More About "Skimmer Hat"

by Emerald Suspension

Click on the picture to see the fancy press release

Background on the Straw Hat Riots

During the early 20th century, it was a widely followed custom that men could only wear straw hats during the summer and only to mid-September.  In the summer of 1922, New York City witnessed an unexpected outburst of frustration against those who would not follow that peculiar fashion rule. What might have begun as harmless pranks escallated to the point of violence.  Gangs of youths would knock the staw hats off of those wearing them and smash them.  Mobs would storm the streets to grab the straw hats of motorists and their passengers, sometimes using sticks with nails to snag the hats off of passersby. It was reported that a police seargent had his straw hat taken and was tripped by a gang of teenagers when he ran to retrieve it.  O.K., that sounds a little funny, but actual fights also broke out when hats were stolen and some victims required critical medical attention.  Beyond the silliness of it all, the events tie together some fairly serious underlying issues are still around today.  The Straw Hat Riots represented the push and pull between conformity and a desire for individual choice. 

The Video

Listen and/or download (free)

Skimmer Hat

Emerald Suspension

Download

Skimmer Hat

Emerald Suspension

Please choose a price: $ USD ($0.00 or more)

Please choose a price:

Out of stock Download

It's hard to believe that the Straw Hat Riots actually happened. Beyond the silliness of it all, the events tie together some fairly serious underlying issues are still around today. Instead of overthinking it further, we were compelled to do this brief side project.

Many thanks to our collaborators 'Opie and the Admirals' - At times it might

It's hard to believe that the Straw Hat Riots actually happened. Beyond the silliness of it all, the events tie together some fairly serious underlying issues are still around today. Instead of overthinking it further, we were compelled to do this brief side project.

Many thanks to our collaborators 'Opie and the Admirals' - At times it might sound like their voices have been modified by a.i. to sound like some combination of Cab Calloway and Charles Bradley to some...probably just a coincidence. Hat tip to the Squirrel Nut Zippers among others for the inspiration.

Read more…
0:00/???
  1. 1
    Skimmer Hat 2:30
    Info
    0:00/2:30

The Lyrics

Remember late September 
They told us Fall in line 
Be a productive member 
Lose your hat and you'll be fine 

They said we don't like your skimmer hats 
We don't live our lives like that 
You've had Summer fun since June 
Now turn in the sun and moon 
Skimmer Hat Skimmer Hat no no 
Skimmer Hat Skimmer Hat no no 

Now grab your straw hat helmet 
Fasten tight and tie one on 
Rebel against the hat assasins 
When the Fascists' Riot comes 

Cuphead said Don't Deal With the Devil 
Nut Zippers warned: Damnation 
Calloway called careful kicking that gong 
It was Minnie, and Smokey and opium 

Grab your straw hat helmet 
We need to stay alive 
We're bent not broken and hardened to 
Be out of line and still survive 

They'll see in late September 
At the scenes of their own crime 
We're taking back the sun and the moon 
We'll be crazy or lazy on our own time 
Skimmer Hat Skimmer Hat yeah yeah  
Skimmer Hat Skimmer Hat yeah yeah 

Grab your straw hat helmet 
They'll see when they arrive  
We're bent not broken and hardened to 
Step out of line to be alive   

Step out of line and be alive!

Step out of line and be alive!

Press / Reviews

“...weird in the best ways possible…” - Anastim Ducray

— StepKid.com

“...original and ingenious...” - Alicia Parker

— Daily Musicroll

Press photos

"Skimmer Hat" by Emerald Suspension

Contact