Squirrel Nut Zippers

Biography

Squirrel Nut Zippers is a genre-blending band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by Jimbo Mathus and his then-wife Katharine Whalen, joined by Tom Maxwell, Chris Phillips, Don Raleigh, and Ken Mosher. The group emerged as a creative response to the prevailing trends of modern rock, instead drawing from early jazz, swing, delta blues, and folk, with a quirky, theatrical flair. Their unique sound and energetic live shows quickly earned them a devoted following in the South and beyond.

The band’s breakthrough came with their 1996 album 'Hot,' which went platinum on the strength of the single 'Hell.' Their music, marked by a fusion of 1930s swing, gypsy jazz, klezmer, and blues, contributed significantly to the swing revival of the late 1990s. Squirrel Nut Zippers became known for their offbeat performances, media appearances (including Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Sesame Street, and Carnegie Hall with Tony Bennett), and a playful, irreverent approach to American roots music. Despite lineup changes and a period of waning commercial success in the early 2000s, the band has continued to tour and record, releasing new albums such as 'Beasts of Burgundy' (2018) and 'Lost Songs of Doc Souchon' (2020), and maintaining a legacy as true originals in the American music landscape.

Fun Facts

• The band’s name comes from an old-fashioned caramel-nut candy called Squirrel Nut Zippers, produced in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• Squirrel Nut Zippers performed at Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Presidential Ball and received the keys to the city of Cambridge, MA.
• Their hit 'Hell' was one of the first enhanced CDs, featuring an interactive presentation.
• The band appeared as a musical guest on Sesame Street and had a custom animated video made by the creators of The Simpsons.

Members

• Tom Maxwell (from 1994-01 until 1999)
• Stacy Guess (from 1994 until 1998)
• Je Widenhouse (from 1995)
• Stuart Cole (from 1996)
• Don Raleigh (from 1996)
• Reese Gray - piano (from 1999-11)
• David Wright - trombone (from 1999-11)
• Ken Mosher (until 1999)
• Andrew Bird
• Jimbo Mathus
• Chris Phillips
• Dr. Sick
• Katharine Whalen

Original Members

• Je Widenhouse
• Stuart Cole
• Don Raleigh
• Reese Gray - piano
• David Wright - trombone

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Cab Calloway - Influence on vocal style and theatrical jazz arrangements (General inspiration, not direct collaboration) [1930s influence, cited in 1990s-present]
• Django Reinhardt - Influence on guitar work and gypsy jazz elements (General inspiration, not direct collaboration) [1930s influence, cited in 1990s-present]
• Fats Waller - Influence on piano-driven jazz and humor in songwriting (General inspiration, not direct collaboration) [1930s influence, cited in 1990s-present]
• Tom Waits - Influence on eclectic, theatrical songwriting and arrangements (General inspiration, not direct collaboration) [1970s-present influence, cited in 1990s-present]

Key Collaborators

• Jimbo Mathus - Founding member, vocals, guitar, primary songwriter (All albums, especially 'Hot', 'The Inevitable', 'Beasts of Burgundy') [1993-present]
• Katharine Whalen - Founding member, vocals, banjo, ukulele (All albums through early 2000s, returned for reunions) [1993-early 2000s, 2007-2008]
• Tom Maxwell - Vocals, guitar, songwriter; wrote hit 'Hell' ('Hot', 'Perennial Favorites') [1993-1999]
• Chris Phillips - Drummer, longtime collaborator and later band manager (All albums, especially 'Hot', 'Beasts of Burgundy') [1993-present]
• Ken Mosher - Guitar, multi-instrumentalist, early leader ('The Inevitable', 'Hot') [1993-late 1990s]
• Don Raleigh - Bassist, early member ('The Inevitable', 'Hot') [1993-late 1990s]
• Je Widenhouse - Trumpet, joined in 1996 ('Hot', later albums) [1996-present]

Artists Influenced

• Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Contemporaries in the swing revival, inspired by SNZ's theatrical approach (Zoot Suit Riot) [Late 1990s]
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Inspired by SNZ's blend of jazz and modern sensibilities (Americana Deluxe) [Late 1990s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Hell - Remastered 2016 (Hot (Remastered / 20th Anniversary Edition))
2. Ghost Of Stephen Foster (Perennial Favorites)
3. Hell
4. Put a Lid on It - Remastered 2016 (Hot (Remastered / 20th Anniversary Edition))
5. Put A Lid On It
6. Got My Own Thing Now - Remastered 2016 (Hot (Remastered / 20th Anniversary Edition))
7. Axman Jazz (Don't Scare Me Papa) (Beasts of Burgundy)
8. Suits Are Picking Up The Bill (Perennial Favorites)
9. Low Down Man (Perennial Favorites)
10. Good Enough For Granddad (The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #american, #jazz, #swing