Posted on by Cutter

Ticket Giveaway: The Squirrel Nut Zippers at The El Rey 12/11

http://blogging.la/archives/images/2007/12/zippers-thumb.jpgIt’s easy to dismiss the Squirrel Nut Zippers as a mere by-product of the Big Band/Swing/Third Wave Ska fad of the ’90s when they were actually partially responsible for kicking it off in the first place. Like all fads, it came on strong and faded quickly enough to make a lot of us feel bad about spending all that money on swing lessons we don’t remember or the two-tones that sit gathering dust in the back of the closet or making Vince Vaughn a movie star.

But the fact that the Zippers have outlived most of the bands that tried to cash in on their success is kind of a testament to their talents. They never really “broke up”, and after a six-year hiatus they’re taking their special brand of big band, calypso, jazz and blues on the road across the US. Perhaps outside of all the hype and annoying knock-offs some of the haters will begin to warm up to the Zippers and see them for the rarity they are – a group of genuinely talented musicians who really know how to swing.

Sooo… If you want some tix, I’ve got two pairs. Here’s the contest:

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are named after an old-timey candy bar. If you could start a band and incorporate the name of a candy bar into your band name, what would your band be called? Also, give the genre of music. I’ll pick the winners on Monday!

Squirrel Nut Zippers
with Eleni Mandell, Ryan Hedgecock

El Rey
Tuesday December 11, 2007
Doors open at 8pm

Delicious photography by The Flooz.

15 Replies to “Ticket Giveaway: The Squirrel Nut Zippers at The El Rey 12/11”

  2. I would definitely name my band Rhesus Pieces. Mmm, monkey. We’d have a big hippy drum circle, an accordion player, dancing girls dressed as lemurs, the scary chorus from Carmina Burana and a seven-foot tall Chinese guy singing in Swedish while riding a unicycle. Whatever that genre would be called.

  4. The name of my sweeeeeet candy bar band is The Abba-Zappas. Best described as sugary-sweet Swedish pop meets jazz-inflected experimental rock, all with a quite lackadaisical approach to delivering biting social commentary.

    Very soon we’ll be live, onstage, and uncensored in our very own Broadway musical, The Mamma Mia!s of Invention.

  6. My fiance is absolutely in love w/SNZ. I thought they broke up!

    I’m reminded of Skittles, the cutsie two girl J-pop band owned by a Japanese candy manufacturer. Songs include “My time machine goes Now & Later”, “stand back for my Starburst” and “our weekend with Hot Tamales”

  8. The Look! specialize in covers of conceptual music such as John Cage’s 4’33”, “Tommy” and the entire oeuvre of Throbbing Gristle as interpreted on farm implements and livestock. You should hear our version of “Pinball Wizard” scored for Allis-Chalmers thresher and baritone sheep.

  10. SNZ good musicians? Totally incompetent. The worst live act to
    ever play LA. Total lack of soul. Children, actually, using mature
    artists on their record and then going on the road as SNZ thinking
    no one would notice. Puke!!
    Fraud.

  11. SNZ good musicians? Totally incompetent. The worst live act to
    ever play LA. Total lack of soul. Children, actually, using mature
    artists on their record and then going on the road as SNZ thinking
    no one would notice. Puke!!
    Fraud.

  12. SNZ good musicians? Totally incompetent. The worst live act to
    ever play LA. Total lack of soul. Children, actually, using mature
    artists on their record and then going on the road as SNZ thinking
    no one would notice. Puke!!
    Fraud.

  14. El Bubble and the Pink Owls’ Golden Dragon Revue!

    Acoustic delta blues & Americana with a hobo flair.

    OK, so it’s named after bubble gum cigars, not a candy bar, but Squirrel brand Nut Zippers aren’t candy bars either, they’re caramels.

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