CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES TIKI XMAS: WWII CANTEEN – DANCE FLOOR OPEN!

In the past few years Cherry Poppin’ Daddies have become the kind of band that you would want to book if you were throwing a soiree at the Gatsby mansion. Penning elegant, lush, pitch perfect arrangements of much of the great American songbook, from Cole Porter to Frank Sinatra, the Daddies have surprised many- likely familiar with them from the early 90’s- whose limited exposure to the band undoubtedly consists of an image of spray painted vans careening across the US as an iconoclastic, misfit part of an already marginalized punk/ska scene. The Daddies have put together a number of excellent swing/ jazz sit down theatre type shows, each tailored to a different era of swing music: a “Jazz Age Lawn Party” consisting of roaring 20’s and Cotton Club Era material, a swanky “Live at the Sands” type tribute to the Rat Pack, and a World War 2 “Christmas Canteen” show that is part Tiki, part Benny Goodman and comes across like a radio broadcast from Guadalcanal circa 1942.

Initially rooted in the underground punk scene, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies made waves with their unique fusion of swing-era jazz and modern rock elements, gaining a reputation for their explosive live performances. They burst into the mainstream in 1997 with the release of Zoot Suit Riot, an album that celebrated the swing revival of the late 1990s. The title track became an instant hit, propelling the band to international fame and selling over two million copies. Musically, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are hard to pin down. They fluidly navigate a range of styles, from the big band swing sound of Zoot Suit Riot to the ska-punk of albums like Kids on the Street and Rapid City Muscle Car. With roots in alternative and punk rock, the Daddies have always pushed boundaries, creating music that feels fresh and innovative. Their ability to seamlessly blend vintage swing with modern genres like ska and rock has allowed them to stand out in a crowded musical landscape, while appealing to a wide variety of listeners.