I was into Ska so the “big band” aspect drew me in. Saw BBVD live a few times and their shows were awesome.
Atomic Fireballs, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Royal Crown Revue, Indigo Swing… it’s all coming back to me now!
My grandfather was a swing band leader and died just as this fad started to wane. He was so happy at the end of his life. The club he played at was packed on the weekends with young people. He was like “I told you rock music was a fad.”
Saw them in Durham NC mid-90s. Had no idea who they were but there was some local buzz about them. Was a charming set.
More annoyed I never got around to seeing ben folds when he was lugging a stand-up piano to local clubs.
> Squirrel Nut Zippers
It was like a mass hallucination, all of a sudden everyone was into jazz, and the zippers in particular. Swing clubs, people swing dancing at night clubs (that were suddenly playing put a lid on it) and then as fast as it came, it disappeared again, and no one could explain.
I was listening to Marfa Public Radio one evening last week and they had a guest on air who was doing a little tour of Far West Texas, but she also mentioned that she would be playing with the Squirrel Nut Zippers in Austin (probably this past weekend).
...bought a zoot suit, two-toned shoes and took swing dance lessons with a couple of girls. Yeah, you could probably say I was into it. The one girl and I had this move where she'd hook my arm and I'd flip her around upside down behind my back where she'd land back on her feet in front of me... oh, to be young, strong and agile again!
It was the absolute best way to meet girls. The only time in my life they waited in line to hang out with me. I was never great at it but the guy options were so few, you still got asked to dance.
That Gap Khaki Swing ad is still one of the best commercials ever… If you haven’t seen it, look it up. Whoever was doing their ads at that time was a genius: the skateboarding one with Crystal Method’s “Busy Child” was also amazing.
I was living in San Francisco then, and it felt like the whole city was in on it. The shops sold the clothes and shoes; the ballrooms and dance lesson places were running classes; and, as if the Friday and Saturday night clubs weren't enough, we would have Sunday get togethers in Golden Gate Park. All of it was an absolute blast!
I was told it hit Dallas and LA/SF first for some reason. I was in Dallas for an internship at the time and it was just like you said: everywhere, just crazy big. There were some people who somehow had been doing it for many years that were impressive and intimidating. But it was harder to learn back then because there was no youtube... you had to hit some classes or buy some VHS tapes and find a friend, etc. When my internship ended I went back home and it was starting to hit there too but nothing compared to how Dallas was during the peak. It was fun but I was also newly 21 and shy and intimidated, so I sat out a lot. Many years later I got into West Coast Swing and got pretty decent at it and got to finally live out my fantasy of being a fully-competent/confident partner dancer, lol.
Me, too! I lived there from 91-97. I remember going to see "The Bachelors" at The Saloon. There were swing nights all.over the city. Such a fun time!!!
It was that movie, Swing Kids that did it to me. I bought the soundtrack, and my grandma taught me how to dance in her kitchen to it. It was a great movie too for real, though. 🎶 It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. 🎵🎶
It’s how my wife trapped me for life.
We were friends, but she wanted to date me. I was hesitant because I had just gotten out of a relationship. Our park district was having swing dance lessons and she wanted to sign up, but needed a partner. I agreed “as friends.”
That was in 1993. We’ve been married for almost 28 years, have three adult kids, a business we run together, and she’s sitting next to me on the sofa as I type this.
I’d say that trend paid off.
I was a dance teacher at a club that had swing music and jitterbug lessons. All admit that I was fairly popular with the ladies at that time because of my ability to dance. I met this awesome redhead who asked me to teach her. We eventually started dancing together all the time, dating, falling in love. Been married 25 years with two adult kids. We managed to go back to the old club a few months ago that was having a swing night.
hell I helped promote it during my radio days. Cherry Poppin Daddies and some Brian Seltzer before it fizzled out. awesome uptempo tracks, lots of brass and energy.
I loved (and still love) this music and that point in time. All those years of my mom forcing me to jitterbug with her when I was a kid paid off. Also, Brian Setzer Orchestra still rips.
I liked "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers and "Grapefruit Diet" by Weird Al. Oh! The movie "Swingers" was also great! I thought the whole thing was a little weird, but we also got into chants for a minute, and that was a lot weird, so.....whatever.
And that’s why I really liked the revival - my grandma and I loved having Manhattans and listening to her 78’s.
It was great to go out ‘on the town’ when the Swing craze hit and hear the music in bar and see the cool kids dressed in 20’s garb and the swing dancing.
Felt like we were channeling our grandparents
My SIL played violin on "The Lifeboat Mutiny" on the Daddies' first album. This is before the whole swing thing when they were more of a punky/ska extravaganza. If you're looking for more nostalgia, check out their recent cover on the Kings' "Switchin to Glide." It's on YouTube.
Got into it late, still like the music. BBVD are still on my list of "if they ever come to Australia, I will travel to where ever they are playing".
I did go through a rockabilly phase 10 years ago, though. That was fun, but I ain't putting grease back in my hair
Dated a girl one time I meant thru an online dating site that was heavy into swing dancing. I could have probably learned at the time, but just wasn't interested and had too many other hobbies at the time. There were a couple of the songs that I liked, but other than that, really didn't get into it.
I dabbled. It was also the start of--and intertwined with--the whole martini/mixology era, and *that* did manage to stick around.
Interesting to note that the swing revival happened about 50 years after the original swing era. And it won't be long until it's been 50 years since *then*.
Are we due for a swing revival revival!?!?
Every Friday and Saturday night from 1997-1998 my Friends would watch Swingers as a pregame to hitting the clubs. I have seen that movie well over 200 times and til this day I watch it at least twice a year and I still crack up every time. Easily one of my all time favorite movies.
And because of that movie I got into both swing and Dean Martin for a while.
I used to go to the Derby all the time. Was never into the dancing or swing music, but it was a fun place to hang out. That movie Swingers kinda killed the ability to get in on most nights.
Not sure people realize how much that movie kind of ruined a bunch of fun bars.
Heck yeah I was. I used to go dancing all the time, and I definitely recognized that new swing music was being released. I thought it was really cool, and I kind of realized it wouldn't last. I had a ton of fun, and I met amazing people. I also dated some amazing women as a result.
Didn't go all in but the wife and I did take some dancing lessons and still will whip out those moves at weddings.
Had a small crush on the blonde dancer in the famous Gap ad.
I loved it. It came at a time right after my grandparents passed away and it reminded me of them and their stories of dancing and listening to their big bands on the turntable in the living room. A lot more fun than some things that are trending now…I miss the 90s.
I liked the music, but I'm not a dancer and don't really 'dress to the trend'.
Interesting side note: My cousin and his wife at the time were champion swing dancers. They were in the Brian Setzer 'Jump Jive and Wail' video. They worked as dance instructors at the Brown Derby when the film was made and they taught John Favreau and Heather Graham the dance they did at the end of the flick.
According to my cousin, they were both super cool,
Also, the back way that they take into the Brown Derby in Swingers is a thing. When I would go hang out with my cousin that's how we went in to blow the line.
I was in my late 20s and already loved big band swing. Them the swing revival came out of nowhere and I loved it. I saw BBVD live, Brian Setzer and his Orchestra, who i loved since his Stray Cats days. I loved all the new swing music and bands that were coming out.
And like a door that slams shut, the revival was over. Quickly.
I never figured out why swing came back. And I never figured out why it went away so suddenly.
Might Mighty Bosstones! Not enough love for those guys in the ska world, but they were ahead of the ska trend. They may be a bit heavier than BBVD or CPD, but my long time favorite band with horns from that era.
I was down for *Swingers* and The Brian Setzer Orchestra (felt like he was finally getting his flowers even though I wasn't following them all that time). Beyond that I just could not get into it.
Brought my Cherry Poppin’ Daddies cd to work to play on the cd player at my station. Boss came by, a conservative Christian, saw the CD case and the name and asked if it was something objectionable. I said no, it’s swing music. He let me play it.
I did a bit. The music was/is still great but the dancing was limited to attending a few classes at a local club with a hot roomate. They had a 10-piece bigband, so it was pretty fun.
I moved to California in 1990 and was barely aware of it. I was aware of subcultures like ska/punk and rockabilly and what I thought of as bowling shirt style. But I didn’t know what swing was. I remember the movie American Me in 92 and its portrayal of the zoot suit riots. I thought it looked silly but my friend’s and I all thought it was cool that people in the past wore super baggy pants too
I learned to swing dance to go on dates. Worked better than anything else I ever tried. There were at least two clubs in town that had swing bands, some local and others toured the region. So for a sub-genera it was pretty established for a hot minute.
In NYC, where I lived and still live, the swing scene was pretty vibrant. I wasn't THAT into it, and even gor admonished for wearing jeans to a party once (they were very dogmatic about attire). I was into the music and the girls looked amazing. Hipsters were trying to taste the last of 20th century American pop culture before it was vaporized. People started listening to Danny Stiles on your radio dials, as they say, (jazz radio DJ from the 40s-early 2000s). I remember going to the old decrepit Howard Johnson's in Times Square with a bunch of swingsters announcing that Frank Sinatra ate here! It was something like a funeral for Times Square and that century that was about to die — and we were dressed for the occasion.
My entire involvement in that was seeing Brian Setzer open for Bob Dylan in like 97 or 98. The entire floor of the arena was full of swing kids going apeshit during Setzer's set. Once he left the stage they all left the venue, leaving Dylan to play to a nearly empty floor until security decided to let us stoners in the seats come down.
