Camper Van Beethoven

Another week and another playlist. Hope you enjoy! https://open.spotify.com/user/12178865004/playlist/6JqhrQW7eP0LJ4CLuEx0vX

“Story of My Life” – Social Distortion

Legendary punk bands best known song, just because I was playing Guitar Hero the other day and it reminded me how frickin’ cool they are. I’ll be starting to write about some past Record Store Day finds and Social Distortion will definitely be a part of it. (And rumour is, their first record will be coming out on vinyl for RSD)

“Redemption Song” – Joe Strummer

There is so much more to Strummer than the Clash. Damn I miss him. Streetcore was re-mastered for vinyl back in 2012, and comes highly recommended from this reviewer and many others.

“Help” – The Damned

I love punk covers of classic songs. Either you love the Damned or you never got into punk at any point in your life.

“Secret Agent Man” – Dwight Twilley

Singer / Songwriter almost no one has heard of, yet captures my attention with some great songs… and of course, I love this cover – so there! Actually comes from an album full of covers.

“Blood and Roses” – The Smithereens

Something about the Smithereens and their brand of 80’s power-pop catches me every time I listen. They are just so damned easy to sing along with.

“Get Up” – Bleu

Then you take that power-pop thing into the 2000’s and give it to a guy who loves the studio and with a bit of blending you end up with Bleu. Sure it’s another rock song about staying strong in the face of adversity, but we can all use one of those from time to time.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” – The Rubinoos

Shift back down a gear and we end up with cult fixtures the Rubinoos who are famous for providing the theme for Revenge of the Nerds and taking Avril Lavigne to court for plagiarism.

“September Gurls” – The Bangles

Awesome cover of Big Star, who are the originators of the power-pop genre, the Bangles are just a lot of fun to hear at any time.

“The Great Salt Lake” – Band of Horses

Was gifted to me when I was doing all that “driving.” Was a great companion during hard times. Sometimes a few songs can make all the difference.

“Better Man” – Beth Hart

Another of those ‘musicians musician,’ Beth Hart is well known amongst her peers, but hasn’t found a door big enough to get her past the small venue life. Weird, because every time I hear her I wonder why she isn’t bigger than many stadium playing bands.

“When The Stars Go Blue” – Ryan Adams

One of my favorite tracks off Gold (which I kinda talked about a week or so ago), this is one of those songs that just gets covered a lot. The Coors w/Bono did a pretty good cover… although I’ll still take the original.

“Rocket Man” – Elton John

Or should I say “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time).” I couldn’t resist putting it on here right after Adams seeing as the post from last week featured them both.

“Burnin’ For You” – Blue Oyster Cult

Sometimes when you put on one classic 70’s track, you feel like hearing another. What I always loved about these guys is that they never seemed to fit into a genre proper. They weren’t metal, or prog, or … they were just a band that put out some songs I really liked.

“Second Option” – Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell

I’ve always loved this song, but also found it strange that Cary would collaborate with a vocalist who sounds so similar to what she already had in Whiskeytown. I hear this and I pretty much picture Ryan Adams singing it.

“The Day That Lassie Went To The Moon” – Camper Van Beethoven

This was really my introduction to Camper, who I discovered after Cracker (go figure). Right away I just fell for the quirky characters found in Camper songs and have remained a fan ever since. I was lucky enough to see them together a month back.

“A Long December” – Counting Crows

I don’t know why I consider these guys a guilty pleasure, but I’m a fan. For some very odd reason, every time I hear this song I picture Kermit the Frog singing it. Really, I just think the green muppet himself would do an awesome version.

“Deadwood” – Dirty Pretty Things

I was rather bummed when the Libertines called it a day after only two records… I was cheered up when I heard “Deadwood” blast out my speakers. Good to hear that the Libertines have gotten back together, but I’m not holding my breath over the quality of work that will come out of it. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

“Horses” – Gemma Hayes

Something about this song just frickin’ caught me and has never let me go. It was just the kind of song that gets you to buy the record and then the whole back catalogue.

“Need Your Loving Tonight” – Queen

Just because I have been spending a bit of time listening to them recently, I think I’m just about over this phase.

“I’m A Little Airplane” – Jonathan Richman

Just like on that Sesame Street bit, my kids and I would spread are arms out, sing and pretend to fly.

The great thing about blogging is that you make up your own damn rules about how to write whatever it is you decide you’re going to write about. So while I should talk more about the bands, I prefer to write a bit about the experience, and, well… sorry I digress.

The core of both CVB and Cracker have more than 20 years each in experience playing with one another; the odds of them playing a dud show sits on the right side of zero. Proof is that while both bands played the so-called “hits” (or fan favorites) early and leaned on material from their new records, it bothered no one. The audience, such as it was, seemed appreciative and responded in kind. CVB band members were having fun with each other and bringing it to the crowd who were of course shouting out requests that were in turn rightfully ignored, and cheers that were appreciated.

Cracker seems to have a new line up behind the Lowery/Hickman combo which showed at times with false starts and a keyboard blast at the end of “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)” that was just a wash over the rest of the band. However, the overall performance was fun and the fans seemed happy… in a weird kinda way.

Maybe it’s audience age (on the thinning hair side of 40), or maybe the stars were in some screwed up alignment, but things got strange in the pit of Lee’s Palace. First the audience was twisted in some reverse thought process where the periphery of the pit was packed shoulder to shoulder with fans while the stage area had plenty of breathing room. Then, someone best described as looking like a Ford brother (yes those Toronto Ford guys) started putting his “had ten beers too many” arms around people asking them why they weren’t willing to dance with him. My mind popped out the phrase “perhaps the beer stench and sweat are a factor… or maybe it’s the knowledge that large drunken men can be a bit on the intimidating side dude.” Fortunately, my mouth remained in check this time, and everyone avoiding eye contact with him sent his sorry dejected ass in another direction after only two or three songs.

Of course, this could have all just been theatre. Seeing the twisted images of broken people strewn throughout the music of both bands may have just presented the chance for someone to see it as performance art. An interpretive rendering of CVB’s “Lassie Goes To The Moon” with a twist of Cracker’s “Can I Take My Gun To Heaven.” Oddly, neither of these songs was played, so I might just be looking for excuses.

Regardless, it was an enjoyable night out with friends with two bands playing that I absolutely frickin’ love, so, I hit the ‘merch’ booth, bought the new Camper and Cracker CD’s (because they ain’t (yeah I know “ain’t” isn’t a word) on vinyl) and made my way home for an ear ringing night of sleep. Wish more of you people were there.

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barrettbites

Vinyl and Collectibles reviewed and geeked about!

Just because I feel like it… an out of place live review! – Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven @ Lee’s Palace