Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Zoot Suit

   In the 1990's, running concurrently to the grunge and alternative rock movements, was a very small yet intensely popular genre called Neo-Swing.  It spawned several popular bands and lots of great music.  Probably the most popular song to emerge from that era was Zoot Suit Riot by a band calling themselves The Cherry Poppin' Daddy's.  While not exactly subtle, it's still a pretty cool name for a band. The song itself is a reference to the actual Zoot Suit Riots which took place in Los Angeles in 1943.  It was an informal war between USN/USMC personnel awaiting deployment to join the war effort in the Pacific, and the Hispanic gangs operating around the area.  After the initial incidents in L.A., the violence spread to other regions of the country wherever the military and Latino youth's coexisted in nightclubs and bars.  Zoot Suit Riot was unique during the Neo-Swing era because it was one of the few songs whose narrative was based on actual historical events. This gave the song the power of a folk tale wrapped up in a jump blues era gangster suit.

Sailors on the prowl for Zoot Suiters

       Perhaps the most popular act of the Neo-Swing era was the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Setzer, formally a member of the Stray Cats, put together an actual big band style orchestra.  While the music they created had limited radio appeal, the touring act was wildly successful.  Their biggest hit was a 1999 remake of the song Jump, Jive, an' Wail originally recorded by Louis Prima in 1956.  It was a very strong production and the video featured some of the best swing dancing ever caught on film.  

The Brian Setzer Orchestra

       Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a band that also emerged during that era and is still very popular today. In 1994 they released a self titled album which contained great songs like Jumpin' Jack, King Of Swing, and their regular show ender So Long, Farewell, Goodbye.  Their second album which was released in 1997 was called Watchu' Want For Christmas and it featured the song presented here entitled You And Me And The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight.  

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

       Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a seven piece band which features a three piece horn section, piano, bass, drums and guitar.  Founder and guitar player Scotty Morris is an effective singer but a better showman. He has a Bruce Willis five o'clock shadow smirk that, along with his natural charisma, helps make him a very effective front man. The brass section is made up of three amazing horn players including trumpet player Greg "The Kid" Marhevka.  Joining him are Andy Rowl and Karl Hunter who help make this horn section every bit as talented as the brass sections from Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, or even the Dave Koz Horns. BBVD will also frequently augment the horn section with additional players for their live performances to help duplicate what they've committed to album.

Charismatic front man Scott Morris

     The rest of the band is made up of three equally talented musicians including Dirk Shumaker on double bass, electrifying piano player Joshua Levy, and drummer/band co-founder Kurt Sondergren.  Sondergren may be one of the most under-rated drummers of our time due to the limited exposure he recieves outside of the Jump/Blues community. To get an idea of how talented and appealing this band is I suggest you clear about an hour of your schedule and watch this boisterous live performance filmed in 2004 at the Majestic Ventura Theater in Ventura, California.  If you don't have and hour please take five minutes and enjoy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
You And Me And The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight