Squirrel Nut Zippers

Originally released way back in the summer of 1996, Squirrel Nut Zippers’ second album, Hot, defied all expectations. At the time, pop fodder from acts such as the Spice Girls ruled the airwaves. What a shock, then, when Hot yielded the hit single “Hell,” a song that featured woozy horns and a swinging bass riff. The album went on to sell 1.3 million copies and launch a veritable revival of swing music. Singer-guitarist Jimbo Mathus, who played in indie acts such as Metal Flake Mother and Johnny Vomit & the Dry Heaves prior to forming the Zippers, started the band with his then-wife Katharine Whalen. The group would splinter in 2000, but Mathus has revived the band and brings a retooled lineup to town tonight. (Niesel)