First Annual Camp Out Live

For fans of Camper Van Beethoven this music from The First Annual Camp Out at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace is sublime, superb, and just tremendous. There's tons of material to explore on this set of concerts recorded on September 9 and 10, 2005 by a variety of acts. Sure the lighting is spotty and the imagery goes from fantastic to grainy, but "Eye of Fatima (Pts. 1 & 2)" shows the power and the glory and for those not exposed to Camper Van Beethoven -- it is instantly accessible and just plain old fun! Chant along with "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and understand that punk doesn't have to be played at a hundred miles an hour or with the volume on 11...just eight and a half and climbing. The reggae "Might Makes Right" takes the rhythms elsewhere and the fly-on-the-wall documentary feel of this collection of tapes exudes the good vibrations that were present at this novel event. It translates well to DVD and is a good example of how easy it is to make a great live concert video if the art is there in the first place. The quality of Johnny Hickman's audio and video is not as on target as Camper Van Beethoven's, but that doesn't take away from his performance and continuing the good time atmosphere. Victor Krummenacher also fares well, a bit darker than Hickman and dipping into territory that sounds like an unholy marriage between Gordon Lightfoot and John Cale. Greg Lisher comes off like a latter-day the Band while Cracker take things up a notch, kind of like Camper Van Beethoven with the winter clothing shed and ready to rock harder and more precisely. Not that one is better than the other, these are different flavors and it works so well in this setting. The entire event works like an underground Woodstock, and Music Video Distributors should be commended for letting the art flow on the DVD unobstructed. Indeed, the "bonus track," if it can be called that as everything runs in succession as one program, is "Porchstock" which is very lo-fi acoustic guitars in a hootenanny style after-show sort of party with fans and musicians all blending together. Tons of great stuff tucked inside this DVD and maybe "Porchstock" should've been hidden in another region on the disc. Not too much of a problem, though, as there are wonderful performances and a smart attitude that is captured and preserved and entertains absolutely. ~ Joe Viglione|