KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
A big band that might get the audience to jump, jive, and wail is swinging into town to play the first installment in the Kodiak Arts Council’s performing arts season.
According to the band’s website, “Big Bad” has been together for 20 plus years and tours full time, but has also contributed to shows like “3rd Rock From the Sun” and “Dancing with the Stars.”
Now, it’s stopping by Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Kodiak all in three days’ time. It maintains a fast pace in its schedule, much like its music, which drummer and co-founder Kurt Sodergren says has influences like swing and New Orleans traditional jazz.
Sodergren says there are nine musicians in the band.
“There’s no synthesizers or computers or tracks, so you’re gonna see a lot of music that’s just played right in front of your eyes. Swing music is an American art form, and it’s been around for a long time. Some of our music is influenced from even the 20s.”
He says swing saw a comeback in the ‘90s, and many venues still clear a space for dancers to enjoy the music. It also has a wide fan-base internationally.
“When we went to Japan, there was one guy dressed up like Cab Calloway, and there were some other people dressed up like James Dean. They were super, super into that kind of music and Americana, should I say.”
Sodergren says both he and the other founder, Scott Morris, started out playing punk music, and would practice together in the ‘80s.
“Even though we hadn’t played jazz music per se, we had the heart and we had the desire to, so in the beginning was pretty rough around the edges, but it also had a lot of really, really great energy that I think people were attracted to.”
Sodergren says Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is exciting, fun, and a little dark, much like its name. He says the origin of that name comes from an experience Morris had when he went to see blues musician Albert Collins.
“After the show he ripped down a poster and asked to get an autograph, and Albert Collins wrote ‘to Scotty the big bad voodoo daddy,’ and he always thought that might be a great name for a band, but hadn’t had the actual band, and I agreed. Now, when I hear the name I can’t think of anything but our music, but at the time I just thought oh, it’s really, really great and it’s something we can grow into.”
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at the Gerald C. Wilson at 7 p.m. Sunday. The Arts Council says it will clear a space for all the rug cutters in the audience to stand up and dance.
