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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Swing Into the Aloha State

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Credit Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

In the early 90’s a series of bands began a revival of the swing music of the 1920’s. Horn sections, zoot suits, and martinis we’re suddenly back in style, being championed by bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Royal Crown Review and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  Of those, the later became one of the most visible… incorporating the sound and style of the time.  

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy recreated the big-band jazz of Bennie Goodman and Gene Krupa, while adding in their own twist on modern rock.  They performed in vintage suits, and kept the dancefloor free for couples to swing the night away.

The band was formed in 1989 in Ventura, California taking their name from a signature from blues legend Albert Collins. Their big break came with a feature in the movie “Swingers,” which earned them a deal with capitol records.  Although they’ve been touring almost constantly ever since, this trip to Hawai‘i marks their first time in Hawai‘i.  Kurt Sodergren is the drummer and founding member of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy play at The Blue Note Hawai‘i from the 19th, to the 23rd… then at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on the 25th

Nick Yee’s passion for music developed at an early age, as he collected jazz and rock records pulled from dusty locations while growing up in both Southern California and Honolulu. In college he started DJing around Honolulu, playing Jazz and Bossa Nova sets at various lounges and clubs under the name dj mr.nick. He started to incorporate Downtempo, House and Breaks into his sets as his popularity grew, eventually getting DJ residences at different Chinatown locations. To this day, he is a fixture in the Honolulu underground club scene, where his live sets are famous for being able to link musical and cultural boundaries, starting mellow and building the audience into a frenzy while steering free of mainstream clichés.
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