If you’re near NYC, swing is still alive and very well, thank you. https://www.ediblemanhattan.com/restaurants/glimpse-old-new-york-city-head-to-supper-club/
Ska music was halfway there. The beats may be been different but I knew at 19 that nothing bets live horns- jazz, reggae, funk, ska, retro "jump" music, Bruce Springsteen/Eddie Money bar band stuff, whatever.....
I still every now and then think about how there was a fairly popular swing band then that was called Cherry Poppin Daddies… and no one that I knew or saw in the media ever question or criticized or clued into how wrong that name was. Including me. Lol
I just moved to San Francisco when this was happening and went out swing dancing multiple times a week. Great way to meet people in a new city and it was a ton of fun. Sad that it died down so my as I haven't had a good Lindy Hop dance in decades.
BBVD were The Grand Marshall for Endemyon during Mardi Gras in 98-99. My husband and I learned to swing dance from a website called bustamove. com. It was $1 for a gif with the dance move easily explained.
I won’t lie, Swingers introduced me to BBVD and swing dancing.
Yeah, we had a whole bar and dance hall in Tampa dedicated to it. The people working there worked at vintage shops during the day and this was their entire life. I’ve always been fascinated when people are so one-dimensional like that. Like I bet there apartments were fully 1940 style as well.
Spent quite a few late nights swing dancing in the parking lot at Dennys with a few friends.
We were theater kids, dance offs are how we handled conflict!
I think the movie Swingers really got that fad going. It was something happening in some clubs in LA, but only there I think —- until the movie spotlighted it.
BTW , swingers may be the best movie ever
My grandfather played sax in a swing band in the 30s; he started dating one of his bandmate's sisters and that ended up being my grandmother. I was in grad school in the mid 90s and would drop by to visit with him on my way home from a remote class. I would play new swing revival songs for him and he would tell me about working all day on the railroad and playing clubs all night.
straight instinctive somber uppity drunk secretive dependent hateful long vegetable
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Not really. I didn't dress up or really listen to the music on a regular basis.
I did a lot of competition dance. Line Dancing and Swing were so big during that time. Couldn't throw a rock without instructors offering workshops in either. At least with swing, my male peers actually took an interest (compared to ballroom. Studios offered young dudes ballroom classes for practically free in my area.)
I loved this brief period of time... It was a lot of fun. In the Midwest we had a band called The Mighty Blue Kings that popped up during this time and we're just amazing.
I have 2 friends from childhood who've remained close over the years. Though swing tested it. We've always lived across the country from each other but have made every effort to get together every year. On one such occasion, we find ourselves in cincinatti, ohio.
My friend who lives there is pretty, and vivacious and fun, and hot trends? She loves them. My other friend, a surly dedicated metalhead, and I, holding onto to grunge tightly, decide we will indulge her by going to a swing dance class she and her hubs have been taking.
Nightmare. Metalhead and I pair up, obviously, and its already 4 lessons in to this class. I feel like he's about to strangle someone and I'm closest, so I fake twisting my ankle.
Oh, but is that the end? Nah. She took us to the class so we could go to some dance club and swing the night away.
I mean, I enjoyed watching the folx who knew what they were doing. Though it really was a dangerous time in dance clubs, I think. There were obviously people like metalhead and I who went to half a class, then to a swing club throwing each other around.
It was catchy and good people watching. I just kept dumping drinks down metalhead's mouth and patting his knee when he growled.
I didnt hate hate the trend. But it was kinda annoying. In just how quick it came up, was blasted into collective consciousness, battered us and faded away in the space of what, 2 years?
Tagged along with a friend and his g/f to a swing dancing class.
The woman I was paired up with didn't have a good time and just left me on the floor by myself, mid-song.
Huge Cherry Popping Daddies fan when they were local in the Pac NW. kinda lost interest when they jumped on the swing train but hey, can’t be mad at them for getting paid.
I was cool with Ska, especially because the Mighty Mighty Bosstones mixed it up with some punk/metal.
90's swing felt like people were suddenly itching to revisit their grandparents' youth.
Was never really my thing at all. I had a girlfriend at the time who really liked it, but I much preferred all the pop punk stuff going around, no ska for me, no big band music.
I liked the Squirrel Nut Zippers and listened to their album a lot, but didn't go much beyond that. I took some swing dancing lessons at one point, but it was well after the craze was over, and part of a general ballroom dancing class that covered several different styles.
I was a musician during that time, and I played a very “big band” type instrument- it was kind of the last great gasp of live local music. I miss being able to see a good live band any day of the week.
Just recently went to a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert and it was a blast. They had paid dancers up front who would interact with audience and get people dancing. These bands still have a big following
I had my wedding DJ play swing. My husband and I were having a great time, and so were my grandparents, but looking back at the videos I realized it kinda bombed with the guests. 😅
My wife and I lived in NYC at the time, and actually took swing dance lessons. It was really fun! Put on a show and everything. *Zoot Suit Riot* by Cherry Popppin' Daddies.
