Alternative rock band Camper Van Beethoven is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its debut album, Telephone Free Landslide Victory, with a performance of the album in its entirety featuring all of the band’s original members. Camper Van Beethoven began in 1983 in Redlands, CA, and hit the ground running by releasing three independent albums within a year and a half. Its blend of pop, rock, ska, punk, folk, country and world music and its DIY approach set the band apart from others in the California scene at the time, making the band an important influence in the developing indie rock movement. The lead single from Telephone Free Landslide Victory, called “Take the Skinheads Bowling,” ended up being one of the band’s biggest successes, with a cover version of the song later being featured in Michael Moore’s 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine. This will be the only Southern date for the band’s anniversary tour, as Athens is the current home base of lead singer and bassist David Lowery.
WHO: Camper Van Beethoven
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show)
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
HOW MUCH: $30 (adv.), $35
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