Cherry Poppin' Daddies - "Zoot Suit Riot" on Letterman

[LaPenserosa1]

The energy that carries over in their recordings is nothing compared to what they're like live - the bands members play and dance their asses off for over two hours. They put on a hell of a show!

[wenden74]

Great song! What energy!

[billbilhou]

That bass player is shit hot!

[aurumdrakone]

got the perfect voice for swing

[ineedausernamenow999]

wow, it's been so long i forgot that i stayed up to watch them play this. stoked to see steve's stage presence come through on a national level

[GrayLeader2184]

Dave made a mistake in his introduction - the Daddies aren't a swing band (or at least not just a swing band.)

[hillbillygenius72]

@GrayLeader2184 I don't think he nor the audience are that concerned with what they technically are, and neither should you be, theyre all labels, music is music.

[sonic2277]

look at the Twin Towers at the end of the video... Nostalgia.

[RectalDiscourse]

god damn that guy can dance lol

[ANGROCEL]

He's not even wearing a zoot suit

[JohnBaptist702]

Who's your daddy? Yes I am. LOL!

[VelvetViolator]

The end title with the T-Tower is very sad... Though I'm German I guess I'll never get over this.

Keep on rockin' in the free world !!

Cheers to the Daddies !

[AMBASSODOR]

Does not get any better than this CLASS BAND

[GreasyGrumpy13]

I disliked it to make SteelBlueRage's comment not count anymore..

[wrenasdown]

This is the Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Theme Song!!

[joshuabrooks21]

I wonder if David was dancing to this song....

[453tyer]

We're playing this for band at school. I didn't know it was an actual song.

[SteelBlueRage]

What's with the sailor reference in the lyrics? Is there a historical reference in that? like maybe the 40s swing cats didn't get along with sailors, cause well, their women would hook up with them with the men were at sea?

With that being said, 2 Sailors disliked this video =D

[Skibz778]

@SteelBlueRage The lyrics are vague, but the actual "zoot suit riots" were a series of riots/murders in L.A. between white sailors and black and Latino gangs during WWII. Aside from racial tensions, said gangs wore baggy, colorful zoot suits which sailors saw as unpatriotic because of wartime fabric rationing. Kind of a dark period of history.

[camman44]

@Skibz778 You really know your history I'm into history myself also the zoot suit riots happened on May 31st 1943

[froregon]

It's just not the same without the squealing pogo girls at Steve's feet.

[SteelBlueRage]

lol hooooly crap! I wish I had even an ounce of this dudes charisma! Freakin amazing!

[RubyMaeSwinger]

Those are some sexy spats.

[jojo6572]

I love this song he is so cool like its not even funny!! How old is he??? Like really lol i can't even do a split and u c this man doing it!!! OMG!! :D

[Whammytap]

"Now you know where your women come for love"

Well, I would! No kidding, talented guys, well dressed, well groomed, not afraid to dance...what more could a girl want? The world could use more like this.

[NineMonthMedia]

man, the singer sure knows how to fuckin groove

[paaaatrika]

Anyone else just holding their breath thinking he would get tangled up in the cord?

[tonyd052868]

He is a little reminiscent of Desi Arnaz! Awesome!

[SteelBlueRage]

@tonyd052868: those soaring notes at the end, most definitely has a Ricky Ricardo vibe for sure! I always liked this tune but had no idea Steve Perry (singer) was this freakin amusing to watch, at least in their swing music stuff =)

[Thurzotron]

Steve Perry is smooth as shit man

[Doublefeature56]

Fantastic! Happy 100th birthday Cab Calloway

[borg386]

I love you guys!

My favorite karaoke song that really gets people moving.

[hanno21664]

why cant we see this type of performance during the superbowl half time! wow i love this guys sheer power and coolness all the way! thank you for uploading

[SuperLion43]

I went to High School with the Drummer, NO JOKE!!!!!

[MisterZerKon]

when was this, late nineties?

