Katey Sagal and Davey Faragher perform with The Forest Rangers at the 2013 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Faragher, a Redlands native, will perform with his band Jack… at the Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout this weekend. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
The ninth annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace this weekend is not only a celebration of the two bands, but the entire Cracker/Camper family, with many tentacles reaching to the Inland Empire.
In addition to members of both bands growing up in the area, many of the other performers have Inland ties as well, including The Dangers and country rock band Jack…, which includes former Cracker member Davey Faragher, who grew up in Redlands.
Jack … will perform Saturday, Sept. 14.
Faragher’s musical experience spans decades and dozens of musicians. Among the artists Faragher has worked with in the studio are Buddy Guy, Dusty Springfield and Sheryl Crow.
He’s also been part of the band that does the music for popular show “Sons of Anarchy,” and that outfit, The Forest Rangers, had a warm reception at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in the spring.
“I grew up in a musical family so I don’t have a memory that isn’t musical,” Faragher said in an interview at the Stagecoach. “My older brothers had bands in the living room for as long as I can remember and I just grew into that.”
The siblings had their own band, The Faragher Brothers, and released a few albums.
Then, as Faragher worked as a session musician, he met the members of Camper Van Beethoven when he was doing background vocals for them. Lead singer David Lowery is also from Redlands.
“I met them in Los Angeles. I didn’t even meet them in Redlands,” Faragher said, laughing.
Davey Faragher performs at the 2013 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
As Camper dissolved, Cracker began with Lowery and another Redlands native, Johnny Hickman, in Virginia. Faragher also joined the group for the first two albums, including the massively popular “Kerosene Hat,” which led Cracker help define alternative music.
After leaving Cracker, Faragher went on to work with other artists before ending up in Elvis Costello’s group The Imposters 12 years ago.
“He’s great. I’ve never met anyone who is as enthusiastic about music. He lives and breathes it all the time. It’s hard to keep up. He’s a force of nature,” Faragher said.
His fellow members in Jack… are Pete Thomas and Val McCallum, are also fellow Imposters. They each take on fake names for the country rock group, too.
Tonight’s lineup includes the Hickman-Dalton Gang, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and Cracker Duo.
Friday’s lineup for the Campout includes Gram Rabbit and Cracker Van Beethoven on the outdoor stage and The Dangers, Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants and the Victor Krummenacher Band indoors.
Saturday’s lineup includes Jack… and Cracker on the outdoor stage and Jonathan Segel, Leland Sundries and Frank Funaro on the indoor stage.
Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown, $27 for single-day passes.
Visit www.pitchatent.com and www.pappyandharriets.com for more information.
