"The cautious return of the muse, gentle nudging, and interminable van rides - that’s how we emerged from the ether,” says Chris Phillips, of the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

And so, the band that brought the world Perennial Favorites, Hot, Bedlam Ballroom, and The Inevitable are on the road together again. Featuring original and founding members Katherine Whalen, Jimbo Mathus, Chris Phillips, Je Widenhouse and Stuart Cole - the Squirrel Nut Zippers perform selections from the entire catalog, plus new songs and the occasional cover. In addition most shows include a video performance of the amazing Ghost of Stephen Foster cartoon, created by their friends at The Simpsons.

"Cacophony reins supreme. Torchlights blaze. When we put on a show we become either true believers or temporarily insane,” says Phillips.

The band still rejoices at the difficulty people have in pigeonholing their unmistakable sound. A rich, hybrid-stew of Southern roots traditions, the Zippers were aptly tagged “30s punk” by one critic. They have always flirted with a muse most concerned with ghosts, fever-dreams, love gone wrong and characters that seemed to have been torn from the pages of a long forgotten novel. Centered around the beguiling vocals of Katherine Whalen and the anachronistic windup toy that is Jimbo Mathus, the Zippers promise to both charm and confound.

"I remember when I first met Jimbo. He was wearing these crazy old shoes. When I asked him where he got them he told me he had found them underneath a bed in the abandoned old folks home, which was across the street from the farmhouse where he and Katharine lived. That’s truly Jimbo," Phillips says.

Since 2001, the members have kept themselves more than busy. Katherine Whalen has released several solo albums, including the critical favorite Dirty Little Secret. Jimbo Mathus has released several solo records, worked as musical director for legendary blues musician and Grammy winner Buddy Guy, and operated a recording studio outside of Memphis. Chris Phillips spent time playing with the Dickies and was the composer for the Comedy Central television show Lil’ Bush. Je Widenhouse performs throughout the country with his Dixieland jazz group The Firecracker Jazz Band. Not to be outdone, Cole has written “Dancing to Morocco”, a travel guide for Northern Africa based on his recent touring in the region with the Amazing Dancer Troupe.

“For all the things I’ve done in my life, nothing has so confounded me nor so rewarded me. I just can’t get away from it, no matter how hard I try.” says Phillips. Future plans for the release of live recordings, rarities and new studio recordings are all in the works. Live performances are still the best way to catch the band doing what they love. With true sense of purpose, the band is determined to reinvent their wheel once again. Sweet confection.