Squirrel Nut Zippers

My husband and I went into Chicago for a rare date night--my parents watched the kids and had a good time--and we saw the Squirrel Nut Zippers perform at the House of Blues.

This group is so tight and play live pretty much the same way as they have recorded their CDs.

I liked their choices in grouping songs. They played Bad Businessman followed by Hell. I think there's some editorial comment in the lineup choice.

Bad Businessman lyrics:

There's a man going around town
Spreading lies
Hes the bad businessman
Does his business while he can
He just does his business bad.

Hes a clown
Gonna get bounced around
If he dont keep his business underground
Hes a player
And everytime he deals a round
Its just a bad hand
What a bad man.
Beware of what he sells
Surely go straight to hell.
Taint no bottom in that wishing well.


That's timely.

Hell lyrics:

In the afterlife
You could be headed for the serious strife
Now you make the scene all day
But tomorrow therell be hell to pay

People listen attentively
I mean about future calamity
I used to think the idea was obsolete
Until I heard the old man stamping his feet.

This is a place where eternally
Fire is applied to the body
Teeth are extruded and bones are ground
Then baked into cakes which are passed around.

Beauty, talent, fame, money, refinement
Top skill and brain
But all the things you try to hide
Will be revealed on the other side.

Now the d and the a and the m
And the n and the a
And the t and the i-o-n
Lose your face, lose your name
Then get fitted for a suit of flame

I'll share a live youtube video of them in New York last year playing Bad Businessman and then you can watch an MTV video of them doing Hell.

Let these songs serve as a warning to all of you Bad Businessmen out there...