Squirrel Nut Zippers swinging through Iowa City

“Hot,” the title of the Squirrel Nut Zippers' breakthrough album recorded a quarter century ago, was apt.

Swing was the rage during the mid-to late ’90s and Squirrel Nut Zippers, a retro act out of North Carolina, was the most popular act of the vibrant sub-genre.

Swing was a surprising alternative to the end of post-grunge and the beginning of nu-metal. Guys and dolls dressed to the nines and ripped it up on the dance floor, executing aerials while reviving the Lindy Hop. The Squirrel Nut Zippers delivered such unexpected hits as the jaunty “Hell” and the slick “Put a Lid on It.”

“It was an incredible time that was completely unexpected,” guitarist-songwriter Jimbo Mathus said while calling from Oxford, Miss. “We just happened to be at the right place at the right time. We had no idea that we were going to be part of this larger cultural trend. We fit in with all of that and just rode it. It was like this crazy wave we were swept up in.”

Within the span of six months, The Squirrel Nut Zippers went from playing clubs to selling out large theaters, with a capacity of 3,000 fans.

“People were just so into it,” Mathus said. “I can see why. It's great music and it's so much fun. I have so many incredible memories from the early period of our band. I like to look back at that time.”

Many of the swing acts who emerged during the late '90s, such as the Royal Crown Revue and Combustible Edison, no longer exist. But Squirrel Nut Zippers, who will perform Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, continue to perform with an ever-revolving lineup.

The group has more than 25 alums.

“I do my best to keep this going,” Mathus said. “We've settled in with a really nice lineup. There's Cella Blue, who is our female lead vocalist. She's been with us for three years and it's worked out very well. I do what I can to keep this nine-piece band going.

“I'm very pleased with everyone in our group. We do this for the fans. The audience is happy and overjoyed when we do our thing. We play songs people want to hear, give them an opportunity to dance and the chance to escape.”

The latter element is just what folks need after surviving the lockdown of 2020.

“After we were all stuck inside I think there's nothing more that people want to do than to get out and have some fun,” Mathus said. “Those that have come out to our shows have been so enthusiastic and we feed off of that.”

Don't expect a new Squirrel Nut Zippers release any time soon, but the band has more than enough material to draw from, since it has released eight albums.

“We have enough songs to play, and after all of these years, we still have plenty of energy,” Mathus said. “It still feels the same to us as it did back when we started. The great thing is that we're still doing this. If you would have told me in 1997 that this band would still be around, I would have been thrilled.

“What we do is my passion and I'm just glad to be able to get out on the road again. It was tough being stuck at home for more than a year,” he said. “Now we're out making up for lost time doing our best to entertain our fans.”