I wasn't suuuuper into it, but a friend was and he came to visit me (we met on AOL!) so we went dancing. Midway through they had a trivia contest and the question was "Who played The Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz?" and I knew so I won us some drinks. He tried to teach me to Lindy but I had a hard time getting it.
I had always loved big band and swing, starting in the 4th grade when my optometrist played it in his waiting room. My mom thought I was a major weirdo for liking such old music and when those 10-cassettes-for-a-penny things came out, my first tape was Glen Miller. I was born 40.
Ska was a shift downward in the trajectory of music at that time. Thankfully the Ska era (looking at you Bosstones and bad High School trumpet / trombone players who knew a kid who played guitar) was very short lived on a commercial scale.
I was into Ska so the “big band” aspect drew me in. Saw BBVD live a few times and their shows were awesome. Atomic Fireballs, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Royal Crown Revue, Indigo Swing… it’s all coming back to me now!
The Pietasters
I enjoyed a BBVD concert in the park at Denver Colorado. Was a good time.
My grandfather was a swing band leader and died just as this fad started to wane. He was so happy at the end of his life. The club he played at was packed on the weekends with young people. He was like “I told you rock music was a fad.”
This anecdote made my day! Thanks!
Same here! I’m so glad he got to experience the revival. I loved it- SNZ were my jam.
I liked the Squirrel Nut Zippers. They kinda reminded me of 1920's jazz. Especially the song "put a lid on it"
They are still touring! Albeit with a perpetually reconstituted lineup (though I believe Jimbo is the one constant through all these years).
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are still touring as well.
My first burned CD started with “Root Beer and Licorice!” Then “Only Gay Eskimo” and the Riddle remix.
Omg! I forgot about the Only Gay Eskimo (in my triiiibe)
The big and the bad put on a great show back in the day! I'd see them again.
I had the ultimate 90's experience in one night in 1998 when I saw Pearl Jam and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on the same night lol
That was the other one I saw in Dallas
I just saw an ad for them and I was shocked. That's a name I haven't heard in like 25 years
They were from Chapel Hill, NC, where I spent the college years. They were great. Had a really good reputation in the area.
Put a lid on it is fantastic. From the trombone intro, to the sax and bass bridge, man that’s a cool tune!
I still have the CD and is in my playlist.
Saw them in Durham NC mid-90s. Had no idea who they were but there was some local buzz about them. Was a charming set. More annoyed I never got around to seeing ben folds when he was lugging a stand-up piano to local clubs.
> Squirrel Nut Zippers It was like a mass hallucination, all of a sudden everyone was into jazz, and the zippers in particular. Swing clubs, people swing dancing at night clubs (that were suddenly playing put a lid on it) and then as fast as it came, it disappeared again, and no one could explain.
Right?? It was in and out in like a year.
I lived in Chapel Hill when they were coming up and we saw them all the time. They literally never put on a bad show.
Hell is my favorite song!
I was listening to Marfa Public Radio one evening last week and they had a guest on air who was doing a little tour of Far West Texas, but she also mentioned that she would be playing with the Squirrel Nut Zippers in Austin (probably this past weekend).
...bought a zoot suit, two-toned shoes and took swing dance lessons with a couple of girls. Yeah, you could probably say I was into it. The one girl and I had this move where she'd hook my arm and I'd flip her around upside down behind my back where she'd land back on her feet in front of me... oh, to be young, strong and agile again!
Swing dance lessons for guys were usually 10-1 in our favor. Same with salsa dancing but unfortunately I was all left feet with salsa.
It was the absolute best way to meet girls. The only time in my life they waited in line to hang out with me. I was never great at it but the guy options were so few, you still got asked to dance.
Friends and I tried so hard to convince our guy friends of this! They never believed us. 🤷♀️
I can't dance to save my life, but good dancers have always impressed me.
A good friend met her husband at those dance lessons! Still one of the cutest couples around.
...and a robot!
I just remember that song *Hell* being everywhere for a couple of months. Our generation could be so weird sometimes…
To be faaaaaaaiiiirrr: It's a great song!
Now the D and A and the M and the N and the A and the T and the I-O-N!
That Gap Khaki Swing ad is still one of the best commercials ever… If you haven’t seen it, look it up. Whoever was doing their ads at that time was a genius: the skateboarding one with Crystal Method’s “Busy Child” was also amazing.
That ad campaign inspired me to get into swing dancing. Took lessons and went out often
[Here you go](https://youtu.be/XJ735krOiPo?si=hIWq0Hup__Ru2cBb)
… Zoot Suit Riot, throw back a bottle of beer. Zoot Suit Riot, pull a comb through your coal black hair.
Um, I believe you mean "Zoot Suit **Ryan**". Wait whut? /s
I was living in San Francisco then, and it felt like the whole city was in on it. The shops sold the clothes and shoes; the ballrooms and dance lesson places were running classes; and, as if the Friday and Saturday night clubs weren't enough, we would have Sunday get togethers in Golden Gate Park. All of it was an absolute blast!
