Photos by Andy Argyrakis

At the start of the 1990s, there weren’t too many bands committed to reviving early American jazz, swing, Dixieland, klezmer and vaudeville, let alone now, but that’s precisely why the Squirrel Nut Zippers still stand out from the masses.

Though the “Christmas Caravan” Tour has popped up periodically since the 1998 album of the same name, this time through the Park West featured additional history for the multi-platinum players, who besides strictly holiday tunes, explored a similarly adventurous non-seasonal catalogue.

Led by lifer Jimbo Mathus and the latest line-up, Squirrel Nut Zippers spent 100 minutes, split in two halves, unveiling an eclectic wall of sound, snazzy costumes, retro props and a generally theatrical take on traditions with a cheeky twist.

It was all “Good Enough For Granddad” and younger generations as well, especially as the world-class troupe settled snuggly into “Hot Christmas” and Benny Goodman’s “Winter Weather.”

They continued echoing those bygone eras come “Suits Are Picking Up The Bill” and “A Johnny Ace Christmas,” moving the mood towards the New Orleans-themed “Mardi Gras For Christmas” and the melancholy side of “Alone At Christmas.”

Squirrel Nut Zippers turned out to be just as convincing on a spoken word-enhanced cover of Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Time Is Here,” the hilarious “Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer” and the semi-sacred “Gift Of The Magi,” while the recurring thread of a “Carolina Christmas” tied everything together.

The handful of exceptions found the surrounding spirit of spiked egg nog really kicking in, including “Memphis Exorcism,” “Fat Cat Keeps Getting Fatter,” “Hell” and “Ghost Of Stephen Foster” in all their feisty, finger-snapping glory.

During the encore, Squirrel Nut Zippers returned to the evening’s primary theme, surprisingly switching gears to the gentle nostalgia of “Hanging Up My Stockings” and “I’m Coming Home For Christmas,” yet both nevertheless warmly sent the Park West on its merry way.

For additional information on Squirrel Nut Zippers, visit SNZippers.com.

For a list of upcoming Jam Productions concerts, visit JamUSA.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Park West include Alaska (Dec. 12); Brendan Bayliss & Jake Cinninger (Dec. 13); Pink Talking Fish and Steely Dead (Dec. 31); Paul Chowdhry (Jan. 13); Save Ferris (Jan. 18); The Residents (Jan. 22); Nacho Redondo En Vivo (En Español) (Jan. 24); Monetochka (Feb. 10); Jamie MacDonald (Feb. 27) and Think Floyd USA (Feb. 28). For additional details, visit JamUSA.com/Park-West.

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