Concert Review/Photos: Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven @ Sellersville Theater
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Under the Acoustic Apothecary Tour moniker, the bands stripped down to three members total.
[ 7/10 ] Last Monday, Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven swept Sellersville Theater patrons off their feet with a mostly unplugged set. Under the moniker of the Acoustic Apothecary Tour, the bands stripped down to three members total — David Lowery, the connection between them, and Cracker’s Johnny Hickman and Camper’s Greg Lisher. It was a brilliant night of familiar tunes reworked in exciting ways.
Lowery expertly steered the ship throughout. Hickman put on his usual stellar guitar show, while Lisher added his key guitar lines to Camper songs only. And it is when Camper Van Beethoven appeared, about halfway through the set, that the night’s magic took full hold. Hickman strummed the mandolin and songs like their seminal Status Quo cover “Pictures of Matchstick Men” and the always sublime “Take the Skinheads Bowling” came alive in ways previously unfathomable. And newer Camper songs like “Northern California Girls” stood tall amid their classics.
Cracker’s material was welcome as well, with the usual suspects of “Low” and “Eurotrash Girl” bringing the crowd alive. But it was the final moment of the night that trumped the rest — Hickman singing lead on the elusive “Another Song About the Rain.” From the first cheers that came with its opening chords to the silent singing along to a song apt for the evening’s weather, it was a savory aural nightcap.
Lydia Loveless opened in acoustic fashion, accompanied by bassist/husband Ben Lamb. It was a striking beginning for a memorable evening.
More concert reviews and photos by Chris Sikich:
- Natalie Merchant @ the Keswick
- Athfest 2014
- Sharon Van Etten @ Union Transfer
- tUnE-yArDs @ Union Transfer
- Meshell Ndegecello @ World Cafe Live
- Mirah @ Johnny Brenda's
- NonCOMM 2014
- Drivin’ ’N’ Cryin @ World Cafe Live at The Queen
- Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Johnny Brenda's
- Ani DiFranco @ World Cafe Live
- Escovedo @ World Cafe Live
- The Sounds @ Union Transfer
- The Stray Birds @ World Cafe Live
- Okkervil River/Typhoon @ Union Transfer
- Tinariwen @ Prince Music Theater
- Suzanne Vega @ Two Rivers Theater
- Drive-By Truckers @ World Cafe Live at The Queen
- Arcade Fire @ Wells Fargo Center
- Throwing Muses @ Bowery Ballroom (NYC)
- Paul Simon and Sting @ Wells Fargo Center
- Ex Hex @ the Ottobar (Baltimore)
