Cracker @ 930 Club 7/14/06
Last night I popped by the 930 Club to see Cracker, a band which most people probably still associate with a series of huge hits in the 90s such as "Low," "Teen Angst," and "Eurotrash Girl." And some also associate them with frontman Dave Lowery's other band, Camper Van Beethoven (cover of "Pictures of Matchstick Men," "Take the Skinheads Bowling.") Since those glory days of the 90s, they have gradually faded into a lesser level of fame ("they're still around?" one friend asked me), but one gets the sense that they don't care about that too much, and in fact the smoky, rootsy rock they play is better suited to bars than stadiums anyway. Happily, last night they seemed in top form, and the non-sellout but large crowd was totally into them.
Local band Revival opened for them. Their music was somewhat in the same vein, but more oriented towards the slow side, and augmented at times by violin (shades of Camper), keyboard, and electric clarinet.
Regrettably, my visit to the 930 club led me to realize that I've lost my driver's license, and despite my feeble protestations ("dhoude, I'm not even close to 21!") I was stamped underage, which is OK because the perfect spot we got at the front of the stage right next to guitarist Johnny Hickman's feet made it difficult to get to the bar anyway.
Before the show, we stopped at Polly's for a bite to eat. It's been many years since I've been to this neighborhood bar, mainly because for a time it would have been impossible to find a table or a seat at the bar there on a Friday night. Also the quality of their food seemed to diminish for a while. Apparently those days are past, and it wasn't overly crowded and my burger was delicious. And props to the waitress for bringing me a sample shot glass of beer to try when I couldn't decide what to get.
Local band Revival opened for them. Their music was somewhat in the same vein, but more oriented towards the slow side, and augmented at times by violin (shades of Camper), keyboard, and electric clarinet.
Regrettably, my visit to the 930 club led me to realize that I've lost my driver's license, and despite my feeble protestations ("dhoude, I'm not even close to 21!") I was stamped underage, which is OK because the perfect spot we got at the front of the stage right next to guitarist Johnny Hickman's feet made it difficult to get to the bar anyway.
Before the show, we stopped at Polly's for a bite to eat. It's been many years since I've been to this neighborhood bar, mainly because for a time it would have been impossible to find a table or a seat at the bar there on a Friday night. Also the quality of their food seemed to diminish for a while. Apparently those days are past, and it wasn't overly crowded and my burger was delicious. And props to the waitress for bringing me a sample shot glass of beer to try when I couldn't decide what to get.
6 Comments:
Ooooh I remember Cracker. I saw them in concert at "City Stages" in Birmingham Alabama way back in 1992...
That is hilarious that you got carded though...I still get carded getting beer at the Safeway...even when I have Isabel with me!!! Somedays it just makes my day though! :o)
1992 must have been right around when they were in their ascendancy to their short-lived alternative superstardom!
You should point out Isabel to the clerk and say "you want my ID? She's my ID!"
Yeah then with my luck they would ask for her ID as well!!! :o)
From what I remember from that concert was it was pretty packed.
Funny, thinking back to around that time (early 90's and so) I did go see that now defunct band, Belly with my roommate. The band who opened for them just happened to be Radiohead!!!! How about that one!
That's weird to imagine Radiohead opening for anyone! But everyone has to have their start somewhere. My sister saw REM at a smallish club in Adams-Morgan before anyone knew them. She skipped seeing my band to do so. I was annoyed at the time but in retrospect I understand!
Someone on the 9:30 club board posted the setlist from the show -- a mixture of old and new stuff.
SOMETHING YOU AINT GOT
ONE FINE DAY
I SEE THE LIGHT
MOVIE STAR
TEEN ANGST
WORLD IS MINE
BRIDES OF NEPTUNE
EUROTRASH GIRL
HOW CAN I LIVE IWTHOUT YOU
LONESOME JOHNNY BLUES
GIMME ONE MORE CHANCE
LOW
BICYCLE SPANIARD
THE GOLDEN AGE
ST. CAJETAN
---
EVERYBODY GETS ONE FOR FREE
HEAVEN KNOWS I'M LONELY
Oooh REM. Hmmm...when I went to school in Atlanta it seemed everyone had a connection with Michael Stipe in some way or another. My friend Toby was good friends with Michael Stipe's boyfriend. Mike used to work with this guy who when skinny dipping with Mr. Stipe. (Shudder....) OK I am not sure I you wanted that image in your head but yeah, it is kinda funny when you see bands way before they make it big. My roommate and I got into that Belly concert for free because she, my roommate just happened to meet Tanya Donnelly earlier that day and put us on the guest list.....And then there was the time when we got in free to see the Cranberries open for The The. But that is a whole other story in itself.... :o)
shudder indeed!
Cranberries and The The... that must have been a great show!
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