The Torch

Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Arts

After returning from Europe, The Daddies plan on releasing new material, including their sixth studio album and a stylistic follow-up to their 1997 compilation album "Zoot Suit Riot: The Swinging Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies," which would include the band's ska songs rather than swing songs. Photo courtesy of THE CHERRY POPPIN' DADDIES

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies employ a variety of instruments like saxophone and trumpet, straying from the usual guitar, bass and drums convention of rock music. Photo courtesy of KALLY GENTLESNOW

Photo courtesy of KALLY GENTLESNOW [Click to enlarge]

MC Large Drink is at it again. Cherry Poppin' Daddies' front man Steve Perry is getting back into the swing of things.

The Daddies plan to embark on a two-month tour through Europe after performing a special kick-off show at Eugene's WOW Hall on Nov. 22 with Vagabond Opera and Bad Mitten Orchestre.

"I think it's gonna be a really exciting night," Eric Stern of Vagabond Opera said. "This is a night that really makes sense. It has cohesiveness between the three of us."

The Daddies plan to debut new material that Perry hopes to include in some new releases next year.

"I got a bunch of new songs after we get back from Europe that we're going to get started on," Perry said.

Their fifth official album, "Susquehanna," saw a return after an eight-year absence from the studio followed by a sold-out show at the WOW Hall in late April previewing the release of the album in June. The Daddies started touring the album throughout the summer.

"We've definitely played more this year than before," Perry said.

The Daddies partial hiatus before "Susquehanna" was largely due to the commercial failure of their follow-up to international hit single "Zoot Suit Riot." The band's fourth album, "Soul Caddy," produced by Tony Visconti, who has also worked with David Bowie, didn't follow through with the public's perception of the Daddies as a straight swing-revival group.

"We actually played a lot through that time," Perry explained. "We didn't tour or anything or release a record but we've never really stopped playing."

The band played various festivals and celebrations during this period, but rarely played around Eugene.

"We don't nearly play quite enough in the Northwest as everyone in the band would like," Perry said.

"Susquehanna" sparked some interest in the band along with its return to the WOW Hall in April. Now the band is ready to get back on the road and in the studio.

"There's also been some major shifts in band members. That's held us back for a while," Perry said. Long-time Daddies drummer Tim Donahue left after recording "Susquehanna."

The Daddies are bringing in a new drummer, Kevin Congleton, from New York City to perform with the Daddies in his hometown of Queens, New York. Congleton will then come back with the Daddies to play the WOW Hall show and embark on the European tour.

The Daddies will finish the tour with three more Northwest dates starting in Seattle, then Portland, finishing in Eugene's McDonald Theater on Feb. 7, 2009.

Perry hopes to begin recording a new album next year, but it may take longer to get anything concrete happening.

"I'm having a child in May," Perry explained. "Even if I got halfway done by May, I'd be happy."

Perry is also considering a slightly less time consuming project of a follow-up compilation album to the highly successful "Zoot Suit Riot." This time the band would compile their prerecorded ska songs with a few newly recorded ska songs.

"What the band likes to do is mix styles and this would show a completely different side of the Daddies than 'Zoot Suit Riot,'" Perry said. "These ska songs are really good and a lot of people don't know our ska stuff."

A new album would require a lot more recording and probably won't become a reality for a while. Right now, the Daddies are looking forward to getting on the road, starting with their home base at WOW Hall this Saturday. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door.

Members of Vagabond Opera and Bad Mitten Orchestre are excited about playing with the Daddies. "We get to be in the room with heroes of ours," Stern said.

"It'll be interesting to see what happens," Perry said. "Hopefully people will come and we'll do that voodoo we do."

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