DESERT POST WEEKLY (Palm Springs, CA weekly) – Feature with Johnny Hickman interview
Camp out with Cracker and pals
A week before the 7th annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout, guitarist Johnny Hickman was getting ready to leave his home in Colorado and get out on the road.
Cracker was scheduled to play the Popcorn Festival in Valparaiso, Ind., last weekend. “Popping” into the Midwest fest would serve as the band’s warm-up gig before this weekend’s three-day minifest in Pioneertown.
“There’s always been some kind of conflict for our fans by having the campout the weekend after Labor Day,” Hickman said. “One of them was the popcorn festival. But now we get to play it, and for the Midwest fans who can’t make the campout, they can catch us there.”
This year’s campout will feature “the friends and family lineup,” Hickman said. “The groups that are appearing with us are either side projects or they’re friends of ours.”
One band, the Hickmen, is a Johnny Hickman cover band. They’re from the Inland Empire, where Hickman grew up, and are obviously big fans of Hickman’s music.
“I have to say I was really flattered by that,” he said. “We’ve become friends over the years and now they started doing new music, and I’ve written songs for them. I may get up on stage with them for a bit.”
Hickman will also join Cracker bandmate David Lowery for an acoustic set tonight at 10 p.m.
One side project that won’t be at the campout is the Hickman-Dalton Gang, an alt-country collaboration with Jim Dalton.
“It’s our tribute to the music of guys like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash,” he said. “Unfortunately, Jim’s got other commitments this year and can’t make it out to California. But we’re planning on doing a set next year.”
Early sets for all three days will be held on the outside stage, with music moving inside around 8.
The best part of each night? “Porchstock,” he said. “After the music ends inside Pappy and Harriet’s, there’s a bunch of us that get together out behind the motel and sit around the fire pit to do a little drinking and jamming. It lasts until we run out beer or it gets too cold to play.”
At this point, Hickman said, the campout has become a smooth operation. “We’ve pretty much got it down to a science,” he said. “We’re already working on next year’s event.”
7th Annual Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout
When: 8 to midnight p.m. today; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday
Where: Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, Pioneertown
Tickets: Three-day pass, $62; single day, $27; under 12, free.
Information: (760) 365-5956; pitchatent.com
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011109140347
PRESS-ENTERPRISE (Riverside, CA daily) – Feature with Johnny interview scheduled (per Vanessa Franko)
PIONEERTOWN: Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout returns
By
Vanessa Franko
It’s that time of the year again–when two bands get together and throw a big party out at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in Pioneertown.
From Sept. 15-17, it’s the seventh annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout.
Obviously Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven are playing. Both bands have ties to the Inland area (specifically Redlands and Riverside).
But wait, there’s more. Band members’ other projects and longtime friends also fill out the bill. For example, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Jonathan Segel, Heavy Cream, Johnny Hickman, Victor Krummenacher, Cracker Duo Acoustic,The Hickmen, David Lowery, The Dangers, Chris LeRoy, The Country (Gram Rabbit’s alt-country alter ego), The Calamity and others are on the schedule.
You never know who will show up, but be sure to check out Redlands’ own LeRoy and whatever Dangers’ lineup might be in store.
Sept. 15-17, Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown, $60 for a three-day pass, $25 for a one-day pass, kids 12 and under get in for free.
Visit www.crackersoul.com for more information.
http://blogs.inlandsocal.com/music/2011/09/pioneertown-crackercamper-van.html
THE ROCK & ROLL GURU (online music blog) –Campout show preview.
Want To Go To An Indie Music Campout?
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven will be rolling into the Joshua Tree region of California next month to co-host their 7th annual CAMPOUT music festival. CAMPOUT will take place September 15th, 16th and 17th at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert of Southern California. The locale of this fest ties in perfectly with Cracker’s own history as their signature album Kerosene Hat was recorded there back in 1993 in the now-closed movie soundstage next to the Palace. This year’s edition of CAMPOUT looks to be one of the best ever. Tickets are available now.
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2011/08/fridays-rockin-roundup-natural-disaster.html
HEARTBREAK TRAIL (online music blog) – News posting on Campout 2011 with David photo, Cages mp3 and related links.
First Listen: David Lowery “Cages”
This track is actually an outtake from Lowery’s first solo album, The Palace Guards, released in February, 2011.
Its appearance now coincides with the 7th annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout taking place Sept. 15-17 near California’s Joshua Tree Park where Lowery and his cohorts will be running through vast swathes of each band’s respective catalogs.
Having been to Joshua Tree and seen Cracker in their prime, I can only imagine what a blast that will be if anyone out there has the urge to go.
As for “Cages,” it’s vintage Lowery in terms of delivering the skewed vision of an artist who could never make up his mind as to whether he was a punk or a hippie. At this stage of his career, that obviously no longer matters, and like Paul Westerberg, Lowery’s work seems to take on more nuances with age.
CAMPOUT info / www.davidlowerymusic.com
http://heartbreaktrail.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/first-listen-david-lowery-cages/
WHEN YOU MOTOR AWAY (online music blog) – News posting on Campout 2011 with band photo, DL Cages mp3 and related links.
