Monday, March 2, 1998
Voodoo Daddies mystify crowd
MUSIC: Swing band on brink of stardom remains loyal to fans
By Mike Prevatt
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In case you’ve been locked in your crusty bathroom for the past
year or so, you might be interested to know that swing music has
risen from the dead and struck a chord with the younger (and older)
cats cruisin’ the Hollywood scene. One of swing’s resuscitators has
been local fave Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who entertained a capacity
crowd to the point of exhaustion last Wednesday night at the swanky
Hollywood club, The Derby.
This classy eight-piece outfit has actually been playing The
Derby for over three years now on Wednesday nights, bringing all
the L.A. hipsters out and "selling out" the popular swing club on
Los Feliz Boulevard.
Just as they settled into the cozy comforts of being The Derby’s
house band, along came Jon Favreau, the young filmmaker who brought
cameras into The Derby for his 1996 independent movie, "Swingers."
With their scene-stealing performance and the movie’s unexpected
popularity here in Los Angeles (and the rest of the country), Big
Bad Voodoo Daddy became the hottest indie band in the land,
eventually signing to Coolsville/ EMI-Capitol Records and landing
several television and radio appearances.
Wednesday’s performance took on a celebratory feel as BBVD
raised their horns to the release of their major-label debut album,
out last Tuesday. Despite it being the last Derby gig the band
would play until the end of their three-month promotional tour, the
fans weren’t exactly weeping as BBVD tossed out three sets of
swingin’ grooves and bouncy jive tunes.
Unlike the somewhat contrived swing resurgence that has hit the
radio waves with artists such as the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and the
Squirrel Nut Zippers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brings a quasi-punk
spirit to their retro sounds without the sneering attitude.
Their brassy, ’40s-influenced, jazz style pays homage to such
swing heroes as Cab Calloway and Dean Martin. Though they play
music popularized during the Great Depression and World War II era,
they clearly have the pizzazz and charisma of a ’90s band.
The scene at The Derby had excitement written all over it.
Hordes of retro-outfitted youngsters stood in long, multiple lines
waiting to get in to see at least one BBVD set before the night
drew to a close. Inside, twentysomethings adorned in zoot suits and
classic dresses mingled at the bar, the pool table and on the dance
floor with baby boomers and Derby regulars who were actually around
when swing first became popular over 50 years ago. The retro
furnishings and decor gave The Derby the notion of being the
coolest, classiest joint around. A television news crew filmed the
festivities as local swing dancers twirled and rocked around the
club, and music industry execs shuffled about.
Around 9:30 p.m., BBVD took to the stage, and the fans rushed
onto the tiny dance floor, which would take a pounding throughout
the night, thanks to the dancin’ swingers groovin’ to BBVD’s
scat-like rhythms. Within seconds of the appearance of lead singer
and guitarist Scotty Morris, the band burst into smiles and jammed
right into "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight," one of
BBVD’s most popular songs, also featured in "Swingers."
Morris introduced the well-cherished tune with an introduction
that reflected their new major-label success.
"We’re Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and in case you haven’t heard,
we’ve got a new album out, and we’re promotin’ it tonight!"
The crowd hit the roof.
Song after song, whether they were kinetic, shoe-stompin’
ditties or slower, jazzier tunes, the crowd moved along during all
three sets. Yes, three sets.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy pulls out all the stops for their fans.
With their fan-friendly rapport, nice-guy attitudes and
between-song anecdotes, Morris and the boys distinguished
themselves from other young, success-bound bands. This, of course,
is a huge part of their appeal. It would seem the loyalty the band
has for its fans is stronger than the loyalty the fans have for
their favorite band.
BBVD paid tribute to such legends as Calloway, with their show
staple, "Minnie the Moocher," and performed other faves such as
"Mr. Pin Stripe Suit" and "King of Swing."
The band also dove into material featured in "Swingers," which
you could tell was the reason why most of the new fans came to The
Derby. One of the most awkward things about the crowd and aura at
The Derby involves all the wannabe hepcats that can’t exactly keep
the rhythm, stand still and look really pretentious or really out
of place. Next to the hardcore swing fans, it certainly looks
funny, especially the too-cool, black-jacketed "Trent" (the
charismatic character from the movie) wannabes. But nothing less
can be expected.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s delivery was, as expected, flawless. Much
like their two-hour-plus show at the Wadsworth late last year, the
band performed each song with precision and panache, and with
smiles across Morris and bassist Dirk Shumaker’s faces all
throughout the set. Most impressive was the four-piece brass set,
highlighted by trumpet player Glen "The Kid" Marhevka and tenor
saxophonist Karl Hunter.
The band would even jump into the crowd and take its breather
during intermissions among the faithful below them. Clearly, BBVD
is at that point before stardom that allows them to hop over that
barrier that keeps fans from their band. With the charm and style
of such a polished and talented band, BBVD is sure to keep their
heads from exploding and egos in check as inevitable success looms
ahead of them. Let’s just hope they’ll come back to The Derby
periodically and remember those who love them best.
Upright bass player Dirk Shumaker and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have
helped revive swing.
photos by MICHAEL ROSS WACHT
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy lead singer Scotty Morris croons.