The California Feetwarmers Gloryland

The California Feetwarmers were recommended to me by no less than Vince Giordano of the Nighthawks and Robin Rapuzzi of Tuba Skinny. I've long enjoyed a track of theirs where the band accompanies an amazingly orchestrated swing dance sequence on YouTube. Last year I saw so many European shows on their calendar I mistakenly thought the were a European band! They are undoubtedly an important group on the scene and with their new album Gloryland, I finally have reason to give them some ink. The California Feetwarmers are an L.A. based trad band enamored by string ragtime, stomps, and the happier side of New Orleans jazz. It was that authentic but joyful sound Keb' Mo' was after when he used them on his grammy-nominated song "The Old Me Better". That 2014 success helped open doors and they've since caught on especially on the international swing dance scene. An "influences" list from most bands is essentially meaningless but in this case, a list including The Blue Ridge Playboys, Scott Joplin, The Memphis Jugband, and Emile Grimshaw’s Rag Pickers is telling. Despite that, they aren't overly hokum and more of this album is New Orleans than Tennessee. Many trad groups can smartly switch gears to play swing when the occasion requires. The California Feetwarmers are the first I've come across booked to play accompaniment at a show exploring the history of Mexican-American music.