Modern Swing Revival
tagStarted 1989Peak 1996–1999Last big hit 1999
Modern swing revival recreates pre-rock swing instrumentation and dance feel with cleaner modern recording, retro styling, and 1990s scene energy.
History
The movement formed around West Coast clubs such as The Derby and around bands founded in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film *Swingers*, the Gap khakis ad, and chart runs by Brian Setzer, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and others briefly turned retro swing into pop culture.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Jump Jive an Wail — Brian Setzer OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
- Go Daddy O — Big Bad Voodoo DaddySpotifyYouTube
- Barflies at the Beach — Royal Crown RevueSpotifyYouTube
- Blue Skies — Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet LickersSpotifyYouTube
- Zoot Suit Riot — Cherry Poppin DaddiesSpotifyYouTube
- Regular Joe — Indigo SwingSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- swing-revival histories
- 1990s neo-swing overviews
- chart-era retrospectives.