Squirrel Nut Zippers

at The Roxy Ballroom
by Clarendon Lavorich

It’s good to see such a fine band get the respect they deserve. I guess there’s something about Dixieland music that appeals to the younger generation, be it the achingly positive sound mixed with mournful lyrics, the hot jump beat, or a reminiscence of a less cynical age. Whatever the reason, The Squirrel Nut Zippers played to a full house. All types of people were there, from the Lounge Hipsters to the neo-Flappers to average punks. The Zippers came on, and the house began to swing. The excitement level shot to the roof from the word go, couples pairing off to dance and laugh. There wasn’t a single bad temper in the joint (except, perhaps, for the bartenders, who were scrambling around trying to make dozens of whiskey sours and screwdrivers), as the Zippers played songs from their first two albums, as well as some new material that (hopefully) will be surfacing soon. Even though everyone was having a great time, I was a little let down. My Grandfather (R.I.P) introduced me to Dixieland years ago, and I’ve seen my share of bands. That night at The Roxy paled in comparison with some outfits I’ve seen, as well as previous Zipper shows. The energy was up, and hit it’s peak, but they didn’t take it over the top until the crowd was a sweating, screaming mass on the brink of exhaustion. But the rest of the audience loved it, so who am I to complain? Maybe I wasn’t feeling it because I got stood up and had no one to dance with. Either way, the Zippers did their job, and did it well.