One For The Weekend: Squirrel Nut Zippers

Check out "Cookie" off the Zippers' new album Lost Songs of Doc Souchon out September 25. 

Today the Squirrel Nut Zippers release “Cookie,” the third track from their forthcoming album Lost Songs of Doc Souchon (Out September 25th).   

"Cookie is the next oldie I've dug up for ya and it was written by a very good friend of mine, Irvin McClair,” remarks Zippers mainman Jimbo Mathus.  “This was written before WW1. Irvin used to play piano at tne old Triangle Theater in New Orleans as an accompanist to the silent movies. he also performed in vaudeville as one of the Fuzzy Wuzzy twins. They had a piano and vocal team."

Since 1995, the Squirrel Nut Zippers have sacked and plundered the old, weird America then sailed off to further distant lands. They have used New Orleans as their hideout and base of operations.  Jean-Lafitte-like the hide in the lee side of barrier island, receiving goods and masking dark back channel deals; hiding in cellars or in plain view. 

They began their musical journey in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the mid 1990’s, as a musician’s escape from the cookie cutter world of modern rock radio at the time.  Jimbo Mathus along with drummer/percussionist Chris Phillips formed the band as a casual musical foray among friends and family in the area.  It wasn’t long before the band’s quirky mix of jazz chords, folk music, and punk rock leanings spread out of the region and attracted a national audience.

Between 1995-2000 the Squirrel Nut Zippers sold over three million albums.  Their watershed album, Hot (1996) was recorded in the heat of New Orleans, fueled by a smoldering mix of booze and a youthful hunger to unlock the secrets of old world jazz. This passion mixed with klezmer, blues and random bits of contemporary musical leanings became the bands signature style.  At the time, there were few other bands inhabiting this space. The album would eventually break free of any “jazz” stereotypes and land on commercial radio, taking the band to remarkable heights for what was essentially an anti-establishment sound.

The band's forthcoming new album, Lost Songs Of Doc Souchon, will be released next Friday (September 25).  You can pre-order the new album here: www.snzippers.com

“This new album was inspired by all of the mysterious characters from the history of New Orleans jazz music,” sez Jimbo.  “It speaks to the hidden roots of where our aesthetic, interests and philosophy comes from. It pulls on the hidden thread.”  Listen to "Cookie" followed by "Train on Fire" and "Animule Ball" below.