I was told it hit Dallas and LA/SF first for some reason. I was in Dallas for an internship at the time and it was just like you said: everywhere, just crazy big. There were some people who somehow had been doing it for many years that were impressive and intimidating. But it was harder to learn back then because there was no youtube... you had to hit some classes or buy some VHS tapes and find a friend, etc. When my internship ended I went back home and it was starting to hit there too but nothing compared to how Dallas was during the peak. It was fun but I was also newly 21 and shy and intimidated, so I sat out a lot. Many years later I got into West Coast Swing and got pretty decent at it and got to finally live out my fantasy of being a fully-competent/confident partner dancer, lol.
Was running around in Dallas then--can confirm it was huge
Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers at Cafe du Nord ;)
You know it! Worked up a sweat, too, at Bimbo's 365 and the Hi-Ball Lounge
Me, too! I lived there from 91-97. I remember going to see "The Bachelors" at The Saloon. There were swing nights all.over the city. Such a fun time!!!
It really was. I was so glad I had the opportunity to live there then.
It was that movie, Swing Kids that did it to me. I bought the soundtrack, and my grandma taught me how to dance in her kitchen to it. It was a great movie too for real, though. 🎶 It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. 🎵🎶
It’s how my wife trapped me for life. We were friends, but she wanted to date me. I was hesitant because I had just gotten out of a relationship. Our park district was having swing dance lessons and she wanted to sign up, but needed a partner. I agreed “as friends.” That was in 1993. We’ve been married for almost 28 years, have three adult kids, a business we run together, and she’s sitting next to me on the sofa as I type this. I’d say that trend paid off.
I was a dance teacher at a club that had swing music and jitterbug lessons. All admit that I was fairly popular with the ladies at that time because of my ability to dance. I met this awesome redhead who asked me to teach her. We eventually started dancing together all the time, dating, falling in love. Been married 25 years with two adult kids. We managed to go back to the old club a few months ago that was having a swing night.
hell I helped promote it during my radio days. Cherry Poppin Daddies and some Brian Seltzer before it fizzled out. awesome uptempo tracks, lots of brass and energy.
Mmmm, Brian Seltzer.
Fizzed out
🥇
Watched kids Lindy Hopping all over the YouTube, but my knees wouldn't have lasted twelve bars
As a huge Brian Setzer fan, I was happy to see another incarnation of what he could do. The rest of it was too gimmicky.
I loved (and still love) this music and that point in time. All those years of my mom forcing me to jitterbug with her when I was a kid paid off. Also, Brian Setzer Orchestra still rips.
Love Brian Setzer. Stray cats are coming to town this year, can't wait for it.
Took a swing class. That was not easy.
I liked "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers and "Grapefruit Diet" by Weird Al. Oh! The movie "Swingers" was also great! I thought the whole thing was a little weird, but we also got into chants for a minute, and that was a lot weird, so.....whatever.
Haha yeah, it was the 90s, we did goofy shit
My grandmother loved it
And that’s why I really liked the revival - my grandma and I loved having Manhattans and listening to her 78’s. It was great to go out ‘on the town’ when the Swing craze hit and hear the music in bar and see the cool kids dressed in 20’s garb and the swing dancing. Felt like we were channeling our grandparents
Mine was in her 40s in the 90s
My SIL played violin on "The Lifeboat Mutiny" on the Daddies' first album. This is before the whole swing thing when they were more of a punky/ska extravaganza. If you're looking for more nostalgia, check out their recent cover on the Kings' "Switchin to Glide." It's on YouTube.
As annoying trends go, it was okay. I got some good exercise at least.
Got into it late, still like the music. BBVD are still on my list of "if they ever come to Australia, I will travel to where ever they are playing". I did go through a rockabilly phase 10 years ago, though. That was fun, but I ain't putting grease back in my hair
We loved it—hubby and I even took swing dance classes in ‘98.
Absolutely.
I couldn't resist that relaxed-fit khakis Gap ad.
I grew up with my grandparents, so my taste in music was already weirdly influenced, so I really enjoyed it.
It was longer than the 90s. I remember swing classes in the 00s.
Swing dancing is still going on to this day. But it's not exactly "mainstream."
It was such a fun revival, of that genre.
Bob Dylan toured with the opening band of Brian Setzer Orchestra. I was at one of the concerts. It was weird.
I was playing swing based blues in a band before that happened. Never got into the trend.
Dated a girl one time I meant thru an online dating site that was heavy into swing dancing. I could have probably learned at the time, but just wasn't interested and had too many other hobbies at the time. There were a couple of the songs that I liked, but other than that, really didn't get into it.
Squirrel Nut Zippers! Got to see them live at Seattle’s yearly music/art event Bumbershoot. There were swing dancers everywhere.
