DVD Review: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven — The First Annual Camp Out Live at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
OK, here’s the thing: I like Cracker. And I really like Camper Van Beethoven. Camper’s genre-blending of Eastern ethnic sounds with, well, everything from C&W to punk to bluegrass was way ahead of its time. And while listening to them now, it’s hard to remember just how groundbreaking they were. But their music still holds up today.
So it was with some anticipation that I popped in the new live DVD, subtitled The First Annual Camp Out Live at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palalce. The sepia-tinted cover promised performances by Cracker offshoots Monks of Doom, Jonanthan Segel and others. But what a snooze this DVD turned out to be. Shot on videotape, its multi-camera production is crushingly dull and unimaginative. And almost all of the footage is imbued with a monochromatic hue.
As are, sadly, the performances. None of these acts is renowned for its visual presentations, and hey, that’s fine. But during Camper’s set, one can see that videos are being projected behind the band. The producers of this DVD have unwisely chosen not to let us, the home viewers, get a good look at them.
The spinoff/related acts unwittingly make the case that they do best within the confines of one of the main groups. Ironically, the most interesting performance–the “Porchstock” footage–has the lowest video quality. It’s shot from a few feet away from the group, and people keep walking in front of the camera, headed off to hit the bathroom and/or grab another beer.
In the end, a set of (just-)good performances is marred by uninspiring videography. Recommended as an insomnia treatment.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.