[RichieD814]

@MisterZerKon - 7/13/1998

[zeldanut08]

That man is so fly.  If he was more fly, he'd need steel shoes.

[atavener]

Brilliant! Love the singer's energy! :D

[Momentum139]

Ittttttzzzzsaaaaa zooot suiiit riiiiioooot!

Riiiiooooot.

[TheNephilli]

YES!! And Lettermen didn't say Ore"gone" lol stupid Jay Leno..

Win!

[missrachelreads]

love the "the singer looks like Jim Carrey on crack" comment below...lol!

It's funny....because it's true....

[meironpure]

You can tell by the way he dances that shits gettin real.

Oh, and this is my favorite swing song :D

[jps5446]

the singer looks like Jim Carrey on crack... still gotta love the song

[bigfatwhitecat]

Totally freakin' amazing. Been a fan for years but just discovered this today.  What a performance.

[savageowl]

I LOVE THESE GUYS!!!!

[Bigbadred23]

I agree Great Front Man

[Zebred2001]

Imagine if these guys were the house band during Letterman's NBC years. Now that would be a show!

[h0axbu5t0r]

Flat?

[matlock12c]

SMOOTH AS HELL!

[Animefootlover]

true about the name, but they make music one cant help but dance too

[adopaz]

The lead singer's movements are too jerky, too stiff.

[TheT4xid3rmist]

@adopaz Well he is wearin a zoot suit... not easy to move around efficiently in.

[adopaz]

@TheT4xid3rmist

That could be.

[usuckamydick]

@TheT4xid3rmist no it isn't

[pinstripe2firelight]

my dream is to dance like this guy - no joke - he's like the coolest dude ever - awesome song!!

[steelerbradd]

He must have had a Red Stripe beer before this performance. Helping us white guys dance for years.

[DuxJerome]

what a great bassline.

[SplashGuitar]

nice dance moves lol!

[brandonmaciel333]

it sounds like the cd

[cyclonus38]

Lead singer is one part Bruce Campbell, one part Jim Carrey.

Awesome performance!

[rickmcarthur77]

@cyclonus38 he fully is huh?

[sgtpepper1138]

@cyclonus38 which is funny, because Bruce Campbell lives in Oregon (like 30 mils away from me)

[imteh1337]

nice moves!

[GoatNation]

lead singer is nuts great...

[wiiman250]

Played the jazz band arrangement for my high school jazz band showcase last year. 1st trombone part is soooooooooo fun! I'm forcing our director to let us play it again this year, really a great song.

[joshuabrooks21]

@wiiman250 I wish I could be there, so maybe I can sing the words of the song for you folks.

[lllconceived]

WOW, that was FANTASTIC. Hard to find bands that sound as good live as they do on their CDs, but these guys definately deliver.

[ffaboy8]

@lllconceived i know man

[spartanrulesall300]

That guy can dance!!!!!!!

[pinstripe2firelight]

I love this guy - to qoute my bro - total legend!!!

[TheFlipTease]

this song kick ass!

[Pinkfloydrocker13]

i love these guys...

[DantonTheWerewolf]

Where can I learn to dance like that??

[lilross2k6]

here on youtube

[Villyko]

That guy is stuck in a time period and he moves like he is tryin' to shake it off.

[stavie03]

thats a real band, and they're just as good live as it sounds on the cd....great stuff

[InsertShankHere]

I wish I could dance like that! lol xD

[skaterwaye]

Holy Shit!!! HE can really dance!!!

[Starkie348ts]

Holy carp! They played the heck out of the studio!!

[CherchezMoi]

Wow!! What a preformance!!

[Silentjackal]

I APPROVE OF THE BELOW COMMENT!

[DoneForLulz]

Holy fucking balls. Let us hope we never perfect gene splicing, because then someone might front a band with genes from both Steve Perry and Bruce Dickinson, and then the universe would have no choice but to explode of awesome.

So much win in the man's showmanship.