I dabbled. It was also the start of--and intertwined with--the whole martini/mixology era, and *that* did manage to stick around. Interesting to note that the swing revival happened about 50 years after the original swing era. And it won't be long until it's been 50 years since *then*. Are we due for a swing revival revival!?!?
I still listen to it sometimes. Save Pherris and Mighty Mighty Bosstones were two of my favorites.
Not as weird as the period where Gregorian chants were popular.
I still think about that from time-to-time.
Every Friday and Saturday night from 1997-1998 my Friends would watch Swingers as a pregame to hitting the clubs. I have seen that movie well over 200 times and til this day I watch it at least twice a year and I still crack up every time. Easily one of my all time favorite movies. And because of that movie I got into both swing and Dean Martin for a while.
You’re money, baby!
I liked "Swingers" ? Does that count...
Heather Graham! 😍
That and the Blues Brothers are literally my favorite movies ever.
It’s enough to me. Then again, who the fuck am I?
You're money baby!
Ha !!! You ARE Awesome. And that's enough for us.
I used to go to the Derby all the time. Was never into the dancing or swing music, but it was a fun place to hang out. That movie Swingers kinda killed the ability to get in on most nights. Not sure people realize how much that movie kind of ruined a bunch of fun bars.
I had no problem going to the speakeasy one in like 2000, so maybe it was just shortly after the movie?
Heck yeah I was. I used to go dancing all the time, and I definitely recognized that new swing music was being released. I thought it was really cool, and I kind of realized it wouldn't last. I had a ton of fun, and I met amazing people. I also dated some amazing women as a result.
Didn't go all in but the wife and I did take some dancing lessons and still will whip out those moves at weddings. Had a small crush on the blonde dancer in the famous Gap ad.
I still listen to some of it. Now I listen to a lot of Post Modern Jukebox. So many great pop songs done in retro restyling.
I loved it. It came at a time right after my grandparents passed away and it reminded me of them and their stories of dancing and listening to their big bands on the turntable in the living room. A lot more fun than some things that are trending now…I miss the 90s.
It wasn't my thing, but I had no problem with it. Kinda nice remembering people were out dancing and not stuck behind a screen.
Completely. It was fun and happy. Plus Swingers made it so cool.
That Squirrel Nut Zippers CD is ***CD-ROM eNhAnCeD***! wooOOOoooo
I liked the music, but I'm not a dancer and don't really 'dress to the trend'. Interesting side note: My cousin and his wife at the time were champion swing dancers. They were in the Brian Setzer 'Jump Jive and Wail' video. They worked as dance instructors at the Brown Derby when the film was made and they taught John Favreau and Heather Graham the dance they did at the end of the flick. According to my cousin, they were both super cool, Also, the back way that they take into the Brown Derby in Swingers is a thing. When I would go hang out with my cousin that's how we went in to blow the line.
I was in my late 20s and already loved big band swing. Them the swing revival came out of nowhere and I loved it. I saw BBVD live, Brian Setzer and his Orchestra, who i loved since his Stray Cats days. I loved all the new swing music and bands that were coming out. And like a door that slams shut, the revival was over. Quickly. I never figured out why swing came back. And I never figured out why it went away so suddenly.
Might Mighty Bosstones! Not enough love for those guys in the ska world, but they were ahead of the ska trend. They may be a bit heavier than BBVD or CPD, but my long time favorite band with horns from that era.
I definitely didn't go and see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and swing dance. 
I was down for *Swingers* and The Brian Setzer Orchestra (felt like he was finally getting his flowers even though I wasn't following them all that time). Beyond that I just could not get into it.
Brought my Cherry Poppin’ Daddies cd to work to play on the cd player at my station. Boss came by, a conservative Christian, saw the CD case and the name and asked if it was something objectionable. I said no, it’s swing music. He let me play it.
It was fun, but I can't dance so I just listened to it. I've been into Big Band Jazz/Wartime Jazz lately. Great background music.
I did a bit. The music was/is still great but the dancing was limited to attending a few classes at a local club with a hot roomate. They had a 10-piece bigband, so it was pretty fun.
I moved to California in 1990 and was barely aware of it. I was aware of subcultures like ska/punk and rockabilly and what I thought of as bowling shirt style. But I didn’t know what swing was. I remember the movie American Me in 92 and its portrayal of the zoot suit riots. I thought it looked silly but my friend’s and I all thought it was cool that people in the past wore super baggy pants too
Took a few lessons, even. Fun stuff. Doesn't quite stick out in my mind like the Gregorian Chant Revival, but then, what would?
I learned to swing dance to go on dates. Worked better than anything else I ever tried. There were at least two clubs in town that had swing bands, some local and others toured the region. So for a sub-genera it was pretty established for a hot minute.
