Former Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus Shuffles His iPod For Us

Mississippi native and former lead-singer for the successful Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jimbo Mathus, shows his true southern self on his latest, excellent album, White Buffalo. While his old band brought attention back to Swing music for a while in the late 1990's, it's now tough to imagine Mathus ever being anything but the simple, soulful southerner he is on this latest album. From the the rambunctious, greasy southern-rocking of the title track to the rootsy, almost Springsteen-like "In The Garden," and the barroom ballad of "Hatchie Bottoms," the album carries the feel of a mix-tape that isn't a scrambled collection, but a thoughtfully curated one.

On the heels of his new record gathering a bit of critical acclaim, Mathus will find himself opening for The Kevin Russell-led Gourds' side-project, Shinyribs on Saturday night in Dallas at the Sons of Hermann Hall. Thankfully, Mathus was bold enough to unfurl the first few songs that popped out of his MP3 player and to let us know why those songs are on there to begin with.

Jimbo Mathus' First Five Shuffled Songs

1. Young Tuxedo Brass Band - "Lord, Lord Lord"
Funeral and parade music from New Orleans' Young Tuxedo Brass Band, circa late 1940's and early 1950's. This is on Atlantic records, I think. It's a great cacophony of sound while I'm having my morning coffee.

2. Charlie Rich - " Behind Closed Doors"
This song will bring a tear to a glass eye.

3. Kurt Weill - "Morning Anthem"
From 1952 version of the "Three Penny Opera." This was my major inspiration for most of the [Squirrel Nut] Zippers stuff I wrote.

4. Ramsey Lewis Trio - " Lonely Avenue"
A very groovy little version of the Ray Charles song.

5. Tav Falco's Panther Burns - "She Wants to Sell My Monkey"
An original master of mid-South mayhem from Tav Falco's unapproachable Panther Burns.