Also "(We're a) Bad Trip." And "Sometimes."
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 16 October 2015 14:43 (eight years ago) link
Goleta was an early favorite of mine, but I didn't understand it at ALL.
― can't stop won't stop chooglin (how's life), Friday, 16 October 2015 15:05 (eight years ago) link
learned me how to say La Jolla
― skateboards are the new combover (Dr Morbius), Friday, 16 October 2015 15:07 (eight years ago) link
Goleta was an early favorite of mine, but I didn't understand it at ALL
UC Santa Cruz fight song ie all the other UC campuses suck
― Οὖτις, Friday, 16 October 2015 15:48 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, I picked that up eventually.
― can't stop won't stop chooglin (how's life), Friday, 16 October 2015 15:54 (eight years ago) link
"Sad Lovers Waltz" (II/III) ftw
― I know some Civil War re-enactors you might want to talk to (Eazy), Friday, 16 October 2015 16:20 (eight years ago) link
I was in high school from 93-97, so when they were inactive, yet they were probably my favourite band. I love all of their original records so much but voted for KLP because of so many songs that personally brought the teenage me from someone who appreciated novelty and humour to someone who saw beauty in art: the aforementioned 'June' especially, but 'Sweethearts' and 'Come on Darkness' kill me to this day.
I listen to them still a good bit and find inspiration across all of them. 'Form Another Stone' on II&III is an amazing deep cut, it's like the most wicked psych jam they ever did. OBRS sounds big and 80s but has some stunning fucking songs.
― cenotaph, Friday, 16 October 2015 19:01 (eight years ago) link
Speaking of Crispy Dersen, interesting factoid: as far as I can tell, "Key Lime Pie" is one of the very, very few rock albums to feature no ride cymbal. Lots of weird fills and china crashes and stuff, but no ride, as best I can tell.
Another, more high profile example? "Back in Black!"
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 16 October 2015 19:27 (eight years ago) link
I think Throwing Muses generally shunned ride cymbals, at least on their early records
― too young for seapunk (Moodles), Friday, 16 October 2015 19:37 (eight years ago) link
Might be true for sort of high strung tribal stuff like early Cure, too. Though CVB by that late stage is more conventional than both, which makes it absence more conspicuous.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 16 October 2015 19:40 (eight years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 17 October 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link
I love Monks of Doom too. "Meridian" was my favourite album in 11th grade and I still listen to it occasionally, and it holds up fairly well though maybe that's nostalgia.
― cenotaph, Saturday, 17 October 2015 08:12 (eight years ago) link
I only ever had the Insect God ep. I'll have to check out the rest sometime soon. Here's a really good blog post I just found.
http://artintodust.blogspot.com/2008/06/monks-of-doom.html
― can't stop won't stop chooglin (how's life), Saturday, 17 October 2015 11:59 (eight years ago) link
^primarily the reminiscences of Victor Krummenacher.
― can't stop won't stop chooglin (how's life), Saturday, 17 October 2015 12:08 (eight years ago) link
Saw em for the first time in Detroit, summer 1988, with Mekons opening up. Crispy and the guitarist were hanging out at a table before the show and I gave them a tape. Very nice guys. It was a classic, epic Mekons performance (at the height of their "fame," with Ghosts of American Astronauts on MTV). They blew the place out, ending completely covered with orange silly string. When CvB came on stage, I remember Lowry saying something like, "I hope you realize that you just saw one of the greatest bands of all time," as if he couldn't believe that *they* were not headlining. And of course CvB was good too. It was a super cool night.
― stop torturing me ethel (broom air), Saturday, 17 October 2015 12:25 (eight years ago) link
Wow, that Monks recollection was great, thanks for that!
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 17 October 2015 21:05 (eight years ago) link
Listening to OBRS right now. Started w/side 2. Fuck, so so good.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 22 October 2015 05:31 (eight years ago) link
I had no idea Key Lime Pie was so well loved. I remember feeling deeply disappointed when it came out. Also very surprised that OBRS didn't get more love.
