Camper Van Beethoven

Camper Van Beethoven is a group that doesn't settle for just one sound. They are also a group that shows no limitations on which sounds they place together. They have taken hardcore-punk and country music and integrated these far from related genres into a polarized and interesting mix. They have also done hoe-down covers of Black Flag and Sonic Youth, which on paper sounds utterly absurd but heard live sounds incredible. There will not be one moment of boredom at a Camper van Beethoven show. Unlike many of their predecessors and contemporaries they are a band who are open to all forms of music and stylistic change and this trait is heavily seen throughout their live shows. The group's ability to skip from sound to sound and mix them all together is part of the reason why their concerts are so fun to go to.
As a band that was born into and developed in the California hardcore punk scene you are going to expect to hear traces of that sound in their music and they certainly do not deprive their audience from this. They practically always play the classic punk hit "Take the Skinheads Bowling". At the show I attended there was not one still figure during the performance of this song. The entire crowd happily joined in and belted out the chorus while simultaneously lifting up their hands.
Camper van Beethoven is also not a band that is surviving solely on the status they had built for themselves in the past. They are continuously evolving as a band extracting, adding and modifying their sound. During their performance at the 40 watt club in Athens they showcased several new songs from their 2013 album "La Costa Perdida". These particular tracks saw them moving away from their bluegrass and punk roots and embracing a more soft rock jam oriented sound. One of the songs even incorporated a very beautiful gypsy themed fiddle solo. At any Camper van Beethoven show you can expect a good mix of old and new material and a consistently interesting variation in sound.

Great show at a great spot. Having been a fan for 25+ years, I had never seen them until last year, d/t personal geographics and timing. We spent a weekend in Athens, GA last year for Camp In 5, damn the 8 hour drive. Kicking off w/ ZZ Top goes to Egypt, this top shelf working class band played 14 songs that covered their catalog from eponymous album of mid 80s to 2012’s La Costa Perdida (not sure why El Camino Real from 2014 gets no love). Was nice to hear Ambiguity Song, not a song that’s played a whole lot. My friend from Pittsburgh had never seen them live and decided a couple weeks ago to fly down to see the show. One of my favs is Seven Languages, and Greg Lisher’s riff and solo are a highlight. Camper and Cracker are a family favorite and we will continue to check them out whenever they’re around. Can’t recommend Camper enough. Make the time. They don’t disappoint.