I had planned a different post for today’s On This Day in History- it was going to be Firehose’s last show ever (pre 2014 reunion) from San Pedro. I taped it with DAT and it sounds awful. I searched around and there is a way better recording on archive.org of that set, so never mind. Blech.
Let’s do this one instead, especially since Camper van Beethoven is playing some shows in April. This was a true “hell freezes over” event- by most accounts, the CVB breakup was acrimonious. They broke up during a European tour, after a show in Sweden. Nobody thought they would ever reunite for anything. Then we got word of this tour being set up, 10 years after the breakup. It was so exciting that I drove from Sacramento to Pioneertown (9 hours drive!) to see/video the very first show of this run. I remember asking Jonathan how he was doing right before the show at Pappy and Harriet’s and he was nervous! They were great, you could not tell nerves were at play.
This was a traveling apothecary show- Cracker/CVB band members would come on and off stage, sometimes all playing together. Victor played bass for Cracker on this run.
I wish I could remember the person who filmed these shows. He was part of an early CVB/Cracker discussion board around this time. I even remember what he looks like- dark hair and large rimmed glasses. Sorry. If you filmed this, please speak up- it would be great to be back in touch! I was also at the Slim’s show, but it ended up being taped by this gentleman.
It would be great to do a new transfer of these master tapes- this is clearly a primitive VHS to DVD transfer

Recorded by: The guy who followed them around the entire tour
Transfer by: The guy who followed them around the entire tour