― too young for seapunk (Moodles), Thursday, 22 October 2015 12:20 (eight years ago) link
ditto
u guys r sellouts
― skateboards are the new combover (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 22 October 2015 13:03 (eight years ago) link
Key Lime is pretty spotty, but the run from "Sweethearts" to "Borderline" is my favourite from any CVB record
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 22 October 2015 14:05 (eight years ago) link
They're playing Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart in full on some west coast dates:
https://www.facebook.com/CamperVanBeethoven/videos/10153199614402539/
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 December 2015 23:41 (eight years ago) link
i'm seeing these guys on Friday night at the World Famous "Whiskey A Go Go" on the Sunset strip in Hollywood. looking forward to this and hope they are good live. anyone seen them before, what can i expect?
― Bee OK, Thursday, 29 December 2016 02:34 (seven years ago) link
are any ILXor's going? i would like to say hi if so...
Great live band! Or at least they were in 1989, dunno about these days. Probably better!
― everything, Thursday, 29 December 2016 02:38 (seven years ago) link
They are more pro now, slightly less character, but the songs remain the same: awesome.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 29 December 2016 03:11 (seven years ago) link
They are the only reunited band I have enjoyed live
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 29 December 2016 03:13 (seven years ago) link
Saw them live in 2003 and they were everything I wanted. They have a decent collection of recent shows up on archive.org
https://archive.org/details/CamperVanBeethoven
― how's life, Thursday, 29 December 2016 10:27 (seven years ago) link
I saw them in the late 80s. They were ok, they sounded a little bit like the American Pogues at the time. They mixed several styles with a focus on folkrock and punk.
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Thursday, 29 December 2016 20:37 (seven years ago) link
I saw them at the Knitting Factory in New York right after they first reunited and they were pretty good. I have not seen any of their shows in the subsequent ten or so years. It is kind of lame that they always tour with cracker as well, because I don't want to see cracker. Also, I missed camper van Beethoven drummer, who barely plays with them these days.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 29 December 2016 21:14 (seven years ago) link
I saw them in like '87, and they were a killer live band with Led Zep covers zinging here and there, and the best version of Pink Floyd this side of Syd Barrett. Probably one of the top live bands I've ever seen, especially given that they didn't have any gimmicks/light shows/etc.
― dlp9001, Friday, 30 December 2016 00:13 (seven years ago) link
I'll add that Key Lime Pie winning this poll is just insane. The self-titled album is one of the best things in the history of R&R.
― dlp9001, Friday, 30 December 2016 00:15 (seven years ago) link
Huh. One of my favorite bands of all time, but self-titled might be my least favorite of their formative albums.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 30 December 2016 00:33 (seven years ago) link
I think they were pretty fully formed by self titled. They were touring on that album when I first saw them, and if ever there was a band that was just firing on all cylinders, they were it. Like I mention the Led Zep covers, but they were doing *great* Led Zep covers, when other indie bands...weren't. And we all know their Floyd cover slays the original. I was kind of knocked out; front row at Bard.
― dlp9001, Friday, 30 December 2016 03:15 (seven years ago) link
Camper Van Beethoven:
WakaPictures of Matchstick Men (Status Quo cover)Mao Reminisces About His Days In Southern ChinaThe History of UtahWhite Riot (The Clash cover)Wasted (Black Flag cover)Shut Us DownR 'n' R UzbekistanTake the Skinheads BowlingI Live in LAL'AguardienteNorthern California GirlsJames River (Cracker cover)TaniaEye of Fatima (Parts I & II)Too High for the Love InAll Her Favorite FruitS.P. 37957 Medley
― Bee OK, Sunday, 1 January 2017 01:30 (seven years ago) link
Key Lime Pie is by far my favorite. In my youth I was really pushing to name a band I was in after that album. The others didn't go for it.
― Wimmels, Sunday, 1 January 2017 01:33 (seven years ago) link
Cracker Whiskey A Go Go (Dec. 30, 2016):
Loser (Jerry Garcia cover)Almond GroveOne Fine DayGimme One More ChanceWhere Have Those Days GoneCalifornia Country BoyTeen Angst (What the World Needs Now)Redneck Mother (Ray Wylie Hubbard cover)Wedding DayLowEuro-Trash GirlSomedayBeautifulGet Off This
Encore:King of Bakersfield
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:15 (seven years ago) link
i actually liked Cracker better. CVB seemed a bit more gimmicky and old, everyone had gray hair. Cracker came on and seemed to have some youth on more profession to their set, totally different guys outside the singer. i just liked the dad rock stuff better this night but my friend liked CVB better. so go figure.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:17 (seven years ago) link
plus Cracker opened with Loser and it lasted like 20 minutes and totally rocked, but most people left as it was really late.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:18 (seven years ago) link
sorry for bumping this thread instead of today but i already had CVB set list on this thread.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:22 (seven years ago) link
old, everyone had gray hair.
Join the club! These kids today, with their Cracker and youth ... bah.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 7 January 2017 14:17 (seven years ago) link
Show was great, people were indeed old. We had the same setlist you posted, more or less. The medley at the end was half "Hava Nageela," with a bit of "Kashmir" and "Dazed and Confused," and the opening harmonics of "Roundabout" thrown in (which made some dude behind me yell "do it!!!"). Best was me listening in the back toward the beginning of the set, struggling to see the band and noting that Frank had put some extra effort into playing drums like the album. And then David introduced everyone, and ... it was Chris Pederson back on drums this tour! He lives in Australia and rarely plays with the group these days. He's one of my fave drummers of all time, so it was such a treat to listen to him, if not see him.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 8 January 2017 14:29 (seven years ago) link
Whoah nice!
― Οὖτις, Sunday, 8 January 2017 17:18 (seven years ago) link
"She Divines Water" is a classic too; a spiraling song that I don't understand literally ("which was Zion")
Other times they sampled/repurposed their own work: on II and III, one of the songs (is it “Circles”?) is the another of their songs (is it “Ambiguity Song”?) backwards, with some overdubs. I think there’s a version of “Processional” or “The Fool” with lyrics, under a different title. I think there were a bunch more examples, but I haven’t listened to them seriously in probably 20 years & my auld memory is shot.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 18 September 2019 03:24 (four years ago) link
"Five Sticks" uses a different (drum-free) mix of "Ambiguity Song" played backwards with overdubbed (forwards) acoustic guitar and tambourine."Circles" uses the chorus of "Oh No!" ("Oh no, here it comes again, that funny feeling") played backwards."Border Ska" (instrumental) and "Heart" (which has vocals) are both ska songs with very similar guitar melodies, if that's what you're thinking of.The beginning of "Stairway to Heavan" is a somber version of "Processional."
― ernestp, Wednesday, 18 September 2019 04:17 (four years ago) link
Ernest comes through! Another one that comes to mind is the they recycled some of the background vocals from “Peace and Love” into “Eye of Fatima Part II” (“Cowboys on acid”, “No-one ever conquered Wyoming”).
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 18 September 2019 10:55 (four years ago) link
It’s actually pretty astonishing how productive they were during their few years together the first time. Five LPs, an EP, enough outtakes and B-sides to make a whole other LP, not to mention 2 Monks of Doom records and 3 albums of Camper Van Chadbourne stuff, was all written & recorded between ‘84 and ‘89.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 18 September 2019 11:46 (four years ago) link
"We're All Wasted and We're Wasting All Your Time" features backwards stuff from "Devil Song" and "Take the Skinheads Bowling."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kguFNwwko
It's on that "Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead. Long Live Camper Van Beethoven" comp, which is itself pretty confusing, since some of it is old and some of it is new, but it's not always clear which is which. For example, this track features parts of "Devil Song" backwards, but "Devil Song" didn't show up until "Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart." But this "Wasted" mishmash also appears on the reissue of "Telephone Free Landslide Victory." So who knows.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 18 September 2019 13:07 (four years ago) link