[thehoundz1]

I've met them,cooked for them,and I've seen the show. It is FABULUS!

[Aerosmithfan955]

the bassist has the same bass as me!! w00t!!

[LalorexOsito]

en el programa de este señor Letterman tocan muy buenas bandas............... tambien con Connor O'brian....... n_n

[maagick2000]

I love these guys. I'll be singing this song on TV soon. I had some concerns about appearing on TV as I have cerebral palsy, but after seeing the lead singer dance, I should be fiiiiiinnneee. lol

[alarasnowfeather]

This made me laugh so hard when I first saw this; you're hysterical. I hope you did well with your performance!

[fostr3ch1ld]

amazing front man

[icedearth4]

Ahhh.. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are better!

[beanersarepimps]

i think they are both about equil but hey thats my opinion and that is yours

[Skibz778]

I see no similarity between the two, but that's my own opinion. ;)

[Punishment4Decadence]

haha, this lead singer is the man, hes definitely got some crazy moves!

[UffDa93055]

November @ The Tractor Tavern in Seattle! I'll be there!!!

[HashFlash]

nice just nice

just pop the cherries

[blazneg2007]

That is a pretty rough name lol

[keanulinday]

i saw them a couple of weeks ago in oregon

at the davinci days

[theblackparade1039]

He is adorably geeky... I laughed aloud at the crotch-grabbing bit.

[candyman1395]

dudes got some crazy moves...

[razblade345]

when Steve(singer) comes up from the first split, it looks like he almost doesn't make it back up. lol

[SaturnsEthics]

I didn't realize these guys were so close to home...

[11MattRafferty11]

That guy is the most entertaining front man I think I have ever seen

[arron815]

Thats one Suave Mofo, top points for those sweet moves

[deucedoll]

Too funny...love them for their talent...but kuddos to the guy who has to decipher the name, lol...make ya wonder ;).

[GodFearingRebel]

ehh...Setzer still stayed true to Rockabilly though. He just had a bit of a side project..which was his Orchestra. He currently still does things with the Stray Cats and his own Rockabilly work. He certainly is somewhat of a pioneer. They are all damn good to me.

[StenStyren]

I do so very much love their names:)

For those that don´t understand:

Cherry=The Hymen (virginity)

Poppin=To break something

Daddies=Fathers (you probably know that^^)

[FatEskimo7890]

Does anyone understand the name "cherry poppin daddies"? Makes u wonder....ya know fat cat came to play now, can't move fast enough? Who's that whispering in the trees? (MICHAEL JACKSON!!!) XP

[hewholovesblades]

At ~1:54, the trumpet player fracked...but he fracked up...nice...

[caseyforever]

it sounded more like a Reed instrument squeak to me. :) on purpose or not... it sounded cool! :)

[halopunk020]

im pretty sure it was a trumpet

[ak1006]

watch the trumpeter's face when this tune comes up^^ its a trumpet

[saulsaenz79]

The 1990's swing revival was cool. Squirrel Nut Zippers, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Cherry Poppin, etc..

[YewLogs026]

i know! i wish it was around now. all the millenium had was ... well nothing.

[jaratt85]

funny part is, brian setzer has been around for a LONG time.. I think 70s at least if Im not mistaken (which I probably am lol)

[Raichu234]

Fucking quality! These guys are epic! x

[pimpc1125]

fucking quality entertainment.. very rare these days.. awesome band, awesome singer.. 5/5

[Raichu234]

The main singer has an amazing voice, very typical for this music and he is quite sexy as well hehe :) x

[Raichu234]

These guys are epic!

[Raichu234]

This song is one of my faves now. I love it. Cherry Poppin' Daddies return with a bang, relaly energetic and swinging music....wooo! Love it! x

[Raichu234]

classic! Simon Says music woooo! They are amazing!

[Sanktion]

ironic he is not wearing an actual zoot suit....

