Camper Van Beethoven

It's a familiar story. Indie band builds rabid following for its distinctively weird music; popularity leads to a major-label contract; demands for greater accessibility water down the band's sound; changes piss off longtime supporters, yet fail to entice enough new fans; disillusioned and frustrated, the band breaks up. Camper Van...

By Michael Roberts

July 29, 2004

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

It's a familiar story. Indie band builds rabid following for its distinctively weird music; popularity leads to a major-label contract; demands for greater accessibility water down the band's sound; changes piss off longtime supporters, yet fail to entice enough new fans; disillusioned and frustrated, the band breaks up. Camper Van Beethoven, fronted by David Lowery, hit each of these benchmarks at anticipated intervals during the second half of the '80s, going from cult favorite to rock-and-roll footnote in half a decade. Just as predictably, the players are now back together, and their appearance alongside the Graham Colton Band, Blue Merle and Jem for the first night of the Fox's annual showcase for the R and R Triple A Radio Convention shows that making a living is on their minds. Fortunately, the independently released New Roman Times, their first new album in fifteen years, embraces the sonic eccentricities that once characterized the Campers. The twisted, satirical rock opera includes appealing ditties like "Come Out," a song about a hit record that has less than no chance of actually becoming one, and thank goodness. Otherwise, the end of the story wouldn't be familiar at all.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo