It’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.
I LOVE SNZ! I’m out of town, so I can’t use the tix… just had to put my 2 cents in!
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.
I’d go with “The Pixy Styx.” It’d be a Riot Grrl-style 80s cover band.
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.
Big League Chu.
Mandarin rap over samples from Huey Lewis and the News’ Sports album, exclusively.
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”
Her Shebars
Man-hatin’ feminist acoustic folk rock.
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.
though I really like the sound of the Abba-Zappas – it’s in permanent rotation on my iPod.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Goodband. We would sing songs about bicycle safety and conservative values in the style of barbershop!
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.
If D. Gershwin does not win for the Abba Zappas I’m filing a complaint with the fake band name contest board.