When Hot first hit the airwaves in 1996, it didn’t just ignite excitement — it sparked a cultural bonfire. With its infectious blend of swing, jazz, Delta blues, and Southern storytelling, Hot rocketed Squirrel Nut Zippers from the underground scene of Chapel Hill, NC, to the national stage, going Platinum and defining a generation’s rediscovery of vintage Americana. The band’s breakout sophomore album captured lightning in a bottle. Recorded at the famed Kingsway Studio in New Orleans (owned by Daneil Lanois), the record radiated with authenticity. Featuring a warm, analog sound, paired with wry, vivid storytelling, the album topped the Billboard 200 charts for an impressive 51 weeks and included such standout tracks as “Put a Lid On It,” “Blue Angel,” and its biggest hit to-date “Hell.” “Hell,” which at the time, was considered an unlikely radio single, topped the Alternative Airplay charts at #13 and has become a pivotal piece of pop culture as it continues to heat up the radio and TV airwaves, appearing on alt rock and Americana stations and in such prominent television shows as Wednesday (2025) and Lucifer (2021). Now, 30 years later, the Zippers are celebrating the ever-lasting magic of Hot with the “In The Afterlife” tour, where the band will play the record in its entirety. The 30th celebration of Hot is not just a look back — it’s a salute to resilience, innovation, and the enduring power of a band that never stopped evolving. Formed in 1993 by Jimbo Mathus, Katharine Whalen, and a tight-knit group of musical misfits, Squirrel Nut Zippers defied genre from the start. Their sound — an intoxicating mix of prohibition-era jazz, big band bravado, and punk-rock irreverence — invited listeners into a world where vaudeville met voodoo and speakeasy swagger met Southern soul. Led by Mathus, and managed by original drummer Chris Phillips, the modern-day Zippers continue to honor that legacy while breathing new life into their beloved catalog. As the Squirrel Nut Zippers bring Hot back to the stage, fans old and new are rediscovering what made the album — and the band — so unforgettable. Music that swings, sings, and sizzles with soul.  

QUEL BORDEL (QB!) was formed in San Diego, CA in 2013 w/ a Ukrainian, two Filipino brothers, a classically trained violinist and a punk rock drummer. After the better part of a decade, they have had multiple releases and kept up a vigorous touring regiment of over 150+ shows a year. The band has toured the US, Canada, and Europe, and they have made a small dent in the folk-punk music scene: coining their own sub-genre “world punk.” After the release of their first full-length CD, Caravan Treasures (nominated for Best World Music Album by the 2015 San Diego Music Awards), QB! reveled in a three-week international festival tour with French folk group BandàpArt (headlining Coin de la Vigne, & FestiBaloche in France), which they repeated again 2016 in the US (headlining Crestfest in Colorado, SD GypsyFest in San Diego, and others) amid several regional tours and resident gigs as well. 2017 saw increased regional touring with a full European Tour (headlining Coin de la Vigne again in France, as well as performances at Festibaloche (Olargues, France), and Highmatland Festival (Leutkirch, Germany) a motif that has continued on as the band currently maintains a vigorous touring schedule and band “bromance” with BandàpArt.  In fact the two groups have merged into a side-project super-group known as BandàBordel and released an EP together in 2018. QUEL BORDEL! is noted for their wild performances and danceable beats. QB! has headlined sweaty, high-energy shows at House of Blues (Mainstage), The Holding Company, The Casbah, and has performed at the Get Shamrocked festival 7 years in a row. Likewise, the band has shared the stage with: Flatfoot 56, Metallachi, The Rum Jacks, The Real McKenzies, Diego’s Umbrella, Sprung Monkey, Magic Giant, Young Dubliners, Dublin City Ramblers, Bridge City Sinners, Daze ‘N Daze, Dirty Kid Discount, and many others.  QB also boasts several television slots (including a feature on TLC’s Breaking Amish), as well as new music in the pipeline (three EP’s released in under a year and two more on the way), and a supergroup tour with BandapArt in the winter, as well as southwestern US tour in May 2019 and Canada in June 2019. COVID-19 forced the band to cancel their summer European tour for 2020, but that will be rescheduled for 2021. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Future Concerts section to find out when they are coming to you!!