I first conceived of the concept for Squirrel Nut Zippers starring in “Fat City” three decades ago, when I was doing some recording in Metairie, LA for our perennial favorites album.
That’s when I learned that the city of Metairie had attempted to rebrand its entertainment district as “Fat City” to promote a sort of tourist alternative to the French Quarter. It had failed in this regard, but I was haunted by the idea of a cut rate city trying to promote itself as something that it was not. Many of the nightclubs and strip clubs were still in operation in some final last gasp of their existence, and I frequented them while I was in the city, absorbing the shabby melodramas unfolding amongst the patrons, employees, and showbiz talent of the district.
Fast-forward to 2025, when I began collecting all the material I had envisioned over all the decades and creating a long-form recording, part beggars opera, part literary narrative, and of course, jazz- and cabaret-based music and characters.
The character of Lil Tony is based on my grandfather, Tony Malvezzi, who began his life in the early 20th century as a bootlegger and juke joint operator, continuing in his post-World War II life as a big band promoter in hotels and ballrooms such as the Peabody in Memphis and the Old Absinthe House in New Orleans. Many of the stories and characters described in “Fat City” are based on his memories of those times.
To further add to the ambience and intrigue of the recordings, I used old theaters such as Turner Hall in Milwaukee and Stoughton Opera House to record the material while on tour with SNZ for the Christmas Caravan, setting up mics and using the old theater spaces to capture the sonic vagaries of these lovely old places.
The result is this sprawling musical narrative which included decades of my ruminating and composing on the theme of little Tony; part fiction, part non-fiction, part autobiographical.
The full scope of the talent and dedication to the craft of music in theater possessed by my Squirrel Nut Zippers are on display here. I hope it brings joy and mystery to listeners and fans past, present, and future of our fine ensemble.
Toujours gai kid, toujours gai!
Jimbo Mathus
Holiday Inn
Kearney, NE
December 17, 2025
