Squirrel Nut Zippers

Squirrel Nut Zippers are a North Carolina band whose brassy, off-kilter sound brings early jazz and swing into conversation with blues, folk and Southern storytelling. Their 1996 album Hot helped fuel the ’90s swing revival, with “Hell” and “Put a Lid on It” introducing many listeners to the group’s playful, genre-blending style. They followed it with Perennial Favorites, home to “Ghost of Stephen Foster,” and later returned with Beasts of Burgundy. The appeal lies in that lively mix of vintage musical colors and sly wit: familiar rhythms arrive with unexpected turns.