David Lowery grew up in Redlands. He is also the frontman for Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. (Velena Vego/Contributed Image)
This morning I had the chance to talk to David Lowery, acclaimed musician and singer known for his work in Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, lecturer at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and a Redlands native, about the upcoming Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout and more.
The Campout is celebrating its ninth year at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown Sept. 12-14.
I really love when interviews are more like conversations and this was one of those. Here are a few of the interesting things I learned from talking with Lowery this morning:
1. Lowery’s first concert was 1974’s Cal Jam at the now-defunct Ontario Motor Speedway. Cal Jam had an eclectic mix of artists on the bill, including Black Sabbath, the Eagles and Earth, Wind and Fire. He also attended Cal Jam II in 1978, which included a set from Ted Nugent.
2. One of the first shows Lowery saw at the also defunct Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino was The Ramones. They had bottles thrown at them when they opened for Blue Oyster Cult.
3. Former Cracker member (and current Elvis Costello and The Imposters bassist) Davey Faragher is from Redlands, like Lowery and Cracker guitarist Johnny Hickman. However, Lowery and Faragher didn’t meet until Faragher recorded backing vocals on Camper Van Beethoven records. Also, Faragher’s country band, Jack… (expletive deleted so I can keep my job) is playing the Campout.
4. One of Lowery’s most prized possessions was a handwritten letter from Paul Williams.
Williams is a spectacular songwriter of classics such as Muppet staple “Rainbow Connection” and Three Dog Night’s “An Old Fashioned Love Song. ” He also appears on the new Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” on the track “Touch.”
Cracker covered one of his songs, The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and Williams wrote the band a letter complementing their version. The band had it framed and it was on the wall of the studio until someone stole it.
5. Lowery thinks the next Cracker record will be in the direction of country-rock.
6. Camper Van Beethoven recently played the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco. Camper booked some time to record a couple of songs in the studio around the festival. They also had a day of writing, during which they came up with a few more songs.
Thanks to David for being so generous with his time today on his drive back to Athens.
Stay tuned for a story about the ninth Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout in the coming weeks, but you should know that the show includes some fantastic groups, including The Dangers, Gram Rabbit and many more members of the Cracker/Camper family. Tickets are $68 for all three days and $27 for single-day passes. They’re available at www.pitchatent.com and you can get more information on the show at the Pappy & Harriet’s website.
I just want to throw this out there–how great would it be to see Camper Van Beethoven at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival? They have a new album, they helped define what would become alternative music. And with Cracker going country rock, they could play the 2014 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. I’m thinking the Palomino Tent would be perfect.
And on that note, I remember the first festival I ever saw Cracker at, the beloved HFStival at RFK stadium back in 1996. “Euro-Trash Girl” is still one of my favorites.