Artist of the Month

This week I am choosing the artist of the month for February and it is (drumroll please)*bddddddddddddddddd* the Cherry Poppin' Daddies!


For those of you who didn't attend a junior high or high school dance in the late 90's the Cherry Poppin' Daddies were one of the front-running bands during the swing revival of that time. With the expert use of ska, pop and swing they exploded onto the scene with "Zoot Suit Riot". The Daddies are based out of Oregon and were found and lead by Steve Perry (not the Journey front man). Though once popular they, like many bands with hits during the swing revival, have pretty much fallen into general obscurity, they released an album as late as 2007. Throughout the month I will look at a different song each week starting with their only hit "Zoot Suit Riot".

Zoot Suit Riot

Recorded for their 1997 Album Zoot Suit Riot: The Swingin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, "Zoot Suit Riot" is one of the most memorable songs of the late 90's swing revival and is one of the best known and beloved songs of the decade.

The song is about the zoot suit riots, if you weren't aware, of the 1940's in Los Angeles. Like some of the lyrics suggest, sailors from the Navy were given leave to go into the city while their ships were stationed in the area and fights and scuffles broke out between the sailors and the Mexican nightclub customers known for wearing their "zoot suits", which were big lavish suits with flamboyantly bright colors and matching hats. Most of the time the fights were about or over women.

Who's that whispering in the trees?

It's two sailors and they're on leave.

Pipes and chains and swingin' hands.

Who's your daddy? Yes I am.

The drum solo to start the song preps you for the swing vibe which is pulled into full swing with the blaring horn section. Throughout the song the piano and horns create a dancing atmosphere that makes you want to get up and dance to the beats of drummer Tim Donahue. Altogether, it's a very well written song with great music and the catchy lyrics and stunning vocals to go along provided by Steve Perry.

All this, and more, is why I have named the Cherry Poppin' Daddies the Artist of the Month of February