I lived in a pop music desert in the 70s and 80s, because I grew up with all KMOX all the time until I rebelled by listening to NPR. Somehow, nothing improved after I married,so I missed most of the 90s bands until after they broke up, and that includes Squirrel Nut Zippers.
Evidently, the founder and the drummer kept the faith for a few decades and assembled an entirely new band touring under the old name. We saw them at Delmar Hall, a wee little venue built right on top of the parking lot where thieves broke into our car.
It was riotous. The founder, Jimbo, shamelessly old, stands center stage while this theatrical vortex of music whirls around him. The banjo player / violinist hops on one foot and kicks the air with the other while fiddling. The bass player flips her double bass over her head and plays it upside down. The horn section doesn’t pause for breath.
I was particularly impressed by the kicking fiddler, who goes by Dr. Sick, so impressed that I started to worry Jimbo might feel threatened by his raw talent and then Dr Sick would try to wrest control and there’d be a Squirrel Nut Zippers palace coup.
It all ended when someone got a tuba and they wound through the audience like a second line. Loads of fun.
Comments