Like Star Trek: The Next Generation running years longer than the original series, it's strange to think Cracker is now eleven years old while Camper Van Beethoven disbanded after six. The common denominator is David Lowery and fans of his recently got to visit strange new worlds in a Camper Van Cracker odyssey on Commonwealth Avenue.

Between the years 1984 and 1990, Camper Van Beethoven gave the world their version of at least one Russian folk song, at least one Black Flag cover, and at least one Ska song called "ZZ Top goes to Egypt." Cracker isn't as eccentric or quite as adventurous as Camper but they've got meatier hooks. and they're hardly commercial despite selling out all their shows on a recent European tour in support of their fifth CD Forever. Tracks from the new album that made the setlist included Brides of Neptune, Shine, and Guarded by Monkeys and they all were worthy of the attention.

The night began with an opening band made up of three ex Camper Van Beethoven members playing material they've made since the breakup. Jonathan Segel on Violin, Victor Krummenacher on Bass, and Greg Lisher on guitar were joined by Lowery in a cowboy hat and a wig. When Cracker went on, the wig came off but Segel, Krummenacher, and Lisher reserved the right to stay and do some choice Camper numbers like Eye of Fatima (1 and 2) and the Status Quo cover Pictures of Matchstick Men. This mixing of Camper and Cracker does have precedent. A couple of years ago a handful of shows went off on the West coast billed as the Northeast Traveling Aptothecary Show. A recording is available at Pitch-a-Tent.com.