David Lowery Extravaganza and free MP3 of Unreleased Track!
If you like David Lowery and his CVB and Cracker CV, and you happen to live out West, well, I’ve got great news for you.
Lowery and his bandmates from both groups will be rolling into the Joshua Tree region of California next month to co-host their 7th annual Campout music festival.
Campout will take place September 15th, 16th and 17th at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert of Southern California. The locale of this fest ties in perfectly with Cracker’s own history as their signature album Kerosene Hat was recorded here back in 1993 in the now-closed movie soundstage next to the Palace.
And not to overwhelm you with good news, but here’s a free MP3 from David: “Cages”, an outtake from his solo release The Palace Guards, released in February of this year.
It’s great to see one of my all-time favorite artists engaging in all this activity. Key Lime Pie in its entirety! There are other tour dates leading up to the Campout, check out the Cracker Website for dates and locations.
And I can’t resist sharing this snippet from Cracker’s website, under Latest News:
“Cracker in Vail Colorado. Trophy Wife Contest!
Cracker Full Band with special guest Michael Urbano on drums. The “official” story is Frank Funaro is playing a festival with his old band The Del Lords in Spain that week. But unofficially it’s because Frank hates Gerald Ford. Sad but true. See we are playing in the Gerald Ford ampitheatre. Frank refuses to set foot in the place. Most people remember Gerald Ford as our 38th president but few people remember that Gerald Ford had a really great garage rock band back in the early 80’s. Gerald Ford opened for The Del Lords once at CBGBs in New York and totally upstaged them. Ford closed his CBGBs set by attacking the Cambodian island of Koh Tang and repeatedly banged his head on the door of Marine 2. The Del Lords had to follow that. Tough crowd!”
http://whenyoumotoraway.blogspot.com/2011/08/david-lowery-extravaganza-and-free-mp3.html
JAMBANDS (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 with band photo and related links.
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at the Campout
Musically intertwined bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven will host their 7th annual Campout music festival from September 15-17 at Pioneertown, CA’s Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. Both Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven will perform extended sets featuring songs culled from throughout their careers. Additional performers include: Jonathan Segel, The Hickmen, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Johnny Hickman’s pre-Cracker band The Dangers and a special David Lowery/Johnny Hickman semi-acoustic duo set. CVB frontman David Lowery is also offering fans a free unreleased track from his recent solo debut The Palace Guards, which you can stream here .
http://www.jambands.com/news/2011/08/24/cracker-and-camper-van-beethoven-at-the-campout
MXDWN (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 (from press announcement) with band photo and related links.
http://www.mxdwn.com/2011/08/29/news/cracker-and-camper-van-beethoven-to-co-host-seventh-annual-campout-festival/
LA CANVAS (Los Angeles music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 (from press announcement) with band photo and related links.
http://www.lacanvas.com/los-angeles-music
INNOCENT WORDS (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 (from press announcement) with band photo, link to “Cages” mp3 and related links.
http://www.innocentwords.com/Magazine/ItemDisplay/tabid/807/itemId/2717/catpageid/2/Default.aspx
EXPLODING IN SOUND (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 (from press announcement) with band photo, link to “Cages” mp3 and related links.
http://www.explodinginsound.com/2011/08/cracker-camper-van-beethoven-announce.html
ADDICTED TO VINYL (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 with link to “Cages” mp3 and related links.
Free MP3 from David Lowery + Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Full Album Performances
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven have announced the 7th annual Campout Music Festival happening September 15th-17th in Pioneertown, California.
As if you needed any added incentive to make the trip, they’ll both be highlighting key moments from their catalog, with CVB performing ‘Key Lime Pie’ in its entirety while Cracker will revisit the whole ‘Kerosene Hat’ album. It’s not exactly a new event for either band, but when you add camping into the whole experience, it does add a new dimension to things…because who doesn’t love to camp?
The fest is located at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert of Southern California. The location ties in perfectly with Cracker’s own history as their signature album ‘Kerosene Hat’ was recorded here back in 1993 in the now-closed movie soundstage next to the Palace.
If camping isn’t your bag, there are additional opportunities to get in on the full album performance fun at upcoming Cracker/CVB dates in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona.
To celebrate all of the above goodness, Cracker’s David Lowery shared an outtake from his recent solo disc ‘The Palace Guards.’ The tune is called ‘Cages’ and you can download it for free here.
http://addictedtovinyl.com/blog/tag/camper-van-beethoven/
ANTI-MUSIC (online music site) – News posting on Campout 2011 with related links.
http://www.antimusic.com/news/11/aug/23Cracker_and_Camper_Van_Beethovens_7th_Annual_Campout_Music_Festival.shtml
WRITER CWROSS (online music blog) – News posting on Campout 2011 with band photos and related links.
http://writercwross.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/cracker-camper-van-beethoven-to-kick-off-7th-annual-campout-music-festival/
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS (online music industry news site) – News posting on Campout 2011 with band photos, press quotes and related links.
http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=145303
TOP-40 CHARTS (online music news site) – News posting on Campout 2011 with band photos, press quotes and related links.
http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=70028