Squirrel Nut Zippers
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States |
| Founder | James "Jimbo" Mathus, Katharine Whalen, Tom Maxwell, Chris Phillips, Don Raleigh, Ken Mosher |
| Headquarters | Chapel Hill, North Carolina , United States |
| Products | Swing and jazz music |
Squirrel Nut Zippers is a swing and jazz ensemble from the United States, established in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The founding lineup included James "Jimbo" Mathus (vocals, guitar), Tom Maxwell (vocals, guitar), Katharine Whalen (vocals, banjo, ukulele), Chris Phillips (drums), Don Raleigh (bass), and Ken Mosher.
Their sound is a fusion of Delta blues, gypsy jazz, 1930s-style swing, and klezmer influences. They achieved commercial prominence during the late 1990s swing resurgence with the 1996 track "Hell," penned by Maxwell. After a period of inactivity, the original members reunited in 2007 for tours throughout the United States and Canada.
In 2016, Mathus and Phillips revived the group with new personnel to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their top-selling album, Hot. The band remains active on the touring circuit and released Beasts of Burgundy in March 2018, followed by holiday-themed singles "Mardi Gras for Christmas" and "Alone at Christmas" later that year.
Swing revival
The group was initiated by James "Jimbo" Mathus—previously of Metal Flake Mother and Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves—and his then-wife Katharine Whalen in Carrboro, North Carolina. Alongside them were Tom Maxwell, Chris Phillips, Don Raleigh, and Ken Mosher. Soon after formation, Stacy Guess (formerly with Pressure Boys) joined the ensemble.
The name "Nut Zippers" refers to a southern colloquialism for a particular variety of illicit moonshine. The band derived its name from a newspaper headline recounting an intoxicated man who climbed a tree and refused to descend; the article was titled "Squirrel Nut Zipper." Additionally, it shares its name with a caramel and peanut confection dating back to 1890.
Contributing notably to the 1990s swing revival, their style was shaped by influences such as Johnny Ace, Cab Calloway, Django Reinhardt, Raymond Scott, Fats Waller, and Tom Waits. Their breakthrough single "Hell," marked by a calypso groove, positioned them within the neo-swing genre.
Their first album, The Inevitable (1995), received airtime on NPR, while their follow-up record, Hot (1996), achieved platinum certification. Notably, Hot was among the earliest enhanced CDs, featuring an interactive segment created by filmmaker Clay Walker. To promote this album, they toured alongside rock artist Neil Young. Later albums included Perennial Favorites (1998), Christmas Caravan, and Bedlam Ballroom.
The Squirrel Nut Zippers performed at significant events such as the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and President Clinton's second inauguration ball. Their appearances extended to major programs like Prairie Home Companion, The Tonight Show, Late Show with David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
Hiatus and other projects
By the early 2000s, following the divorce of Mathus and Whalen, the band ceased activity. Members went on to explore individual ventures.
Whalen launched her solo career with the album Katharine Whalen's Jazz Squad. Mathus collaborated extensively with Buddy Guy on tours and recordings while releasing eighteen solo albums across multiple labels and projects. Je Widenhouse and Reese Gray joined Firecracker Jazz Band for recording sessions and tours. Chris Phillips spent two years performing with the Dickies and William Reid from the Jesus and Mary Chain. His project The Lamps included musicians from both the Bangles and The Connells.
Reunions
At the beginning of 2007, the group revealed tour dates featuring a lineup that included Jimbo Mathus, Katharine Whalen, Chris Phillips, Je Widenhouse, Stuart Cole, Hank West, and Will Dawson. Marketed under the banner "Ladies and Gentlemen...They're Back," the ensemble toured across the United States and Canada throughout 2007 and 2008.
In February 2009, Chris Phillips announced a live album originally named You Are My Radio, which was recorded in Brooklyn during December 2008. This album was subsequently retitled Lost at Sea and released on October 27 through Southern Broadcasting/MRI. Additionally, there were announcements about a studio album planned for 2010. The band also made an appearance on NPR's Mountain Stage, which aired in mid-November.
As the 20th anniversary of Hot approached, Mathus formed a reunion group emphasizing New Orleans-based musicians. Their tour commenced in June 2016 featuring Mathus, Dr. Sick (fiddle, vocals), Ingrid Lucia (vocals), Kris Tokarski (piano), Charlie Halloran (trombone), Dave Boswell (trumpet), Hank West (saxophone), Tamara Nicolai (upright bass), Kevin O’Donnell (drums), with original drummer Chris Phillips overseeing management.
