Swingin' Daddies pop in Pontiac

From Eugene, Oregon, to Pontiac, Michigan, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies rule the world (or at least the nation) when it comes to swing music. You want proof? Go to one of their live shows and become a converted soul.

The basement of Clutch Cargo's was packed with a diverse crowd Friday night - but not initially. Big Barn Combo, a four-piece rockabilly outfit from Detroit, opened the show to a room-filled to less than half-capacity. The combo's set included Patsy Cline numbers, unidentifiable original material and a Johnny Cash tune for a "big" finish. Frankly, I wasn't impressed - the Dangerville Wildcats and The Reverend Horton Heat do the job 10 times better.

Since the show was an 18 and up event, there wasn't the typical "middle-school/alternateen" demographic in effect, which was a nice change of pace. The Daddies typically play all ages ska shows, where you know what the crowd is going to be like. Not this show. As a matter of fact, the average age of audience members was about 26 or 27.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Cherry Poppin' Daddies frontman Steve Perry delivered a breakthrough performance Friday at Mill St. Entry.

Apparently, swing dancing is a big craze in Metro Detroit right now, and the crowd showed off when the Daddies took the stage around 10:15 p.m. They started things off right with four selections from their latest release on Mojo records, "Zoot Suit Riot." As the opening chords of "Doctor Bones" filled the air, the crowd launched into motion. There wasn't an open space on the dance floor for the rest of the night.

The remainder of the Daddies' set included the rest of the "Zoot Suit" album and a few other select ska numbers from the band's extensive repertoire. No matter what the band cranked out, the crowd loved it. Be it ska or swing, the herd of dancers pranced around the floor to it the best they knew how.

REVIEW
	Cherry Poppin' Daddies Mill St. Entry Feb. 13, 1998

My favorite moment of the night was the Daddies' cover of the Operation Ivy Classic, "Sound System." The version was in true swing style, but what was interesting was that no one in the crowd, save yours truly, knew what the hell the band was playing. OK, that's something of an exaggeration, but those damn swing dancers didn't know what was going on and I loved every minute of it.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies turned in a strong performance across the board. Never mind the crowd. Lead Vocalist Steve Perry's (no, not that Steve Perry) constant mugging and constant movement made for an enjoyable spectacle on stage. The three horn players (one of which looked strangely like Chris O'Donnell) played a perfect show - nary a sour note was heard from the trio. Props to the trumpet player, Dana Heitman, for his chop-busting solos and incredibly wide range.

The three-song encore brought the evening to a fitting close. One ska tune and two "Zoot Suit" tracks weren't enough to satisfy the swing-crazy crowd, but had to suffice. For those who didn't make it to the show, "Zoot Suit Riot," the Daddies' new album, is in stores now.



02-16-98