Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hot – Review

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Hot (Mommoth)
by Clarendon Lavorich

What could be finer than a smoking jump beat Dixieland jazz band? How about one that features the ghost of Billie Holiday? The Squirrel Nut Zippers have all that, and more. A trumpet that could break windows, a guitar that gets up and dances around the room, and a rhythm section that would make Peter Murphy crack a smile. No matter where you are, if you put on Hot (Mammoth), you’ll get feet tapping, fingers snapping, and uncontrollable levity. Even if you don’t know how to dance to it, you’ll have to find some way to move. Recorded in New Orleans, they decided to go old school with the recording. Very old. As few mics as possible, no overdubs, three takes at the most. What resulted was a sound that’s as pure and honest as a live show. There’s nothing fake about the energy on songs like “Hell,” a Latin number with the line “D-A-M-N-A-T-I-O-N, lose your face, lose your name, then get fitted for a suit of flame!” Even slow numbers like “It Ain’t You” have an air of excitement, with Katharine Whalen chirping and lilting so much like Holiday it’s scary. Sultry, sexy, and oh so cool. Every song is a winner, from the blazing “Memphis Exorcism” to the rollicking “Flight of the Passing Fancy.” And don’t even talk about seeing them live. Just go. They tear up the stage, the audience jumping up and down, scorching trumpet lines, turbo-charged saxes, everyone having a good time. How could you not? Grab a date, give ’em a twirl, toss back a G&T, and kick up your heels. The Zippers are here, and there’s no going back.