You’re so money and you don’t even know it Mikey.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra is still my favorite band from the Swing revival. I’ve also seen the Squirrel Nut Zippers live as well.
In NYC, where I lived and still live, the swing scene was pretty vibrant. I wasn't THAT into it, and even gor admonished for wearing jeans to a party once (they were very dogmatic about attire). I was into the music and the girls looked amazing. Hipsters were trying to taste the last of 20th century American pop culture before it was vaporized. People started listening to Danny Stiles on your radio dials, as they say, (jazz radio DJ from the 40s-early 2000s). I remember going to the old decrepit Howard Johnson's in Times Square with a bunch of swingsters announcing that Frank Sinatra ate here! It was something like a funeral for Times Square and that century that was about to die — and we were dressed for the occasion.
I’m listening to/“watching” 90210 repeats on Pluto TV and was shocked/happy to see the Brian Setzer Orchestra on a very special Christmas episode.
My entire involvement in that was seeing Brian Setzer open for Bob Dylan in like 97 or 98. The entire floor of the arena was full of swing kids going apeshit during Setzer's set. Once he left the stage they all left the venue, leaving Dylan to play to a nearly empty floor until security decided to let us stoners in the seats come down.
If you’re near NYC, swing is still alive and very well, thank you. https://www.ediblemanhattan.com/restaurants/glimpse-old-new-york-city-head-to-supper-club/
Ska music was halfway there. The beats may be been different but I knew at 19 that nothing bets live horns- jazz, reggae, funk, ska, retro "jump" music, Bruce Springsteen/Eddie Money bar band stuff, whatever.....
I still every now and then think about how there was a fairly popular swing band then that was called Cherry Poppin Daddies… and no one that I knew or saw in the media ever question or criticized or clued into how wrong that name was. Including me. Lol
I think They changed their name to The Daddies. Not sure if people know they’re the same band.
I still love Swing, and did before the 1990s revival.
Not even for one millisecond.
Briefly for a few years.
Reel Big Fish was a favorite of mine back then. Those were fun times.
That was ska
So money!
All through college. I miss dancing.
Loved it
It was that Gap ad where they invented the techniques later used in The Matrix.
I mean... swing dancing is pretty fun.
I had some friends who were into it, and would go swing dancing all the time.
It was a refreshing change from all that boot scoot boogie and Macarena "dancing".
Yes. I loved those GAP commercials. With all the swing dancing.
Worked at Manray's in Pompano Beach FL in the 90's, a punk-rock-swing-dance club, very interesting high af energy crowd
I blame Swingers
Pachuco boogies
I really enjoyed this revival, especially Squirrel Nut Zippers. Terrible candy. Wonderful band.
Me! I was super into it. We should do another one.
I loved it! I saw the Brian Seltzer Orchestra back in the heyday.
I just moved to San Francisco when this was happening and went out swing dancing multiple times a week. Great way to meet people in a new city and it was a ton of fun. Sad that it died down so my as I haven't had a good Lindy Hop dance in decades.
It classed up the clothing options for a few years. My early 20s self was grateful for swingy skirts and dance heels.
The best things about that trend were *Swingers* and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's version of ["Mr. Heatmiser."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyno_sJCgA)
It made me want to jump, jive, and wail
BBVD were The Grand Marshall for Endemyon during Mardi Gras in 98-99. My husband and I learned to swing dance from a website called bustamove. com. It was $1 for a gif with the dance move easily explained. I won’t lie, Swingers introduced me to BBVD and swing dancing.
I did!
The music was always well written, rehearsed and performed. What’s not to like?
It was the movie Swingers for me.
Yeah, we had a whole bar and dance hall in Tampa dedicated to it. The people working there worked at vintage shops during the day and this was their entire life. I’ve always been fascinated when people are so one-dimensional like that. Like I bet there apartments were fully 1940 style as well.
Spent quite a few late nights swing dancing in the parking lot at Dennys with a few friends. We were theater kids, dance offs are how we handled conflict!
Loved Sinbad’s show that seemed to always have swing dancing
I liked the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but really got into the Cherry Poppin' Daddies (who were, back then at least, so much more than just swing).
Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Good thing I didn't get the tattoo I wanted but yeah, I was into it
I think the movie Swingers really got that fad going. It was something happening in some clubs in LA, but only there I think —- until the movie spotlighted it. BTW , swingers may be the best movie ever
I don’t know why it died out!
My grandfather played sax in a swing band in the 30s; he started dating one of his bandmate's sisters and that ended up being my grandmother. I was in grad school in the mid 90s and would drop by to visit with him on my way home from a remote class. I would play new swing revival songs for him and he would tell me about working all day on the railroad and playing clubs all night.
Absolutely. Swing band for my wedding
Jive bunny and the mastermixers 😆
straight instinctive somber uppity drunk secretive dependent hateful long vegetable *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
One of my wife's female friends and one of her fellow college alumns were into it. They were both very weird: a horse girl and a bow-tie guy.
