Squirrel Nut Zippers

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineThe commercialization of alternative music in the 90s resulted in many strange one-hit wonders, but few were quite as unpredictable as the Squirrel Nut Zippers. During a time when hipsters were obsessed with swing music in its relation to Sinatra and Martins Rat Pack, the Zippers were fascinated with big-band swing and Harlem, creating a tongue-in-cheek salute to 20s and 30s jazz. For younger listeners familiar with the style but not the content of classic hot jazz, the band was good fun, but purists found the groups vaguely campy sense of humor and amateurish technique off-putting. This debate would never have even been a matter of consideration if Hell, an incessantly catchy single from their 1997 album Hot, hadnt been able to sneak through loosened alternative airplay to become a novelty hit. Hell became a crossover hit on the strength of a bizarrely theatrical vehicle, and Squirrel Nut Zippers quickly became one of the hottest alternative bands of the first half of the year.Jim Mathus (vocals, guitar, trombone) and Katharine Whalen (vocals, banjo) formed the Squirrel Nut Zippers in 1993 after leaving Chapel Hill, NC, for the nearby small town of Efland. As soon as they settled in Efland, the couple renovated a farmhouse, where they pursued various arts and crafts, and eventually the band fell into shape as Mathus and Whalen met local citizens like Don Raleigh (bass) and Ken Mosher (guitar, saxophone, vocals) who shared an interest in hot jazz. Before long, Chris Phillips (drums, percussion), Tom Maxwell (vocals, guitar, baritone saxophone, clarinet), and Je WindenHouse (trumpet) were added to the band, which was now named after an old-fashioned candy bar, Squirrel Nut Zippers. The group soon made their live debut in Chapel Hill and within a few months had developed a large fan base throughout the South. By the end of 1994, the Squirrel Nut Zippers had signed with Mammoth Records, and they released their debut album, The Inevitable, in the spring of 1995. The album didnt make much of an impact, but the group continued to tour. Their second album, Hot, was released in January of 1997. Soon after its release, Hell became a hit on such influential radio stations as Los Angeles KROQ, and MTV soon made the video into a buzz clip. By the spring, Hell and Hot had become hits, as the single was a staple on modern rock stations. Although the group was now successful, they received mixed reviews, with many critics claiming that they were mocking hot jazz, not paying tribute. Nevertheless, the album went gold, and a second single, Put a Lid on It, was released in the summer. Perennial Favorites followed in 1998, as did Christmas Caravan. Two years later, the band released Bedlam Ballroom, showcasing a cut by late bandmate Stacy Guess.