Maxwell/Mosher; 5/20/06
The Flying Anvil, Greensboro, N.C.

Squirrel Nut Zipper alums Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher have hit the stage again, playing some of the music that put them on the map.

They played some originals as well as a heaping handful of SNZ tunes from "The Inevitable" and "Hot!" albums.

Don't think of them as a cover band though. They're doing the Zippers songs their way, and it sounds as good as ever.

I talked with the duo before the show, and they said their original fear was that it would be like a cover band. However, they said that feeling was short-lived and they're having a great time.

Their performance at the Flying Anvil was only their 12th show.

"Danny Diamond," "Wash Jones," "Put a Lid on It," and my favorite SNZ song "The Interlocutor" were all part of the set.

The duo was backed by two of the members of Smnmnmnm - the drummer and tuba player.

Yes, this was the first time I had seen a tuba play with a band, but it worked.

I'd seen the Zippers a few times over the years - with Maxwell and Mosher and after their departure from the group - and the music sounded just as good on Saturday as it had back in the 1990s.

On a side note - this was my first trip to the newly-opened Flying Anvil and I was impressed with the sound and atmosphere. The turnout was small, but there's potential in this club. It's a mix of Carrboro's Cat's Cradle and the split layout of Charlotte's Tremont Music Hall.

With Mosher and Maxwell both in it for the fun, they should be around for a while. Or at least until the excitement wears off.

It's sad that the Zippers fell apart over the years, but Maxwell/Mosher are offering an opportunity for the music to live on.

Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at May 21, 2006 10:47 AM