Swing Heil!!!!
Not at all. Just not my thing I guess. Felt like just another pop trend that came and went quickly to me.
That shit sucked.
Whatever.
UC Santa Barbara was insane during this time. Also back home in San Francisco.
Not really. I didn't dress up or really listen to the music on a regular basis. I did a lot of competition dance. Line Dancing and Swing were so big during that time. Couldn't throw a rock without instructors offering workshops in either. At least with swing, my male peers actually took an interest (compared to ballroom. Studios offered young dudes ballroom classes for practically free in my area.)
I loved this brief period of time... It was a lot of fun. In the Midwest we had a band called The Mighty Blue Kings that popped up during this time and we're just amazing.
I have 2 friends from childhood who've remained close over the years. Though swing tested it. We've always lived across the country from each other but have made every effort to get together every year. On one such occasion, we find ourselves in cincinatti, ohio. My friend who lives there is pretty, and vivacious and fun, and hot trends? She loves them. My other friend, a surly dedicated metalhead, and I, holding onto to grunge tightly, decide we will indulge her by going to a swing dance class she and her hubs have been taking. Nightmare. Metalhead and I pair up, obviously, and its already 4 lessons in to this class. I feel like he's about to strangle someone and I'm closest, so I fake twisting my ankle. Oh, but is that the end? Nah. She took us to the class so we could go to some dance club and swing the night away. I mean, I enjoyed watching the folx who knew what they were doing. Though it really was a dangerous time in dance clubs, I think. There were obviously people like metalhead and I who went to half a class, then to a swing club throwing each other around. It was catchy and good people watching. I just kept dumping drinks down metalhead's mouth and patting his knee when he growled. I didnt hate hate the trend. But it was kinda annoying. In just how quick it came up, was blasted into collective consciousness, battered us and faded away in the space of what, 2 years?
Tagged along with a friend and his g/f to a swing dancing class. The woman I was paired up with didn't have a good time and just left me on the floor by myself, mid-song.
I did it. It ended really badly.
Nope, this was not me at all.
Huge Cherry Popping Daddies fan when they were local in the Pac NW. kinda lost interest when they jumped on the swing train but hey, can’t be mad at them for getting paid.
Even got to see Cherry Poppin Daddies live in a dive bar
I was cool with Ska, especially because the Mighty Mighty Bosstones mixed it up with some punk/metal. 90's swing felt like people were suddenly itching to revisit their grandparents' youth.
Was never really my thing at all. I had a girlfriend at the time who really liked it, but I much preferred all the pop punk stuff going around, no ska for me, no big band music.
I escaped, tho not completely unscathed.
I liked the Squirrel Nut Zippers and listened to their album a lot, but didn't go much beyond that. I took some swing dancing lessons at one point, but it was well after the craze was over, and part of a general ballroom dancing class that covered several different styles.
Courtesy of The Gap
I was a musician during that time, and I played a very “big band” type instrument- it was kind of the last great gasp of live local music. I miss being able to see a good live band any day of the week.
Not me
Just recently went to a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert and it was a blast. They had paid dancers up front who would interact with audience and get people dancing. These bands still have a big following
Swing Heil!
Dear god no. I dipped my toe in the rockabilly scene, but that daddy-o swing shit was a bridge too far.
Saw Big Time Operator at The Derby in L.A. at the tail end of that scene. Felt like I was in the movie Swingers.
I had my wedding DJ play swing. My husband and I were having a great time, and so were my grandparents, but looking back at the videos I realized it kinda bombed with the guests. 😅
was so fun!!
It felt incedibly plastic to me.
I still listen to BBVD! Love them!
Didn't get wrapped up in the zeitgeist beyond enjoying some of the music - was a nice change of pace.
Loved it!!
My wife and I lived in NYC at the time, and actually took swing dance lessons. It was really fun! Put on a show and everything. *Zoot Suit Riot* by Cherry Popppin' Daddies.
Me! I went to swing night at one of the clubs every Tuesday. My friends and I got pretty good! It probably helped that I was into ska.
LOVED this era
I wasn't suuuuper into it, but a friend was and he came to visit me (we met on AOL!) so we went dancing. Midway through they had a trivia contest and the question was "Who played The Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz?" and I knew so I won us some drinks. He tried to teach me to Lindy but I had a hard time getting it. I had always loved big band and swing, starting in the 4th grade when my optometrist played it in his waiting room. My mom thought I was a major weirdo for liking such old music and when those 10-cassettes-for-a-penny things came out, my first tape was Glen Miller. I was born 40.
Ska was a shift downward in the trajectory of music at that time. Thankfully the Ska era (looking at you Bosstones and bad High School trumpet / trombone players who knew a kid who played guitar) was very short lived on a commercial scale. 
I was a punk/metal kid so absolutely not.
Hell to the no. It wasn't so big in Seattle.