1997)
*"Perennial Favorites" (1998)
*"Christmas Caravan" (1998)
*"Bedlam Ballroom" (2000)
*"The Best of Squirrel Nut Zippers as Chronicled by Shorty Brown" (2002)

ingles

*"Hell" (1996)
*"Put a Lid on It" (1997)
*"Suits Are Picking Up the Bill" (1998)

References

*cite book |last=Milkowski |first=Bill |others=Bob Nikard, ed., and Alison Hagge, ed. |title=Swing It: An Annotated History of Jive |year=2001 |publisher=Billboard Books |location=New York, New York |isbn=0-8230-7671-7 |pages=251-254

External links

Band

* [http://www.snzippers.com Squirrel Nut Zippers]
* [http://www.myspace.com/snzippers Squirrel Nut Zippers on MySpace]

Band members

* [http://www.jimbomathus.net James "Jimbo" Mathus]
* [http://www.katharinewhalen.com Katharine Whalen]
* [http://www.tommaxwell.com Tom Maxwell]
* [http://www.maxwellmosher.com Maxwell/Mosher]
* [http://www.andrewbird.net Andrew Bird]

Related

* [http://www.planbproductions.com/squirrelnutzippers Clay Walker, Squirrel Nut Zippers filmmaker]
* [http://www.squirrelnutzippers.net Squirrel Nut Zippers fansite]
* [http://www.snzzippers.com official site]