Eight Dice Cloth

The name doesn't exactly trip off the tongue, but this Santa Cruz swing band is a lively addition to the downtown scene. Hot jazz, ragtime, and New Orleans swing had shoppers dancing in the street on this strange chilly afternoon.

The name refers to a con-game similar to three card monte, that was originally called Eight Dice Cloth. It evolved into Bunco, gave way to gambling houses known as Bunco parlors, and led to raids by Bunco squads. But nowadays Bunco is quite respectable; the last time I played it was at a fundraiser for a local university scholarship. I'm guessing the band would rather conjure up a vision of Prohibition raciness than a bunch of grandmas hooting and hollering over a roll of the dice, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

HIpstamatic: Lowy lens; BlacKeys B+W film