Touring has persisted since then; their studio album Beasts of Burgundy was launched on March 23, 2018 under their Southern Broadcasting label. The contributors on this record include Mathus (guitar, vocals), Dr. Sick (fiddle, banjo, vocals), Cella Blue (vocals), Vanessa Niemann (vocals), Tamar A. Korn (vocals), Dave Boswell and Kevin Louis (trumpet), Aurora Nealand (clarinet), Charlie Halloran and Colin Myers (trombone), Henry Westmoreland (saxophones), Kris Tokarski and Leslie P. Martin (piano), Tamara Nicolai (upright bass), Neilson Bernard III (drums), and Chris Phillips (percussion).
Studio albums
- The Inevitable (1995)
- Hot (1996)
- Perennial Favorites (1998)
- Christmas Caravan (1998)
- Bedlam Ballroom (2000)
- Beasts of Burgundy (2018)
- Lost Songs of Doc Souchon (2020)
Live albums
- Lost at Sea (2009)
EPs
- Roasted Right (1994)
- Sold Out (1997)
Compilations
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Rock Tracks | US Air | |||
| "Hell" | 1996 | 13 | 72 | Hot |
| "Put a Lid on It" | — | — | ||
| "Suits Are Picking Up the Bill" | 1998 | — | — | Perennial Favorites |
| "Ghost of Stephen Foster" | 1999 | — | — | |
Soundtracks
By the year 2021, songs by Squirrel Nut Zippers had been featured in a total of 25 movies and television programs, significantly broadening their exposure and enhancing brand recognition.
| Song | Work | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Anything But Love" | Flirting with Disaster | 1996 |
| "Meant to Be" | Just Your Luck | 1996 |
| "Hell" | Dream with the Fishes | 1997 |
| "Blue Angel" | ||
| "Put a Lid on It" | A Life Less Ordinary | 1997 |
| "Hell" | Millennium - S2 Ep5 | 1997 |
| "Meant to Be" | Sex and the City - S1 Ep8 | 1998 |
| "Hell" | Dead Man on Campus | 1998 |
| "Got My Own Thing Now" | Fifty | 1999 |
| "Trou Macacq" | Three to Tango | 1999 |
| "Hell" | Blast from the Past | 1999 |
| "Trou Macacq" | ||
| "Blue Angel" | The Last Kiss | 2001 |
| "Hell" | Monkeybone | 2001 |
| "Hell" | Dead Like Me - S1 Ep1 | 2003 |
| "Moon Over Parma" | The Drew Carey Show - S8 Ep20 | 2003 |
| "Good Enough for Grandad" | Comic Book: The Movie | 2004 |
| "Anything But Love" | The O.C. - S1 Ep19 | 2004 |
| "Put a Lid on it" | "Fido" | "2006" |
| "Baby Wants a Diamond Ring" | "Happily N'Ever After" | "2007" |
| "Hell" | "Banished" | "2007" |
| "My Drag" | "You Kill Me" | "2007" |
| "Hell" | "Sigma Die!" | "2007" |
| "Ghost of Stephen Foster" | "Tears for Sale" | "2008" |
| "Poor Boys Blues" | Burlesque" | 2010" |
| "That Fascinating Thing" | ||
| "Verdi Mart Shuffle" | ||
| "Curly's Blues" | ||
| "Suits Are Picking Up the Bill" | ||
| "Sitting Pretty" | ||
| "Hell" | "Epic" | "2013" |
| "Put a Lid on It" | "For All Mankind - S1 Ep1" | "2019" |
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1993 establishments in North Carolina
- 2000 disestablishments in North Carolina
- 2006 establishments in North Carolina
- American jazz ensembles
- American musical octets
- American swing musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1993
- Musical groups disbanded in 2000
- Musical groups originating from North Carolina
- Musical groups based in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina
- Musical groups reformed in 2006
- Musical groups disbanded in 2010
- Musical groups reformed in 2016
- Musical nonets
- Swing revival ensembles
- Jazz artists from North Carolina
- Mammoth Records performers
- Hollywood Records performers
- Musical groups disestablished in 2000