[atlasperros]

im a cherry popper.....pun intended

[saulsaenz79]

It's sort of ironic to see white kids sing about an event -Zoot Zoot riots- that was about a race-war in the 1940's waged by mostly white/caucasian service men targeting Chicano kids (Zoot Suiters) for their flamboyant suits/style during war-time. *shrugs* Hollywood *shrugs*

[timlarsson81]

Yes, and wars on the internet anre much more fierce and FUCKING STUPID. Damn if its jazz chords or if it its not, and damn if some people's a joke! Just enjoy the damn song from a band thats NOT a swing band originaly but does this song so damn swingin'!!

[atlasperros]

we are all americans here.....no need to start any bullshit....its a damn good song

[SniperViper1000]

I'm CANADIAN! >:(

[rickmcarthur77]

@SniperViper1000 sorry to hear that :) (joking)

[wc2k6]

Not only that, but there was an incident that involved Zoot Suiters and Servicemen that started the entire conflict. I forgot the exact details, but I know that a Zoot Suiter ended up stabbing a Serviceman and it just pushed them over the edge.

[heyitsmejojo]

wow this was a great scene

[MuyEpico]

This song rocks! They really know how to perform as well.

[Kroder]

polishroxxor:

Sorry pal you have no clue what the fuck you are talking about. this song is pitch perfect. How do I know? I'm a musician, unlike you I'm sure. Next time you criticize, know what you're talking about first.

[Markysjazz]

I agree with Kroder, they're perfectly in tune and I'm also a musician (yay for playing sax) so I'd know. And who says they HAVE to do it like the studio version. Bands change the way they play songs all the time. Hell I've even played a different arrangement of this song that Steve Perry made up.

[TheGreatVarholy]

Come on folks, if you are going to argue over the internet....make it something worthwhile.

[polishroxxor]

Holy shit, they cant tune worth a damn, theyre on a live stage...dumbasses...i understand that you cant make live sound like a recording, but the saxs and trumpet are pathetic...no excuse for that.

[damien28173]

Fuck you man! when was the last time you were on David Letterman?

[damien28173]

your a joke.

this is an excellent version.

and the audio is just about as good as the video, a grain of salt sir.

[woofiny]

You don't understand how jazz chords work then..

[prooc]

He rushed his singing a little bit too.

[tennisbomb77]

are you retarded these are jazz chords numb nuts

[awesomeisrick]

No need to get upset...

Am I the only one who really doesn't distinguish chords as "jazz chords" and normal chords?

The two main chords for the chorus are Ab-7 and Eb7 (not counting any tensions the pianist and guitarist feel like adding). Not exactly very complex, and they seem like normal chords to me....

[camisacook]

these guys wernt actually a swing band as most ppl thought

[ggodllubcimota]

maybe spanish

[happyclappers]

crazy black boy dancing.

[ggodllubcimota]

ummm...black boy? Where? Dude is white as the driven snow.

[l0rdjimmy]

no no, as in "black-boy dancing" as in he dances really well, not that he IS a black boy, it's just how you read the sentence.

[bastardsunjt]

skibz your explanation (more/less caption) is great because those two things about dave are what i noticed as soon as i first saw this video.

[compass4me]

skibz778 Thank you for informing me.

[compass4me]

what is a zoot suit?

[Lealan786]

Crazy white boy dancing.

[halopunk020]

hellz yes!

[sadrice]

This particular one may be white, but Swing (and all other jazz dance) was invented by black people. See the Al & Leon videos for some examples.

[XXn1927]

damn they're great live! it's just like the album version. a little faster i must say, but just as good!

[dblairosj]

Kickin' ass! Damn good.

[aznbadboyz555]

they're awesome!

[jellybeanWeen]

lol Steve Perry comes into my work all the time and buys sushi. Unfortunately he's not dancing like this.

[FranceMantus]

Are you sure ist not Bruce Campbell?

*kidding

[aliasevawithnewshoes]

You're so lucky! I love him! x